Are you a student at Bob Jones University? Are you a writer who wants to publish your work, and receive feedback from your peers? Do you want to gain experience working for the official school magazine? We have just the place for you! Inkwell Literary Magazine is preparing for the 2026-2027 school year, and we're inviting as many people as we can to join our staff.

We are looking for:

• Copy editor
• Writers
• Web editor
• Social media specialist(s)

If interested, apply by sending an email to inkwelleditorinchief@gmail.com, or come to one of our events in April! Note that applicants must be undergraduate students currently enrolled at BJU. While we welcome submissions from graduate students and alumni as well, staff writers are required to be undergraduates.

Also, if you love but you love reading but don't want to join the magazine, you can still join our Inkwell Literary Association! You can learn more on Instagram.

The advisor has shown us how to defeat the tyrant, and now we set off to battle him. But along the way, we encounter yet another character found in old fairy tale: the beggar.

Beggar: "someone who begs" or "a poor or impoverished person."

Beggars are supposed to be invisible, yet ironically they are often the most visible characters in stories. Some are the street waifs and old ladies, waiting for the dashing hero to rescue them. Others are slaves, forced to serve cruel kings or wicked stepmothers. Most, like Cinderella, are helpless to change their fate. They need a fairy godmother or a surprise gift to get on their feet again. Of course, a beggar is not always who they appear to be.

This month, our writers have explored the concept of the beggar inside and out. Are you interested in learning what secrets they have to share?

You can get "Beggar" by clicking this link.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Z Edmondson

Editor-in-chief

The 2026 semester is coming to an end, and we're almost at the end of our magical journey through fairy tale archetypes. So far, we've met the tyrant, the advisor, and the beggar. There is only one more...the "Champion."

Champion: "one that does battle for another's rights or honor."

The champion is usually the hero of the story, or the protagonist. He or she is the one who must face the tyrant, who receives the gift of the advisor, and who encounters the beggar along the way. The champion must choose to set out on a journey, overcoming insurmountable odds to achieve victory.

Think of Achilles in The Iliad, who helped lead the Greeks to victory over the city of Troy. Or Aragorn from The Return of the King, the prophesied ruler chosen to defeat Mordor and restore the honor of men. What about Luke Skywalker, a farm boy from a desert planet destined to become the galaxy's greatest Jedi knight. They are great examples of "the chosen one" trope, the epic hero of mythology.

Of course, classic fairy tale heroes like Jack the Giant Killer and Little Red Riding Hood also count. So do characters from modern films and literature, like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games or Peter Parker in the Spider-Man comics. A champion can be anybody, an ordinary man or a superhero.

We want to see what you see when you think of a champion. Do you see a noble warrior, riding into battle with a sword? A brooding anti-hero, who crosses moral boundaries for the greater good? Also, what are the stakes they must overcome? Do they want to prevent the annihilation of the world? Or are they trying to stop the big, bad wolf from blowing down houses?

Submissions close on April 10th.

Soli deo gloria!

Z Edmondson

Editor-in-chief

The tyrant has seized the throne, and the kingdom is in disarray. Only a wise man or woman can save us now, which means we are moving on to the next figure on list of fairy tale character types…the advisor.

Advisor: "someone who gives advice."

The dictionary doesn’t have much to say, which means that we have more freedom to imagine what this mythic character is like. Our writers have explored the advisor type from many different angles: alien nobles, loyal bodyguards, small business owners, and so many more.

We survived the tyrant. Now let us be brave and hear the wisdom that these advisors have to offer us, if we are willing to accept it.

You can read "Advisor" by clicking this link.

Soli deo gloria!

So far, we have covered two fairy tale characters this semester: the tyrant and the advisor. Now, another legendary figure enters the scene...the "Beggar."

Beggar: "someone who begs" or "a poor or impoverished person."

Ironically the most noticeable character in many classic stories, the beggar is invisible to almost everyone else around them. Some are helpless and need a miracle or some magic to change their situation, but others may fight for their survival or for the good of others. Of course, beggars are not always who they appear to be...it could be a prince or a fairy in disguise.

