Happy 2025 ✨
Over the past year or so, we have been a little quiet. We decided to take a hiatus for the first time to take a beat and reflect on our vision for iō’s future. In this time, we recreated our mission statement, developed a new publishing model, and started a new website from scratch…you know, the little things!
We are thrilled to start the year with a few exciting announcements:
The first: iō turns 7 this month! February 1st marked our anniversary since we launched in 2018 as recent college grads looking to dedicate a space for writers and artists on the margins and feature experimental work. We are incredibly grateful for the contributors and readers who have co-created this space with us and made it possible for us to grow.
We are launching a new website! As our online publication Refractions has grown over the years, we wanted to optimize the home of the creative pieces we’ve showcased. This is an ongoing process, but we invite you to watch the updates live and stay tuned as we complete the transition. Click below to take a sneak peak:
Last year, we launched our second writing competition with a focus on creative nonfiction. We’re following up next month with our next call for submissions for our upcoming volume. Stay tuned and keep an eye on our Submittable for more details!
And finally, FINALLY, the editors will be traveling to Los Angeles for this year’s Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference & Bookfair. This is a trip we have been dreaming to take for years, and we’re grateful to hopefully meet you in person soon!
Want to connect in the meantime?
We are looking forward to the year ahead and will keep you in the loop along the way. To learn more and stay connected, find us on Instagram!
As always, thank you so much for your support!
Crystal, Isabelle & Laura, the editors