About
Our Mission
Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine is an online platform dedicated to using writing as catharsis, breaking the barrier around mental health, and providing an open platform for middle school to college age writers to express themselves. Founded in 2020, our project started off with three goals: 1) to foster and destigmatize conversations about mental health and identity, 2) to encourage finding mindfulness through writing, and 3) to create an open platform for young people to publish writing without the barriers of submission fees and long response times, as a young writers' stepping stone to larger publications. With the pandemic, political and economic turmoil, police brutality, and other large-scale issues arising, mental health conditions have become especially prevalent. We hope to use writing as a tool to heal and make sense of the complicated situations we've found ourselves in.
We are firm believers in the power of vulnerability. We believe that some of the most powerful writing in the world was created for catharsis—to deal with emotions, to make sense of life, to put trauma into words. Writing often helps us to understand our own identities and experiences; it is both an escape and a vehicle to delve into our own struggles and our own healing. We wish to encourage mindfulness and mental health discussion so that we can reduce the present stigma and create a pathway to healing, as this issue is something so important and present yet historically has been considered taboo.
For more on the genesis and inspiration behind this publication, see our interview with NewPages!
We are firm believers in the power of vulnerability. We believe that some of the most powerful writing in the world was created for catharsis—to deal with emotions, to make sense of life, to put trauma into words. Writing often helps us to understand our own identities and experiences; it is both an escape and a vehicle to delve into our own struggles and our own healing. We wish to encourage mindfulness and mental health discussion so that we can reduce the present stigma and create a pathway to healing, as this issue is something so important and present yet historically has been considered taboo.
For more on the genesis and inspiration behind this publication, see our interview with NewPages!
Meet the Founder
Anna Kiesewetter is a sophomore at Stanford University and serves as editor-in-chief of Cathartic Literary Magazine. A 2022 Stanford Boothe Prize finalist and 2020 Scholastic American Voices Medal nominee, her work is published in Polyphony Lit, Prometheus Dreaming, Rising Phoenix Review, Eunoia Review, Blue Marble Review, and elsewhere. For her, creating this magazine was its own form of catharsis. Since middle school, she’s been using writing to deal with her own anxiety and insecurity. Whether creating new worlds to escape into, or delving further into the bowels of her emotions, Anna has found clarity and solace in words. She sincerely hopes that this platform can provide the same for others; reading the poignant works that come in each day has certainly shown her that she—and everyone who struggles—is not alone.
Meet the Managing Editors
Eliza Mahon (she/they) is a queer writer and editor from Edmonton, Canada. Her work has appeared in Island Shores, an anthology by the Poetry Institute of Canada, Issue One of Blue Things Zine, and Second Chance Lit. She hopes to encourage young authors to write and read as much as possible. When they aren't editing, they are either representing Canada in rhythmic gymnastics or playing with their two dogs, London and Dempsey.
Ella Paul is a 17-year-old writer from New Jersey. An aspiring professor of English, she spends her free time immersing herself in art and writing on her private blog.
Natalie Hampton is a senior at HSPVA in the Creative Writing Department. She is a 2022 YoungArts Finalist in Creative Nonfiction and a Scholastic Gold Medalist, and an alumna of the Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship and Iowa Young Writers' Studio. Beyond writing, she enjoys playing soccer, working in activism, and volunteering.
Alex Choi is an 18 year old from Fairfax, Virginia attending Brown University. In Providence, Alex is a double major in both English and Computer Science where he looks to bridge the gap between effective communication and computing. He is a mindfulness meditation practitioner and advocate, and has since co-founded the website headsupteens.org that promotes mental health awareness for young students. In his free time, Alex enjoys reading, playing basketball, and cooking.
Meet the Executive Editors
Amanda Kay is a freshman at Stanford University. She has been nationally recognized by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Through editing, she hopes to learn more about the art others puts out and what makes each person special.
Luana Cimiotti is a high school student from Germany, who enjoys writing in various genres, including poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Her works have previously been published in Teen Ink Magazine, Galliard International Review, and the New York Times. As an executive editor and social media writer with Cathartic Lit, she looks forward to advocating for mental health and supporting others in their creative processes.
