FAQs

What is Ampersand?

Ampersand, formerly known as Muse, is an arts & letter magazine made by the students of Washington & Lee University. Our goal is to showcase the amazing work of our peers and highlight the creative energy that runs through our campus.

Ampersand is the term for the fancy “and” symbol: &. The symbol can be found within the University’s name of Washington & Lee University. It also represents the varied inclusion and breadth of the composition of the magazine, which the word “and” implies. Our goal is simple yet crucial — to showcase literature and art in all its myriad forms on campus.

What can I submit?

Anything you consider art! Truly, submit anything that can be sent as an email attachment. We encourage you to be creative.

Typically, we get submissions for poetry, prose, and photography. But we’ve also had submissions of Instagram posts, comics, photographs of their sculptures, essays, papers, and more. So, again, as long as you consider it art, submit it!

I’m not artistic and don’t have anything to submit.

You don’t need to be a Studio Art, Art History, English, or Creative Writing student to submit to Ampersand. Art is subjective and we get that! We believe that everyone is artistic, even if it’s unconventional.

Do you have a photo of a sunset sitting in your photo album that you can’t delete because you like it that much? Submit it. Do you have a Spotify playlist that’s just absolutely perfect? Send us the link. Do you have a text conversation that was worded so well? Screenshot it and email it to us. Art can be found everywhere, don’t limit yourself.

What is this year’s magazine theme?

We don’t know! We normally like to look at all of the submissions and see what common themes we see in our favorite pieces. This may change in the future, and if so, we will be sure to communicate with you all on our Instagram.

How do I submit to Ampersand?

Please check the submission guidelines.

How many things can I submit?

As many as you’d like!

Do the works we submit have to be from this year?

Nope! If you have something you did years ago but are still proud of, feel free to submit it.

Can I submit things anonymously?

You have to submit using an email address, so it will not be anonymous. But you can request that your work is by an anonymous person. To do this, you need to state in your email that you would like to remain anonymous. Please refer to the submission guidelines for further clarification.

Can I resubmit something I sent last year?

Of course! We get lots of great submissions each year and often have to cut out some of our favorites. However, we don’t normally encourage resubmissions, so try to submit something new if you can!

If I submit something, is it guaranteed to be featured in the magazine?

Unfortunately, we cannot accept every submission and feature them (though we would love to!). If your piece does not get accepted in this year’s magazine, please try again next year!

Have any other questions?

Please email wlu.ampersand@gmail.com if you have additional questions.