Plano Profile March 2010 : Page 90
E VERY NOW AND THEN, Cinde Rawn cannot resist the temptation. She sees an old Collin College Forces Literary Journal and must pick it up.While thumbing through the pages, she excitedly consumes the journal’s creative contents. This excitement quickly transforms to a great sense of pride and achievement when the Plano resident sees her work featured in last year’s 20th anniversary keepsake. “I pause, a bit surprised Collin College photo/Nick Young Former Collin College student Cinde Rawn and professor Scott Yarbrough showcase issues of Forces Literary Journal from the past 20 years. Forces, scheduled to publish in April, includes essays, short fiction, poetry, black-and-white photography, and visual art from Collin College students and faculty. Forces Literary Journal inspires Collin College students, community 90 PLANO PROFILE MARCH 2010 again, and then I smile in- side,” Cinde, who appeared in the journal as a photog- rapher last year and a writer in 2004, said. “[Being in the journal] has encouraged me to continue focusing on my art with the hope that it makes a difference in me and in those who experi- ence it. It is a wonderful experience to see yourself included in the company of such creativity. It opens the soul to new ways of seeing, thinking and expressing the human experience.” 20 years of literary excellence These actions, along with the facts that Forces features Collin College students and faculty and it appeals to everyone, are what make the journal such a unique literary piece, says Collin College Professor
On Campus
Justin Jones
Every Now And then, Cinde Rawn Cannot resist the Temptation. She sees an old Collin College Forces Literary Journal and must pick it up. While thumbing through the pages, she excitedly consumes the journal’s creative contents.
This excitement quickly transforms to a great sense of pride and achievement when the Plano resident sees her work featured in last year’s 20th anniversary keepsake.
“I pause, a bit surprised again, and then I smile inside,” Cinde, who appeared in the journal as a photographer last year and a writer in 2004, said. “[Being in the journal] has encouraged me to continue focusing on my art with the hope that it makes a difference in me and in those who experience it. It is a wonderful experience to see yourself included in the company of such creativity. It opens the soul to new ways of seeing, thinking and expressing the human experience.” 20 years of literary excellence These actions, along with the facts that Forces features Collin College students and faculty and it appeals to everyone, are what make the journal such a unique literary piece, says Collin College ProfessorScott Yarbrough, editor of Forces.
With its newest edition scheduled to publish in April, Forces includes an array of tastes, sights, sounds and memories in mediums such as essays, short fiction, poetry, black-and-white photography, and visual art such as ceramics, sculpture, painting, and multi-media.
“We have works that are represented from all cultures, ages and genres,” Yarbrough said. “You may have a piece that is far right next to one that is far left. It’s a touchstone for each year and a good way for everyone to gain courage and inspiration from the student population that surrounds this county.” A literary journal of this caliber, Yarbrough adds, is not possible if not for the 200 essay, poem and short story submissions and 100–150 visual art queries he receives yearly.
“Every year I’m surprised at the submissions we get,” he said. “Everyone always says, ‘What is Forces like this year?’ and I say, ‘It’s always like the year it represents.’ ” In past journals, for example, Yarbrough remembers submissions including everything from the thoughts on the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to a story about a girl being raised when “Russia was Russia,” and how she and her grandfather argued about her coming to America for a better education.
“You just cannot get that anywhere else. We have one of the most stunning literary journals around. It speaks for itself—not only the quality of the work, but also its presentation,” Yarbrough said. “You are talking about the best of the best. This is a huge honor. I have many students who still talk about the impact of having their work published in this journal.” Among these students is Cinde, the director of Threads of Hope, who continues to support Forces and thanks Collin College for being a remarkable institution that has not forgotten the power of art and creativity.
“I’ll never forget reading an excerpt from my essay and a teary-eyed man came up to say how much that essay meant to him,” Cinde recalled. “That is the encouragement any writer needs to continue…to know that your words make a difference, even if to only one soul.” Forces features Texas Poet Laureate Also making an impact with her poetic words is Karla Moorton, the 2010 Texas State Poet Laureate and author of Redefining Beauty, a unique poetry
Collection written during her diagnosis, treatment and survival of breast cancer.
Moorton is featured in this year’s Forces and is scheduled to discuss Redefining Beauty at an upcoming Forces reception at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center in Plano.
Joining Moorton at the reception will be a slew of Collin College students, who will talk about their published work in Forces, which, according to Yarbrough, gives many of the authors confidence and purpose to continue their love for writing and the fine arts.
“For the kids fresh into college, they are thinking that poetry is something that they want to do, and Forces gives them that confirmation or tangible piece of something in their hand that they will have for the rest of their life. There is a confidence that comes along with that,” Yarbrough said. “In the same respect, to see a nontraditional student finding purpose at a time when I have seen other people think that they are through with their life…they are telling their stories.” These stories, along with the artwork featured in Forces, would not be possible, Yarbrough says, if not for Collin College President Cary Israel and the board of directors for providing support and a budget to produce such a quality product that represents the college.
“This could not exist without a thousand legs, a thousand arms and a thousand eyes working together,” Yarbrough said.
“Therefore, Forces is representative of who we are. It’s a mirror that you can hold up in your community and say, ‘This is Collin College and this is what we are doing.’ ” To download a PDF of Forces, visit collin.edu/news/ publications.html. — JUSTIN JONES Justin Jones is a public relations writer for Collin College.
Publication List