Kinnereth Din is freshman at Harvard University and emerging poet, writer, and artist from North Texas. Her aspirations began the first time she: heard the story of the baby chick and the watermelon, attempted to describe the intensity of fire engine red, and penned what she thought was a haiku about snow. Named after King David’s harp (the Hebrew word Kinnor), she was probably always destined for the poet's life. When she isn’t fulfilling dream and destiny though, you can find her occupied with daydreaming, drinking tea, or making box mix brownies.
The 2am writer that lives in the mind of sixteen-year-old Yun-Fei Wang has been taking over her sanity for a few years now, tearing her lifeline down, yet building up an escapism in the same breath. Find her in the evanescence of black-inked words, or at @rainofelsewhere on Instagram.
Rhyme Zhou is a 17-year-old from Hangzhou, China. She has been writing creative nonfiction in both Chinese and English since she was 12. She's been previously published in "Teen Ink" and her high school's literary magazine. Her favorite authors are Elif Shafak and Yashar Kemal. When she isn't at her desk writing or editing proses, Rhyme is out coaching badminton, perfecting her Turkish, tasting all kinds of coffee, revisiting Gabriel Iglesias's iconic jokes, or experimenting her own stand-up comedy.
Taylor Calonzo (she/her) is a high school student and writer from Southern California. She has poetry published in Asians in the Arts, as well as the "My World" Poetry Anthology by JUST POETRY!!! Along with being an executive editor for Cathartic, she is also an art editor for DIAL Magazine, an editor and project manager for the Youth4Arts Organization, and a writer for Asians in the Arts. In her free time, she enjoys reading poetry, watching Wong Kar-Wai films, and listening to Mitski.
Cameron Calonzo is a high school student from Southern California. She currently works as writer for the nonprofit Asians in the Arts, editor and project manager for the organization Youth4Arts, and poetry editor for her school district's literary journal. When she's not asleep, she enjoys watching movies, listening to Elliott Smith, and complaining.
Sakshi Umrotkar is a freshman at Stanford University. An alumna of the Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program, Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, and Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, she has been recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and the New York Times Learning Network. Besides writing and editing, she enjoys cooking, binge-watching movies, and exploring the intersection of political science, psychology, and creative writing.
Lucia Colwell is a high school junior who sings, writes, and acts in Pasadena, California. Lucia lives with her parents and puppy, all three of which inspire her writing and creative work. She loves to experiment with different writing styles and genres, specializing in creative nonfiction (with interests in poetry and spoken word). Lucia is passionate about mental health and social justice issues, bringing her interest in activism into her literary messages as she serves on the National Youth Leadership Council. Reach out to her at @lulu.jc.c on Instagram to connect about writing!
Mikey Harper is a 16-year-old transgender artist from Houston, Texas. He is a creative writing student with a focus in poetry and creative nonfiction, and is the managing editor of BLUNT FORCE JOURNAL. When he isn't reading or going to concerts, he's learning a new song on bass or adding more CDs to his collection.
Patricia Jane Donato is a senior in high school and aspires to be a successful author someday. Her work appears right here in Cathartic Literary Magazine, as well as in The WEIGHT Journal and Blue Marble Review. When she's not writing, Patricia enjoys reading fantasy novels, drawing manga, and chatting with her friends. You can follow Patricia on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and NaNoWriMo @writerfeels9.
Ella Chen is a high-school student from Beijing, China who goes to school in California. Journalling sparked her love of writing, so it’s no surprise that her favorite form of writing is personal essays. In her free time, she loves dancing, listening to Taylor Swift and K-pop, and hanging out with friends, and she is really passionate about mental health advocacy.
Janice Lin is a student from the San Francisco Bay Area. She writes poetry and sometimes creative nonfiction, and also dabbles in art and music. Her work is forthcoming or published here in Cathartic Lit, as well as in Polyphony Lit, Tigers Zine, and others. In her free time, she enjoys worldbuilding, theorizing about TV shows, and trying new boba shops with her friends.