Cinderella is a perfect example of a fairy tale beggar, with a fantastic rags-to-riches story. There is also Odysseus, who disguises himself as a beggar to trick his wife's suitors. Edmond Dantès, a prisoner who lost everything, uses newfound wealth to take revenge on his enemies. How about Aladdin, or Jean Valjean? There are contemporary examples as well, like Remy in Ratatouille.

What is your beggar's story? Are they clawing their way to the top, or are they content with their lot in life? Are they something more, or are they actually the villain? We want to know!

Submissions for "Beggar" close on March 13th. Also, "Advisor" will be released this Friday, along with the winner of our Bible Conference Writing Contest!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Z Edmondson

Editor-in-chief

After a short wait, "Tyrant" finally takes the stage as the latest issue of Inkwell Magazine drops now!

Tyrant: "an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution" or "a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally."

Our writers have interpreted the concept of a tyrant in every way possible. They explored not only what tyrants look like, but how they rise to power in the first place. Were they plotting evil from day one, or was their path to tyranny paved with good intentions? Our writers also imagined what life under the rule of these tyrants would be like—for their subjects, their enemies, even their families and friends. Are you brave enough to venture where others have fallen?

You can read "Tyrant" now by clicking this link.

Soli deo gloria!

"Tyrant" releases tomorrow morning, but the creative mind never sleeps! And as we continue our journey through fairy tale archetypes, another mythic figure has emerged from the mists to aid us...the "Advisor."

Advisor: "someone who gives advice."

An advisor is a person, such as an old man or a wise woman, who offers sage wisdom to the hero of the story. The goddess Athena in The Odyssey qualifies. So does Merlin in Le Morte D'arthur. Modern examples include Gandalf, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Haymitch Abernathy. In real life, your pastor or your parents may fit the bill. Even Cinderella's fairy godmother was derived from this archetype, since godparents are trusted friends or relatives chosen as a child's spiritual mentor.

What kinds of advisors will we meet in the forest of your imagination? An ancient being of incredible power? A humble vicar in his parsonage? An all-knowing AI? Also...do they always give good advice?

Submissions close on February 13th.

Soli deo gloria!

We're back, everyone! After a wonderful Christmas Break, we are all well-rested (mostly), and we're eager to get back to our writing. This semester, we're presenting a series of issues themed after fairy tale archetypes. These are classic characters found in some of the oldest stories, from the Greek Epics to the Norse Sagas, the Brothers Grimm to Hans Christian Anderson, and even history itself. This February, the first of these to seize the stage is the "Tyrant."

Tyrant: "an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution" or "a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally."

History gives us a long list of tyrants, such as Caligula, John Lackland, Ivan the Terrible, Maximilien Robespierre, and Adolf Hitler. And, of course, there's Cinderella's wicked stepmother, the White Witch, President Snow, Emperor Palpatine, and Sauron. No two tyrants are exactly alike. Some force their way into power, while others rise by the will of the people. Many take freedoms away, and some offer "easier" alternatives to pacify dissent. A few even start with good intentions, but power corrupts them, often before they realize how far they have fallen.

Who are your tyrants? Kings or presidents? People or creatures? Maybe just a malevolent force seeking to assert its will? Who are their victims, and what stories do they have? We can't wait for you to tell us!

Submissions close on January 23rd.

Soli Deo Gloria!

The wait is over! Christmas is behind us, and New Year's Day is coming up, as the Inkwell staff proudly presents "Epoch" to you!

Epoch: "an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development," or "a memorable event or date."

Each of our authors has offered something wonderful to contribute to our theme this year, stories about great turning points and difficult choices. So, pour yourself a nice, steaming cup of hot chocolate. (Or tea, or maybe coffee—we promise we won’t judge!) Have a seat by the fire, curl up under a warm blanket, and take a moment to share in the fruits of our labors. And wherever you are this holiday season, may God bless you.

You can read "Epoch" by clicking this link.

As we enter the home stretch before Christmas Break, the people at Inkwell are happy to present you with the third issue of the semester..."Passage!"

Passage: "a way of exit or entrance: a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes," or "the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another."

Our writers told so many wonderful stories based on this theme–stories about aliens and superheroes, mobsters and millionaires, and families and children. We also accepted our first art submission, opening this category to the public along with flash fiction.

