december Magazine

december is a nonprofit arts organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, dedicated to the publication, national and international distribution of works of established and emerging authors of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and the works of established and emerging artists whose work may include painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, and other media.
december has a distinguished legacy of publishing the earliest work of little-known writers and artists, many of whom became major literary figures, including Rita Mae Brown, Raymond Carver, Philip Levine, Joyce Carol Oates, Marge Piercy, and more.
Literary journals such as december are an essential part of literary progress, providing necessary tools for the work of emerging and experimenting writers. Thoughtful reviews provide encouragement and facilitate development; published works and contests provide affirmation; and the publication itself encourages reading - without writing, there can be no readers, and without readers, there will be no writers. This concept is an important piece of december's mission; it is our goal to not only distribute december, a nonprofit, high-quality, semi-annual literary magazine filled with thought-provoking poetry, prose, and visual art, but also to create community among its writers. artists, and the general public.

december was created to:
1. Encourage and promote literary excellence and the literary arts;
2. Educate students and emerging authors in literary and journalistic techniques and methods;
3. Publish on a nonprofit basis meritorious works of established and emerging authors of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry:
4. Promote literary excellence and the development of new writers and emerging authors through the sponsorship of writing contests; and
5. Provide internship opportunities for students and young adults interested in pursuing careers in literature, publishing, or nonprofit organizations.

december has always been committed to compensating every contributor and all editorial staff involved with the production of december magazine. In 2018, we established a Writers and Artists Compensation Fund with the proceeds of two major fundraisers, both of which were supported by artists and performers who believe in our mission. We will continue to add to this fund, the interest of which will be used to pay writers, artists, and educators involved in our programs

In addition to publication, december promotes the work of its contributors by hosting open-to-the-public reading events, entitled "december Presents…" in conjunction with each issue's publication and these events are generally held at cooperative arts venues in St. Louis. These readings connect readers and writers, bring people together to experience the pleasure of literary works in community, and put faces to the work in the magazine. Audience members have attended out of simple curiosity, to support the literary arts, or because of their personal connections to a literary friend, fellow student, or december magazine staff member. At each event, people have left with extremely positive views of one or more of the authors, pieces of work or literature in general; the local literary audience has been enlarged and/or reinvigorated; and subscriptions have been sold, all of which further december's mission of championing the work of its writers and artists.