A Filipino raised and schooled in Guam, Amber Pineda is a 15-year-old rising high school junior. Her work has been featured in Cathartic Lit, the Belladonna Comedy, redrosethorns magazine, and the Youth Speaks: Human Rights in Verse Anthology. She currently interns for the Pacific Daily News and was invited as a featured writer in an upcoming workshop.
Meet the General Editors
Oz Leshem is a queer, nonbinary poet from Taos, New Mexico. They are the 2021 Santa Fe Youth Poet Laureate and a national medalist in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Oz’s work has been published in Teen Ink, Ice Lolly Review, Clear Skies Zine, and Dreams of Montezuma, among others. Oz was selected as a 2020 Miller Scholar for excellence in Creative Writing and is the recipient of the New Mexico State New York Life Award.
Emma Keas is a 14-year-old poet from California with an infatuation with art and words. More often than not, her poems are accidental spills following a tripped-over thought. She also spends too much time watching her heart’s reflection ripple in those puddles and not enough time collecting them.
Tanvi Nagar is a high school senior at Delhi Public School, Gurgaon. She has been writing for the past nine years and has contributed to national newspapers like The Times of India and Hindustan Times; magazines like the Ice Lolly Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, The Weight Journal and Secret Attic and anthologies by Delhi Poetry Slam, Authors Press and Half Baked Beans. She is the former Editor of her school and the present Head Girl of her school’s student council. She has authored four books titled, ‘A Treasure Trove of Poetic Wonderland’ ‘A Bountiful of Rhythmic Stories’ ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘My Book of Short Stories and Poems’ and two research papers which were published in the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research. She has also won the Eye Level Literary Award 2018 by Daekyo South Korea, The Create Change Challenge by The University of Queensland, Australia and the Millenial Essay Writing Contest by UNESCO. Her website is tanvinagar.com.
Claire Hong is an Asian-American high school junior from the Bay Area, California who dreams of becoming a poet. From an early age, she has spent unhealthy amounts of time exploring her own imaginary worlds, which she continues to expand in her 3 AM poems. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, debating about when the world will come to an end, and encouraging her friends to try their hand at writing.
Camryn Neches is a high school junior from Long Island, New York! She loves to write, and her writing has most recently been featured in Teen Ink Magazine with the Editor's Choice Award, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and she is a graduate of the Iowa Young Writers' Studio. Outside of writing, she loves to read science fiction, research science topics that she doesn't fully understand, watch movies, and narrate her dog's inner thoughts. You can find her and her toy collection @superheroesforheroes, which is her Instagram page to raise money for toys and celebrations for kids battling health issues.
Anna Bien is an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo. She enjoys writing short stories, collecting old books, and exploring the natural world. She is also passionate about advocating for mental health outreach, and helping young writers reach their full potential.
Myesha Phukan is a freshman at Mountain View High School in California. An alumnus of the Incandescent Review Summer Studio, her work has been published in K'in Literary Journal, Intersections Magazine, and Crossed Paths Magazine, among other places. She is a staff writer for Detester Magazine, and an editor for Footprints on Jupiter, and Intersections Magazine. She is also on the Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate Volunteer Team. Myesha is passionate about raising awareness for social issues through her poetry and believes that writing is the best way she can express herself. When she's not writing you can find her most likely obsessing over Marvel characters and dancing in the rain to Taylor Swift songs.
Megan Pitt is a 16-year-old avid reader and writer from New Jersey. As editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, she enjoys not only editing the work of others but gaining inspiration from them. Writing is her passion and she hopes to pursue it in France in the future.
Pooja Narayan is a high schooler from New Jersey who has too many interests. When she’s not writing or reading, they can be found dancing or debating at school.
Karen Zhao is a high school junior from California who loves writing and reading. In her free time or when she’s procrastinating, she enjoys reading film and fashion runway reviews, watching movies, and drawing.
Joy Chen is a 16-year-old high school student living in Hong Kong. She lives to write and (trying to) create art and will be attending the Iowa Young Writer's Studio this summer. She likes to spend her time biking around her small town on the edge of the city while listening to indie rock, smiling awkwardly at strangers walking their dogs, taking photographs, and running - usually long-distance, but also away from her problems.
