The Martlet

The founders of The Warren came dangerously close to calling their new literary journal Delicious Purple Berries.

“You know when you’re a little kid and you stay up late, just eating garbage and you’re kind of delirious? That’s the headspace we were in,” said editor-in-chief Liam Sarsfield.

He had many of these “late night brainstorming sessions” as he worked with other students to unveil their project.

Ultimately, their name came as a suggestion from a friend. Sarsfield appreciated the literary mythology behind the name, but especially enjoyed the allusion to UVic’s bunnies.

“I really like this idea of an inter-connected underground community, like rabbits burrowing underground … It’s sort of become a subversive emblem,” he said.

Sarsfield envisions The Warren as a publication that will encourage an artistic subculture.

Their primary focus is publishing undergraduate students who haven’t had a chance to see their work in print before.

“Maybe there’s someone who doesn’t believe they can get their work published. We want to be their first,” Sarsfield said.

“We really want to focus on being multi-disciplinary. We’re not just publishing fiction and poetry. We’ve got philosophy, criticism … we’re trying to get everything and anything,” said Sarsfield.

He also plans to incorporate art and graphic design.

Sarsfield came up with the idea for the journal during his first year at UVic as an English Honours major.

At the time, the English Department didn’t even have a course union.

“There was definitely a void there. Everybody felt it,” said Sarsfield.

He said the department has flourished in the last two years into a vibrant community and he hopes the Warren will continue that trend.

“This is really a community we’re creating. We want to strengthen ties and have everyone working next to each other,” said Amelia Nezil, the vice editor-in-chief.

“Community” is a word that Nezil and Sarsfield said a lot while talking about The Warren.

They said one of their main aims will be simply introducing artists to one another.

Sarsfield and Nezil believe The Warren will complement the journals that already exist in Victoria, including UVic’s This Side of West and the Malahat Review.

“The Malahat Review is a bit beyond most undergrads. This Side of West is great, but they only come out once a year,” he said.

The Warren’s founders plan to publish two issues a year. They are getting ready to release their first issue mid-March.

The journal’s launch party was held on Feb. 10 at the Fort Street Café.

“It’s been a total outpouring. We couldn’t believe it,” said Sarsfield.

After launching their website, they had over 260 people sign up for the newsletter — in only two weeks.

Sarsfield said they are hugely grateful for the support they’ve received from the English Department.

To get involved as a volunteer, or if you’re interested in submitting to The Warren, please visit their website at thewarren.uvic.ca for more information on the journal itself and their submission guidelines.