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joseph squier
Ninth Letter: A Critically Acclaimed Literary Innovation
Founded in 2004 at the University of Illinois, Ninth Letter earned widespread recognition across design, lierary, academic,cand mainstream communities. The journal distinguished itself through a fusion of cutting-edge graphic design and high-quality literature, receiving early acclaim with the Council of Editors of Learned Journals’ “Best New Literary Journal” award in 2005, one of the highest honors for an emerging publication in the humanities.
The journal's interdisciplinary model, developed in collaboration between the School of Art & Design and the Creative Writing Program, established it as a benchmark for innovation in literary publishing. It integrated pedagogical objectives into its editorial practice, offering graduate and undergraduate courses that provided hands-on training in publication design and web design, and literary editing and publishing. This educational model became widely cited in art & design education, and creative writing pedagogy and publishing scholarship.
Ninth Letter maintained consistent inclusion in major anthologies such as The Pushcart Prize, Best American Stories, Best American Essays, Best American Poetry, and Best American Experimental Writing. Roxane Gay’s essay “To Scratch, Claw, or Grope Clumsily or Frantically” debuted in Ninth Letter before its inclusion in Bad Feminist and its recognition in Best American Essays 2013. The journal was also spotlighted by VIDA for its commitment to gender equity in literary publishing.
Mainstream media recognized the publication’s broader cultural impact. The Los Angeles Times described it as “wild, perfectly beautiful” during its tenth anniversary year. Design publications including HOW Magazine and STEP Inside Design repeatedly acknowledged its visual achievements, and multiple gold medals from the University and College Designers Association underscored its distinction in print design.
Editorial leadership drew from a distinguished faculty team and a rotating cohort of graduate editors, maintaining a commitment to diverse perspectives and inclusive practices. The founding vision aimed to challenge the homogeneity of literary publishing by embracing risk, interdisciplinarity, and experimentation.
Throughout its nearly two decades of publication, Ninth Letter received sustained acclaim from academic institutions, design professionals, literary communities, and cultural critics. It was featured in research guides and databases, cited in scholarly articles on pedagogy and gender, and included in Poets & Writers’ vetted directories. Contributors included Pulitzer Prize and Man Booker Prize winners, reinforcing its position as a visual, literary, and cultural force.
The journal’s influence extended beyond individual recognition, shaping broader discourse around the role of design in literary publishing, the integration of experiential learning in art & design and writing programs, and the evolving function of print and digital media in contemporary literature. It demonstrated that visual innovation and editorial excellence could not only coexist but mutually reinforce one another. As a result, Ninth Letter helped redefine the possibilities of the literary journal as a site of art & design experimentation, exemplary writing, and academic rigor.