Hannah Zhang is a 16 year-old aspiring writer from Tucson, Arizona. She enjoys reading all kinds of novels, leaning towards adventure and fantasy. Inspired by the beauty of nature, she frequently incorporates it into her stories and poems. She has been writing since a young age and sees it as an outlet to express herself. She hopes that her writing can inspire readers to appreciate the beauty of life and the world we live in. Hannah's work has been recognized at Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition and published at Girls Right The World, The Weight Journal, TeenWritersProject Quarterly Lit Zine magazine, Cathartic Literary Magazine, Journal of Undiscovered Poet, and Idle Ink. Besides writing, Hannah is a violinst, playing in two youth orchestra and the founder of "Notes of Hope Youth." https://www.notesofhopeyouth.org https://youtube.com/c/NotesofHopeYout
Jay Jarboe is a 17 year old from Kansas with a passion for any niche they can explore. Their top fascinations currently include illustration, neuroscience, writing, and carpentry. They like to write with a dark and sometimes darkly humorous edge, and find inspiration from 90’s hard rock, psychological horror, and cartoons such as Courage the Cowardly Dog.
Lisa Vo is a young adult fiction writer and poet from Lake Worth, Florida. As an undergraduate at Ringling College, she pursues creative writing. Her work has been featured in Ice Lolly Review, Academy of the Heart and Mind, among other outlets. She gravitates toward stories which explore the depths of human connection or natural beauty. When free, she enjoys bookstore browsing, painting, and stargazing. You can find her on Instagram @lisyloo824.
Pooja Prabakaran is a high school student from San Jose, California. She is an avid reader and writer of fiction and poetry. She is also a 2022 California Arts Scholar, and she has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her poetry. When she’s not writing, she can be found organizing events for her school’s Women’s Empowerment Club and listening to K-pop.
Ana is an undecided college student from Brazil, but she considers herself part New Yorker. Being undecided makes her not only learn different subjects but also engage in activities that teach her different skills. Now, she is learning editing skills in the magazine. In her free time, she enjoys walking and chilling with her friends.
Andrew Yuan (he/they) is a rising junior from Phillips Exeter Academy. His work is forthcoming in The Blue Marble Review and has been recognized by Scholastic National Arts and Writing Awards. He is a current/past participant in Iowa Young Writers' Workshop and Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program. In addition to creative writing, he is also a contributor to South China Morning Post.
Jordan Davidson is a student at Yale University studying Applied Physics and History of Witchcraft. She doesn’t understand either one really, so don’t ask her any questions :). Her work has previously been published in Cloaked Press’s Summer of Speculation: Villains, Youth Imagination, and Class Collective among others. You find the rest of her writing at: https://jdavidson2718.wixsite.com/jordan-davidson-auth and follow her writing ramblings at @jdavidsonwrites.
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Paige O’Connor is a 17 year old writer and editor from the Blue Mountains, Australia. Her opinion pieces and personal essays have been published in Julyfire Mag and Living Zine. She's a creative powerhouse who aims for open communication and authenticity in mental health awareness. Paige is a passionate activist, leading her school’s Social Justice club and coordinating several fundraisers for initiatives such as the Daffodil Day Appeal and Wear it Purple Day. In her freetime, she enjoys journalling, playing the guitar, bookstore browsing and cuddling with her pet birds.
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Quinn Wang (they/them) is a 15-year-old non-binary writer and visual artist from California. They were part of the CSSSA class of 2022 in the creative writing department. When not reading or writing, they enjoy embroidery and playing with their cat (of whom they're allergic to--but love all the same).
Renee Chen is a high school student from Taipei, Taiwan. She has been published in The Wilderness House Literary Review, Polyphony Lit, The Daphne Review, and elsewhere. Currently, she is an editor for Polyphony Lit and part of Incandescent Review's Film and Spoken Word team. When she's not writing, she can be found reading mystery and detective novels. She feels excited to join Cathartic Magazine!
