About

Conceived in 2016, launched in 2018, SHIFT is the brainchild of MTSU Write, an at-home creative writing mentorship program housed in the MTSU English Department. Its title pays tribute to the old-school typewriter key and its many functions. The magazine’s mission is to complete the writing process through publication and dissemination of high-quality writing, as well as to celebrate the dynamic nature of writing through “shifts” in each issue’s content focus.

SHIFTing

On old-school machines, the shift key shifts all the little hammers just enough for each key to create a different letter or symbol. And while the mechanics work differently today, the key still says “shift,” reminding us that one small movement can change everything. Shift can mean changing from talking in a regular voice to TALKING IN A LOUD AND ANGRY VOICE. Shift can mean counting: 123456789 or swearing: !@#$%^&*.

To shift is to make a small change or movement. You can shift your body, shift the gears, or shift the blame. The wind shifts; tectonic plates shift; public opinion shifts. “Shift” can stand in for “compute,” “remove,” “sell,” or “deceive.” It can name the aforementioned key on a typewriter, a straight-cut dress, a personnel change on a football field, or a way of arranging bricks. To shift can even be a devious thing (thus “shifty”), or an act of self-sufficiency (“to shift for oneself”).

Writers have the power of shifting, like drivers in sports cars. We can control speed and pace and rhythm and where we go and when. Most important, we enable readers to shift mental lanes; i.e., to merge with big ideas.

SHIFT into high gear and submit today.