MCC’s The Dead River Review Debuts New Issue

Middlesex Community College’s online literary magazine The Dead River Review (DRR) debuted a new issue on Thursday, May 2. DRR welcomes MCC students, faculty and staff to contribute their creative work in several genres. From reading submissions to organizing the final issue, the magazine also offers MCC students experience in the publishing industry through a Creative Writing and Publishing capstone course.

“Reading other people’s work was my favorite part,” said Conor Burrell, a Liberal Arts and Sciences major from Westford. “All of us as artists are kind of the most critical about our own work. We do not really know if our work is the best and if it can get out there. It is very encouraging when other people see the beauty in your art.”

Burrell focused on editing poetry. He liked the editorial process and found the hands-on experience valuable. Reading other people’s work allowed him to study different creative approaches. After graduating from MCC, he plans on transferring to UMass Lowell.

Led by MCC Creative Writing Program Coordinator and Professor Tom Laughlin, MCC hosted a Dead River Review Issue Release Party on its release day. Contributors presented and read their work, celebrating with food and live music.

“As a team, we sat down and decided what we wanted. Through a long conversation, we maneuvered and found a way to communicate and agree on what we liked. The course experience encouraged me to push forward and put my work out there.” - Matt Tighe, MCC Student

Matt Tighe, a Creative Writing student from Lowell, found his DRR experience worthwhile. He grew his confidence, interest and creative writing skills. In the Fall, he will transfer to UMass Amherst. While furthering his education, he aims to submit his poetry to numerous publications.

“I enjoyed the idea of combining different art styles and forms of writing to create the magazine,” Tighe said. “As a team, we sat down and decided what we wanted. Through a long conversation, we maneuvered and found a way to communicate and agree on what we liked. The course experience encouraged me to push forward and put my work out there.”

El Engerman, a Creative Writing student from Lowell, heard about DRR from his friends. They were editors in DRR’s last issue and recommended the course to him. Once he graduates from MCC, he plans to transfer to UMass Lowell and continue submitting his creative work to publications.

“The experience was rewarding, and I liked collaborating with my talented peers,” Engerman said. “Tom Laughlin was very encouraging of sharing and creating your work. I learned a lot about the editorial process which was cool because I want to publish some of my work in the future. The experience was great and enlightening.”

The Creative Writing and Publishing course at MCC helps students grow as creative writers and gain knowledge. As they learn about the publishing industry, they discover potential career paths and try different educational opportunities. In addition, the course offers guest speakers, public readings and creative writing workshops.

“This is the largest Dead River Review issue ever,” Laughlin said. “I am proud of these students who worked hard through the complete publishing process of soliciting submissions from the whole MCC community, communicating professionally with creative writers and artists, making thoughtful and careful editorial decisions, designing and creating each individual page of this online magazine, and helping to organize a release party and reading to celebrate this issue’s authors, artists and musicians and the richness of their work in this great new issue!”