With everything going on in the world, Palm Beach Central is trying to keep things normal and comfortable for its students. Still wanting to keep their students engaged in school activities and news, PBC is starting its first-ever literary journal associated with Cambridge. 

The literary journal, entitled The Palm Beach Central Review, was formed as a collaborative effort between Sarah Garfield, a junior at Palm Beach Central, and Ms. Tamayo, the AICE coordinator and an AICE teacher herself.   Tamayo was inspired to begin a literary magazine when she started a creative writing contest back in 2018 during Literacy Week, an event organized by Central’s Reading Department to encourage students to read.  The response was so encouraging in the two years that followed, she felt the need to give the creative writers at Central a platform to have their voices heard.

Garfield became involved with the journal after entering Tamayo’s contest.

“She was editing a piece of my writing when she approached me with this idea of a literary magazine,” Garfield explained. “Right away, I knew this opportunity would receive some beautiful submissions and would provide a safe outlet for writing, so Ms. Tamayo and I kickstarted the journal from there!”

To undertake these process, they knew they would need help.

“Ms. Tamayo and I picked the literary committee members to help with running the journal,” explained Garfield, who is also the editor in chief. “There are four other committee members that help create material for the journal’s Google Classroom, assist me in running writing workshops, aid me with choosing submissions for publication, and will help me with layout/publish/and advertise the magazine.”

It was early on that Garfield became the editor in chief since she worked on multiple concepts and ideas for the literary journal with Ms. Tamayo. As the main editor, Sarah is in charge of making the flyers to post on Google Classroom as she manages editing her work and the work of others.

“My job is to oversee and organize the events we have,” said Garfield.  “For example, the committee recently held two successful and engaging brainstorming and story development writing workshops.”

With high hopes, Garfield and Tamayo both wish for the literary magazine to become a success with students.   

“I’m a pretty optimistic person, so I believe this journal will be successful!” Sarah expressed. “Writing is such an important medium for the soul and I want to create a safe place for writers to share their literary talent.  It takes courage to pour your heart out on paper and I hope this magazine highlights that bravery and the talent at our school.” 

Submissions are still being accepted for both fiction and non-fiction short stories or memoirs up to 2500 words, poetry of up to 50 lines, and one-act plays.  Those students interested in submitting should email their work to [email protected].  All submissions will be blindly judged by the literary committee.