Three issues; 1,000 submissions; 40,000 followers. Sophomore Brielle Benjamin has a literary legacy. In January 2024, she founded Evanescent, a digital youth magazine dedicated to writing, with the goal of building connections between teenage writers. Flipping through the pages, one can find a bounty of poignant and current prose submitted by teenagers from all around the world. I interviewed Brielle about her success and the motivations behind it. 

Evanescent was created when Brielle, inspired by similar magazines posted online, decided to create her own specifically for young writers. As editor-in-chief and founder, Brielle has been writing for years and works on many aspects of the magazine. She created her own Instagram account which quickly gained traction among youth, hired other like-minded teens for management and design roles, and came out with her first issue, Interlude, in April of 2024. 

The process of putting out an issue is rigorous and rewarding. Brielle received around one thousand submissions for Evanescent’s second issue and had to select just twenty writing pieces and fifteen art pieces to include. After selection, writing and artwork is put through editing, while the magazine layout is designed by a graphic design team. Teens can also participate in a cover art contest. Ultimately, the whole publication process takes about three months to complete. 

The pieces that are chosen usually fit a word-associated theme, which doubles as the title of the issue. For example, the most recent issue, Saudade, is centered around “a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia.” The ways the authors choose to interpret the theme, however, is what makes Evanescent a fusion of unique perspectives. 

Evanescent is “For the people who can’t say things out loud, ambitious dreamers with heavy hearts, and young writers who are finding their place in the world.” Framed by dreamy, pastel backgrounds, the evocative pieces of poetry and prose make up an array of teenage spirit. One piece describes a winding drive through Sacramento, and another mourns the loss of the Sampaguita, a traditional Filipino flower, yet despite their differences, they all intensify universal, relatable experiences. 

Identity and self-expression are important to Brielle: she created Evanescent because she wanted “An outlet for young people to be able to express their feelings through art and writing.” emphasizing that sometimes “In this generation, you can’t really do that.” She explained further, divulging that youth do not have a place to express their feelings, which motivated her to create her magazine. Evanescent is a place where teenagers can be heard and acknowledged, even if their work is not necessarily used in an issue. 

Brielle, who has expressed interest in working on Bishop O’Dowd’s very own literary magazine The Muse, has found success in creating a shared writers’ community. She highlighted the importance of this, sharing that her goal is to make teen writers feel connected with the other writers around them. “It’s just a really good feeling to connect,” she said, “and know that you’re not alone.”