The Gift of Five Minutes

Posted on Sunday, January 9, 2011

My Gift of Five Minutes

Courtney Warren

In five minutes, a man could take a gun and shoot up a mall. In five minutes, a war could begin. In five minutes, a person can die, and in five minutes, thousands of lives can change. A lot can happen in a short amount of time. Things happen in minutes that people spend the rest of their lives wishing they could take back. That’s where my gift comes in.

I wouldn’t give a gift wrapped in a box and tied with a pretty bow. No, I would grant the ability to go back in time and change something we wish we had not done. Think about it. Imagine someone close to you died. Would you go back and use your minutes to tell that person you loved them just one last time? I bet thousands would use their five minutes to try and prevent 9/11 from happening. All it would take is one person at the airport to report the situation to the guards.

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Posted in: Essays, Read the Journal |

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Submission Checklist

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2011

Before submitting to Fine Lines, review the style guide below:

  1. Use page numbers
  2. MLA format
  3. spell check
  4. proofread
  5. Times New Roman font, size 12
  6. one space following periods
  7. maintain tenses throughout
  8. obey comma and punctuation rules
  9. follow the MLA rules for numbers
  10. cut wordiness
  11. avoid repetition
  12. use page breaks for new chapters
  13. there, their, they’re
  14. to, too, two
  15. affect, effect
  16. all together, altogether
  17. all ready, already
  18. lie, lay
  19. all pages in one document
  20. send as a file attachment
  21. send photo
  22. copyright information
  23. one-two paragraph autobiography

Posted in: News, Submit to Fine Lines |

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Submit to Fine Lines

Posted on Saturday, January 1, 2011

Call for Manuscripts

Who we are

Fine Lines is a national, quarterly, literary journal devoted to the publication of poetry, prose, and writing across the curriculum. The journal seeks:

  • to provide insights for teachers and students in all disciplines.
  • to encourage discussion of writing in ways that cut across disciplines, definitions, and traditions.
  • to publish contributions by all members of the writing community.

What to submit

We welcome articles on all topics of interest to our readers and reflective writing about interesting life experiences. Our editors encourage a broad variety of approaches, methodologies, and styles. We accept, for example, research articles and practical articles that describe innovative approaches to life’s challenges. We are especially glad to receive articles that encourage stimulating dialog that crosses traditional rhetorical and disciplinary boundaries, forms, and roles. We provide a forum for professional writers and first-time authors.

What we disclaim

The views expressed in the Fine Lines journal are solely those of the authors. Therefore, Fine Lines is not intended to represent any author’s point of view – albeit politically or religiously. Our purpose is to be a vehicle for fine writing.

What we require

  • Submissions must be sent via email, as file attachments, CD-R, or as laser-quality hard copies.
  • If replies are requested, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, or mention this in the email submission.
  • Use the latest version of MLA format for all submissions (investigative essays, research articles, nonfiction, etc.).

Where to send

When sending submissions via email, please submit in Microsoft Word (.doc), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or in Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf). Please visit the style guide for more specific information regarding email submissions.

Emailed submissions should be sent to the appropriate email address as follows:


Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Art Gallery, Other Submissions.

Please send snail-mail submissions to:

The Editors
Fine Lines Journal
PO Box 241713
Omaha, NE 68124

Posted in: Submit to Fine Lines |

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Danielle Palafox Digital Artwork

Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2010

Digital Avatar by Danielle Palafox

Posted in: Art, News, Read the Journal |

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A Tribute to Ray Bradbury

Posted on Friday, December 3, 2010

A Tribute to Ray Bradbury

Loren Logsdon

I find myself nearing the end of a long and rewarding career in college teaching. This fall marks the 49th time I will be welcoming students to begin the first semester in the groves of academe. Along the way, I have encountered all kinds of interesting students and colleagues whom I will always remember—students for their energy, individuality, and potential and colleagues for their friendship and generosity in sharing ideas and teaching materials. Of the many authors I taught along the way, one stands out as being very special. He is Ray Bradbury, and I am writing this essay as a gesture of gratitude to a writer who celebrates the joy of living and reminds us that life is a precious gift. Ray’s works have not only given students some exciting reading experiences, but they have also influenced the way I think and live, indeed with the way I touch the world with my life. What also convinces me that Ray is special is the tribute paid by countless numbers of students over the years who have thanked me for assigning his novels and stories. Frequently, students from years ago tell me that reading Ray Bradbury was the highlight of the class. || Read more »

Posted in: Essays, Read the Journal |

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Writers and Other Liars

Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010

Writers and Other Liars

Deb Carpenter-Nolting

I was five, and I knew how to write.

I stood in the living room, fondling two new red pencils.

“There should be one pencil for everyone. Did you take an extra pencil?” my mother called from the kitchen.

“No, I just have one,” I answered, as I quickly hid the other one behind my back.

When she entered the living room, I extended the one pencil for her inspection, while keeping the other behind my back.

“Are you lying to me?”

“No, Mommy.”

“I know you are lying,” she said in a hurt voice, taking the culprit hand from its hiding. The evidence was right there, a second red pencil clutched in my naughty writer’s hand. Her voice sounded different. I caught the disappointment in it.

The pencil wasn’t an expensive item. It wasn’t so important that I had taken an extra one. The issue was I had knowingly lied. I felt so guilty that I disappointed my mom, the truest and best person I’d ever known.

I’ve tried very hard to never lie again, and for the most part I’ve succeeded, but there’s just something about a shiny new red pencil that still beckons me to lick the lead and be wicked.

Posted in: Essays, Read the Journal, Submissions |

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Superintendent Mackiel Recognizes Fine Lines

Posted on Wednesday, October 6, 2010

In the attached open letter John Mackiel, Superintendent of Omaha Public Schools, recognizes David Martin and Fine Lines.

Posted in: News |

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A Balloon’s Eye View

Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Jay Worden’s wonderful photo from an air balloon in Egypt. Wow!

Posted in: News |

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