While you’re there, you might also notice that I’ve made some subtle changes to the site design (I’ve tweaked the header) and that I’ve updated the articles. The inconsistent layout was bugging me, so I took down the HTMLs until I can get them to look how I want them to look, reworked my document template slightly, and incorporated the new MLA citation standards into the notes. Hopefully this gives the collection a more consistent and professional feel.

Also: though I’ve published “Toward a Mormon Gothic” on RUD, I’m still open to feedback. So if, while you’re reading, you notice a typo or some such faux pas or notice that I’ve missed something you deem vitally important to the conversation, either email me or comment here. That or work up your own essay and submit it for publication. I promise I won’t complain.

“Saturday’s Werewolf explores Twilight in terms of the supernatural literature of the Latter-day Saints, specifically as the series links to the premortal romance narrative mode, as exemplified in Nephi Anderson’s Added Upon (1898) and Douglas Stewart’s popular musical Saturday’s Warrior (1989).”

It’s an entertaining and insightful read. Come take a look.

And don’t be scared: RUD’s lone (were)wolf doesn’t bite. But it just might inspire you to submit.

Also, there are some new Webliography links.

I’ve also just been in contact with Stephen Carter, editor of Sunstone Magazine, who offered to publish a few of the best Reading Until Dawn essays in a near-future edition of Sunstone.

So with that exciting tidbit looming over our heads, I think I’m going to go work on my essay…

So, while the difference (in this case) may seem nominal—Reading Until Dawn as an open-ended anthology over a limited run journal—the semantic distinction has changed the way I’m approaching things. Hence, yesterday’s post.

And from here on out, I’ll be calling Reading Until Dawn an anthology. If you disagree with my assessment, just remember: semantics, semantics.

More change #2: Although this is fairly minor and probably mostly for me, I just thought I’d make it clear that this blog is going to be used mostly for updates and housekeeping issues and for building this webliography. I’ll also post when I publish a new essay in the anthology and other trivial things like that.

1) Contrary to what I’ve posted on the site, we won’t be closing the first issue of the journal (“The Persistence of Stephenie Meyer”) on January 15 (as originally planned). Because this is the inaugural issue and, as such, we’re wading together through uncharted waters in terms of software (Open Journal Systems) and content (don’t know of any other journals out there—print or otherwise—dedicated solely to Stephenie Meyer), right now, one of two things will happen:

a) we’ll keep the issue open until we’ve got a full docket of essays (probably between 8-10);

b) or we’ll keep the issue open indefinitely, posting essays as they come toward creation of an expansive online anthology of essays devoted to critical exploration of Meyer and her work. (Perhaps if the list gets too long, we’ll split it up into volumes or something along those lines.)

At the moment, I’m leaning towards the latter because, as a husband, a father of three, and a full-time grad student, it just seems easier for me. But I can swayed if anyone thinks another option is better and can present a compelling case.

2) Even though it doesn’t look like we’ll be closing the issue when we’d first expected to, I’d like to encourage you to submit your essays ASAP, at least by the end of the January. This will give us a general idea of what we’re looking at in terms of critical content and provide a foundation from which to more readily promote the journal and to build the journal’s readership and future.

3) As for the submission process, I don’t particularly care for the way OJS has set things up (too confusing and time consuming, if you ask me), so I’m making another change: instead of submitting papers through the journal site, just email them to me, Tyler, here. That will make things a bit easier and less stressful for you and for me.

4) Finally, I’d appreciate any exposure you can give to the journal in your personal networks: link to the site/blog; pass it along by word of mouth, etc. (I know some of you have been doing just that. A hearty thanks!) We need all the help we can get to get this off the ground, and I feel like it’s a worthwhile enough scholarly enterprise to give it at least a flying leap. Whatever you can do is appreciated.

This blog is also meant to provide a more informal forum in which general questions about the anthology can be asked and answered and through which I can solicit feedback, provide updates through posts and an RSS feed, take care of any housekeeping that needs to be done, and generally promote the anthology made possible by your work. Many online magazines/journals use blogs in this way, so I thought I’d give it a whirl, too. We’ll see how it turns out.

Feel free to click your way around, link to us, and trackback frequently!