Gladys Smith is a student at Jamestown High School currently residing in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has been an enthusiastic reader her entire life (her favorite author is David Sedaris) but did not write seriously until several summers ago. She is an alumna of the Kelly Writers House Summer Workshop and her first publication was here at Cathartic Literary Magazine.
Meet the Social Media Staff
Hala Hersi (18, Indiana) - Mental Health Writer
Hala (she/her) is a 2nd year Anthropology major at the University of Chicago originally from Indianapolis. She is passionate about dispelling the stigma around mental illness and mental health, particularly in immigrant, Muslim communities. When she is not working, she can be found reading, writing or finding new coffee shops to explore.
Hala (she/her) is a 2nd year Anthropology major at the University of Chicago originally from Indianapolis. She is passionate about dispelling the stigma around mental illness and mental health, particularly in immigrant, Muslim communities. When she is not working, she can be found reading, writing or finding new coffee shops to explore.
Asiyah Jilani (16, Texas) - Mental Health Writer
Asiyah is a 17 year old from Texas, currently in her senior year of high school. She enjoys many kinds of writing, although her favorite has always been poetry - one of her poems has even won a Scholastic Art and Writing silver key award. When she is not writing, she can be found editing videos, reading, or watching teen dramas. As a member of the Cathartic Lit staff, she aims to normalize discussions about mental health and reduce stigma around it through writing, creating, and connecting.
Asiyah is a 17 year old from Texas, currently in her senior year of high school. She enjoys many kinds of writing, although her favorite has always been poetry - one of her poems has even won a Scholastic Art and Writing silver key award. When she is not writing, she can be found editing videos, reading, or watching teen dramas. As a member of the Cathartic Lit staff, she aims to normalize discussions about mental health and reduce stigma around it through writing, creating, and connecting.
Bruno Arcidiacono (16, Argentina) - Literary Graphic Designer
Bruno is a 16-year-old student from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who is passionate about science and space. He is a co-author in the Mars Society Argentina book: “Marte: pasado, presente y futuro”, he is working on social media and design for a math educational program, and participates in many STEM activities and courses. If he is not learning new things, you can find him playing volleyball or trying new things. He wants a better world, therefore he participates in organizations that fight environmental issues as well as other existing problems, trying to create impact in the community.
Bruno is a 16-year-old student from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who is passionate about science and space. He is a co-author in the Mars Society Argentina book: “Marte: pasado, presente y futuro”, he is working on social media and design for a math educational program, and participates in many STEM activities and courses. If he is not learning new things, you can find him playing volleyball or trying new things. He wants a better world, therefore he participates in organizations that fight environmental issues as well as other existing problems, trying to create impact in the community.
Alumni
Avalon Felice Lee received a nomination for Best Small Fictions 2022. Her words are internationally recognized by Brain Mill Press, Capsule Stories, Kissing Dynamite, The Lumiere Review, and elsewhere. She and her kitten, Esquire Mona Lee, are on Instagram at @avalonfelicelee.
Anoushka Kumar is a 15-year-old writer and student from India whose work has been published in Crossed Paths Magazine, Honeyfire Lit, and Prose. She is also an editor for the Interstellar Literary Review, and has written for her school's magazine. When not writing she can be found playing music at odd hours of the day, crying over poetry and debating the queerness of complex female characters.
Norah Laughter is a student from Russellville, Kentucky, who attends Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is an avid reader and writer, as well as the editor-in-chief of her school's online art and literature magazine, Agora. She is a creative writing graduate of the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts, as well as a published student journalist, appearing in publications like the Lexington-Herald Leader, the Louisville Courier Journal, and the Aspen Institute. Her poetry has received regional recognition from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In addition to writing, she is extremely passionate about climate science and equity. She loves the intersection of art and health, and she is super excited to help others use writing as a means to understand themselves and their relationship with the world.
Matt Hsu is a high school junior from San Francisco, California. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis and eating dark chocolate. He writes about things like romance and Christmas trees, but he makes it spooky because it's more fun that way. Currently he's working on a mystery novel about a lonely assassin.
