Lynnfield literary group emerges

LYNNFIELD – If it weren’t for the classroom location of their meeting, one would have thought these were professionals speaking, not Lynnfield High School students, most of whom are freshmen.”Let’s try to make deadline,” said one student.”We need the art to be relevant to the entries,” said another.”I know it’s hard to balance school and sports with the magazine, but it’s our responsibility,” said a third.The responsibilities of these 14 students include reading, writing, editing, funding, managing, and publishing the school’s first literary magazine The Troubadour, also known as the “brainchild” of freshman Jeff Paul.”I’ve always been interested in starting a publication,” said Paul, the magazine’s editor-in-chief. His dream came true when he chose to attend Lynnfield High School over local private schools with established magazines.”I was disappointed that (LHS) didn’t have a literary magazine,” he said. “So I started planning how to create one over the summer.”Once his plans were finalized, he emailed a detailed copy to the school’s principal, Robert Hassett, and freshman English teacher Patricia O’Reilly.”He was so motivated,” said O’Reilly, who acts as the teacher adviser. “It was exciting to see someone with so much determination.”By Sept. 10, the literary club was established, and Paul had an eager staff to work with.”I always wanted to do a literary magazine when I was younger, but I just wasn’t as ambitious as Jeff,” said Ethan Walfish, one of two seniors who jumped on board.”Our main concern in the beginning was funding,” said Paul.With little financial help from the school, Paul had to rely on donations from family, friends, and the community to get the first issue published. Candy sales and car washes are options for future fundraising, at least until they “go big,” said Managing Editor Robert Benson.The 27-page book comprised of poems and short stories is entirely student produced from content to layout. O’Reilly willingly admits that she rarely does much more than answer an occasional question.”This is for people to show their more creative side,” said Art Director Lauren Godding, comparing their publication to the school’s newspaper. “We like opinions, and as young adults, they should be able to write the stuff they want to. But, we ask them to keep it tasteful.”Contributing writer Connor Pricket wrote his poem “Love Struck” about a fictional drunken driving accident that caused the deaths of prom dates.”Now here lies our beloved Julie and Ben. We all try to visit whenever we can. They never got married, they never went far, they watched their lives end from the backseat of a car,” the poem reads.”It’s intelligent creativity,” said Benson. “Topics like Iraq, peace – those are the types of pieces we like. They get readers involved and thinking.”All that the staff asks is that writers keep the 1,500-2,000 word limit in mind; it can always be continued into the coming issues.”We’re really happy with how it’s going so far,” said Paul, who hopes to continue the magazine for many more issues and pass down the torch when he graduates.”It’s exciting to see people in the halls with our book,” said Godding. “It’s nice to know people care.”The next issue is expected to be bigger and better than the first, said the staff. The release date is slated for sometime in mid-February.