The Literary Journal of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
The submission period for our sixth annual So It Goes Literary Journal opens March 1, 2017 and ends on June 1, 2017 at 11:59 pm EDT. This year's theme is A Little More Common Decency.
The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library was founded in 2009 to keep the literary, artistic, and cultural legacy of Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut alive, and in 2016, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett declared 2017 the “Year of Vonnegut.” In celebration of Vonnegut’s legacy, KVML, Visit Indy, and the Mayor’s Office, along with other community partners, have joined to offer monthly programming around the theme of common decency - an ideal that was very important to Kurt. In fact, this is what he had to say about common decency in his 1976 novel, Slapstick:
"I have had some experiences with love, or think I have, anyway, although the ones I have liked best could easily be described as “common decency.” I treated somebody well for a little while, or even for a tremendously long time, and that person treated me well in return. Love need not have anything to do with it…Love is where you find it. I think it is foolish to go looking for it, and I think it can often be poisonous. I wish that people who are conventionally supposed to love each other would say to each other, when they fight, 'Please – a little less love, and a little more common decency'" (1976, p. 2).
In keeping with the Year of Vonnegut theme, all submissions or submitters featured must touch in some way on the theme of "A Little More Common Decency."
Submissions are limited to one work of prose or up to five poems (1500 word limit) and/or five photographs and/or artwork. Employees of KVML and KVML Board Members are not eligible to participate. Everyone else is encouraged to send in a submission(s): Students, amateur writers and artists, professional writers and artists, young, old, and current/retired military veterans. The veteran community was important to Vonnegut, as he served his country too, so they imagine he'd love to see literary and artistic representation from current and former military personnel, as well.
If you have any questions, contact SoItGoes@vonnegutlibrary.org.