You can read "Passage" by clicking this link.

Hello, Inkwell readers! Our next issue, "Passage," releases online this Friday on Dec. 5, and we can't wait for you to see what we've been up to this past month. As our fall semester closes, we have some exciting announcements for our students.

Here they are...

First, submissions are open for our last issue this semester. Submissions will be open from now until Friday, Dec. 12. Our theme is "Epoch," defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development," or "a memorable event or date." We are still accepting art and flash fiction submissions for this issue, and we hope to continue doing so.

Second, as a student association of BJU, it is our dream to host student events. For example, we host a Writer's Circle event every semester, where students can meet and share their creative works. We will host one next week, and two more next semester. Also, we have tentative plans to invite authors for a Q&A session next semester, so please keep an eye on our Instagram page and this website for details!

Third, one challenge we face every school year is rebuilding our staff. This is why we are actively seeking BJU students who are interested in working with us full time. Here is a glance at some roles we are currently offering:

• Writers (for all four of our writing divisions)
• Artists/Photographers
• Website Designers

If you are interested, please email us at inkwelleditorinchief@gmail.com, and send us samples of your work. We would love to hear from you!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Over a week ago, members of the Inkwell Magazine editorial staff, including myself, attended an event at the Bob Jones Academy. Bruins Days introduces potential students to the university's diverse student organizations. We had a wonderful time, introducing our organization to them and sharing our passion for storytelling with them.

To the wonderful students who visited our table, thank you so much for hearing us out! We look forward to working with you in the near future.

The wait is over! Halfway through the semester, the Inkwell Magazine staff is proud to finally present "Eclipsed" to you all.

Eclipsed: “the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another," or "the state of being eclipsed."

We had so many unique takes on our theme this month, including stories about love, heritage, time travel, and outer space. Also, we published three flash fiction stories for the first time, adding a new category to our literary repertoire. It's been a wild ride, and we hope you join us.

You can download and read "Eclipsed" by clicking this link.  

Posted by Z Edmondson, editor-in-chief.

Good morning, readers!

We're almost halfway through the fall semester at BJU, and we're doing our very best to keep up with our studies while working on the magazine. "Eclipsed," our second issue, releases just before the weekend on October 31st. We can't to show you what we've been working on. There were so many unique takes on our theme this month, including stories about grandparents, reporters, time travelers, and (of course) astronauts! We are also excited to publish our first three flash fiction stories.

In the meantime, we want to whet your appetite for what's coming next. So, without further ado, here is our November theme..."Passage," a word with so many definitions in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Passage: "a way of exit or entrance : a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes," or "the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another."

Of course, a passage isn't just a passageway, or the act of traveling. It could be the passing of words between people, like wedding vows or state secrets. It could be the passing of a new law, perhaps one granting mythic creatures the right to coexist with humans. It could be a passage in a book...or a magazine.

Also, as if adding flash fiction in wasn't enough, Inkwell Magazine will accept art submissions for this first time in this issue! Please send us digital submissions, a good photo or scan of the artwork (png or jpg) with no more than 3000x3000 pixels. Your work will be cited with your name, and the name of the piece if provided. (Your name must be provided for the piece to be accepted.) We will also be accepting flash fiction. Remember, your work will only be accepted if you are a BJU student, alumnus, or a faculty member.

Submissions for "Passage" close on November 14th. We can't wait to show you our work. Soli Deo Gloria!

Posted by Z Edmondson, editor-in-chief.

(2025 marks the 5th anniversary year of Inkwell Literary Magazine! If you're new here, check out this link to learn more about who we are and what we do.)

After weeks of working hard and patiently waiting, we are so excited to release "Perception," our first issue this semester, out into the wild!

Perception: “awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation” (Merriam-Webster)

How do we begin to understand our world? How do we view the people we interact with every day? How do we think of God, if we think of Him at all? All of these, and so many other things, are interpreted through the lenses of our perception.

Thank you so much for joining us! You can download "Perception" here.

Posted by Z Edmondson, editor-in-chief.

(The editor would like to apologize to Olivia Nix for accidentally leaving her story out of this issue. We have since corrected this mistake. Thank you for sharing with us!)