elementia Literary Magazine

What is elementia?

elementia is Johnson County Library’s award-winning literary arts magazine, dedicated to amplifying the voices of young adults. It features original poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic stories, photography, and illustrations—all created by teens.

For over 20 years, teen volunteers and Library staff have collaborated to produce 23 powerful issues and one anthology, publishing the work of more than 650 young creatives.

Free copies of elementia are available at all Johnson County Library locations.

Latest Issue

elementia Issue xxiii - Legacy

Legacy: an essential component of time, a mark of the individidual, the bringer of choice and change. *You* can choose what your Legacy is.

elementia xxiv Submissions Open!

Next elementia Theme: Entropy

Entropy (n.) Disorderly. The universe tends toward disorder, molecules scatter, stars collapse, plans unravel.

And yet, within the chaos, we search for meaning.

We build routines, draw lines, make sense of the senseless. Where does the chaos end and the order begin?

Show us what you’ve found, let go of, or created out of the mess; bring your entropy to us.

Submissions are now open for elementia's next issue, Entropy, as well as the application for our teen committee.

Issues and Collections

elementia Issue xxiii - Legacy

Legacy: an essential component of time, a mark of the individidual, the bringer of choice and change. *You* can choose what your Legacy is.

elementia Issue xxii - Humanity

Across generations, distances and cultures, our humanity connects us. Tell us your stories: those of your unique human experience.

elementia Issue xxi - The Unspoken

This issue is dedicated to the theme of the unspoken, encouraging writers and artists to explore the things we left unsaid.

elementia issue xx - Cycles

This issue is dedicated to the theme of cycles, something many of us were grappling with as we emerged from lockdowns.

elementia Issue xix - The Unknown

This issue is dedicated to the theme of the unknown, something many of use were grappling with as we emerged from lockdowns.

elementia Issue xviii - Bodies

This issue is dedicated to poet and essayist Franny Choi, and to the theme of bodies; something our editors grappled with in quarantine.

elementia Issue xvii - Connection

This issue is dedicated to poet Rudy Francisco, and connection; an apt theme as this issue was published in 2020 amidst lockdowns.

elementia Issue xvi - Breaking Free

This issue is dedicated to author Jacqueline Woodson, and to the theme of breaking free.

best of elementia 1-15

A celebration of the first 15 issues of the magazine; this was elementia's first published book.
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