Lani Kasperovic is a passionate young adult author, editor and advocate based in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently undertaking a double degree at RMIT University in professional and creative writing and editing. Lani was first published at the age of 13 in an anthology of youth writing and continued a connection with the editors to see two further works printed by the same publication. She has contributed to online publications via Write the World and Instagram, managing social writing accounts whilst offering her editorial skills to high school students both local and international. When she isn’t editing, Lani is constantly searching for projects and actions to take to advocate for the care of humans, believing in kindness and working towards changing the world.
Rhea Bogarapu is a high school senior who was born in Houston, Texas, but now calls Hyderabad, India her home. An avid bibliophile, Rhea spends most of her time hunched over gushy YA novels, if and when she’s not snacking. She’s extremely passionate about raising mental health awareness in her own community and is ecstatic to be a part of Cathartic!
Christina Pan is a sixteen-year-old writer from New York City. Her work is published or forthcoming in Eunoia Review, Ekphrastic Review, Ember, and elsewhere. She also edits for Polyphony Lit. Her favorite narrative form at the moment is the six word story, after Atwood: “Starlet sex scandal. Giant squid involved.”
Erin Lee is a 17-year-old Asian-American from North Carolina who writes mini essays analyzing characters for fun. They have been reading and writing since they could form coherent, independent thought, and they haven't really stopped since then. Their works can be found on various sites, including (but not limited to) the Among the Branches zine and this magazine.
Avril Black is a seventeen-year-old writer from Canada who adores poetry and flash fiction. She is passionate about editing and encouraging other young writers. After graduating high school, she hopes to pursue a career in the medical field and travel the world! You can find her poetry in the latest issue of Aster Lit.
Saanvi Sundaram is known for many things, music, babbling, even her introverted personality, but on top of it all, she is a writer. A fourteen year old living in India, she loves writing poetry and short stories that allow her to bring her ideas to life. She is the editor-in-chief for her school newspaper, runs a small blog, works as a part of the stargazette magazine, and has been previously published in magazines such as The Elysian Muse and Potted Purple. If she isn't writing, she's either practicing her music, searching for volunteer opportunities, or obsessing over the fact that boba tea isn't available where she lives. You can find her at https://linktr.ee/SunV
Vivian Zhou is a seventeen-year-old junior from Shanghai, China. She currently attends a boarding school in Hudson, Ohio. She has been editing people’s work for more than a year, and she has gained and learned a lot from this process. She is really interested in psychology, social justice, and mental health, and she is dedicated to helping those near and far. She is a swimmer, dancer, music lover, and explorer (and a HUGE foodie). She also enjoys reading non-fiction and current events! You can reach out to her on Instagram: vivian_zhouu
Durva is a 15-year old student currently studying Literary Arts at the School of the Arts, Singapore. When she's not panicking over assignments or cramming before a test, she enjoys reading fanfiction and listening to Korean pop music. Her hobbies include mindlessly crocheting squares, drinking bubble tea on student discount and shopping for clothes she'll never buy.
Neha Varadharajan (she/her) is a high school sophomore who primarily writes poetry and songs. Her work has been featured in Trouvaille Review, Stone of Madness Press, The Weight Journal, Ice Lolly Review, and elsewhere. She was an Incandescent Summer Studio 2021 mentee in poetry. Her hobbies besides writing include doing math for fun (yeah.), listening to music (and music=Taylor Swift), and lazing around all day drinking chai lattes.
Syna Majumder is a high-school student who loves to write about mocktails, road trips, and horrible people. Her work has been published in the Daily Drunk and Paper Crane and is forthcoming in the Bitchin' Kitsch and Pareidolia, among others. You can find them @fuzz_pedals on Instagram.
Sam Sobel is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, New Brunswick whose work has been featured in a couple of places there (including The Anthologist and Writers House Review). Most recently, he had a poem published over at Wild Greens Magazine in their February edition. Sam loves all aspects of language ranging from literature to sociolinguistics, and he hopes to pursue an MFA in poetry. His favorite word at the moment is lacuna, which means "a hiatus, gap, or missing portion."
