Lit Shark‘s Mission
Lit Shark is a welcoming and inclusive space for all individuals who call themselves a writer or dream of being one. All ages, backgrounds, publishing histories, and identities are enthusiastically welcomed here. With two literary magazines for aspiring and established writers to submit to, book reviews, author interviews, resources for writers to publish their full-length books, and resources to learn more about the craft of writing, this is a friendly community to all who wish to participate and succeed in the literary community.
The Shark community is also conservation-friendly and aims to educate its readers more about marine life and to make a tangible difference to the community “under the sea.” With weekly shark facts, opportunities to submit ocean-themed work, teaching resources about conservation efforts, creative participation in Shark Week, and the Editor-in-Chief’s other local endeavors in her coastal community, the publication wants to be a fun and creative resource for learning more about marine life and conservation, as well as how to take actionable steps to help, no matter the age of the reader or writer.
“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you can imagine.” – Ray T. Bennett
About Lit Shark
Back in 2015, McKenzie first wrote “Shark Literary Magazine” in her creative writing notebook while doing a routine brainstorm. Inspired by the name, she immediately knew that she wanted to create a welcoming space for all writers, of all ages, and that she wanted this publication to be a conversation-starter for increased conservation efforts.
In the past seven years, she entertained what Shark ultimately could be. While she was involved in starting a local writing group, book club, and reading series, finished her MFA, earned serious writing experience, developed her book strategy concept, and dove into the publishing industry, McKenzie learned what she truly wanted Shark to be—and more importantly, she became certain of what it could be.
What she lovingly refers to as Shark—which includes Lit Shark, Lit Pup, The Shiver Collective, and the Creative Frenzy—is a welcome space for anyone who calls themselves a writer: a child with a typewriter who wants to be a writer, a teen poet who dreams of being the next Rupi Kaur or Stephen King, the already renowned writer or poet who is interested in seeing their work featured in more inclusive spaces.
All genres and writing types are welcome for consideration, and writers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome to submit to Lit Shark and Lit Pup.
Children who are particularly interested in reading and writing are welcome to submit here to be featured in an issue of Lit Pup as well as on our website, and writers with completed works looking for a place to publish are also welcome to submit to The Shiver Collective.
Finally, published authors can seek out book reviews and author interviews with us, especially if they have an inspiring message they can share with budding and emerging writers.