Welcome to the twelfth edition of Scribere! As you may notice, this issue is a few weeks late in arrival, and the main reason for this is the COVID-19 global pandemic.
As I'm sure is the case for many of you, my past few weeks have been disrupted in an unprecedented way. School closures, shelter-in-place orders, and alterations to standardized testing such as the SAT and AP exams means that change has been the only constant. While I feel blessed to be healthy, all the turmoil in day-to-day life mean that some projects, such as this latest issue of Scribere, have been sidelined as a consequence.
I want to stress the importance of doing something creative during this trying time. Getting your creative juices flowing is one of the best ways to combat boredom and restlessness, whether it's experimenting with a new plot line, penning poetry, or working on character development -- losing yourself in the world of words can be a healthy way to deal with stress. It especially helps to keep your mind sharp, which will let you hit the ground running when the pandemic is quelled.
In this issue of Scribere, you'll find fourteen fiction pieces; although these pieces were created before COVID-19, their themes still run especially true to the current day. These stories tell of wars against an overpowering enemy, of gladiator fights for survival, and illnesses whose treatments come with serious side effects. Common to them all is how the fight for survival, love and life are essential quests for all humans. For those of you who have been reading the serialized pieces, you'll find the fourth chapter of Abstracts: Seer, the fifth part of Panic Pancakes, and the fourth and final part of The Dandelion Crown.
Given the unique global circumstances that surround the publication of this issue, I hope you, as readers, will find special solace in the words of these writers.
Stay home, stay safe, and stay creative!
-- Keshav D.
Founding Editor, Scribere
An online literary journal for youth ages 11-18. Our mission? To inspire youth creativity.