Issue I: Summer 2023

Cover Art Winner: Siblings by Katy Kennedy

Editor’s Note

Dear reader,

Before you explore the literary gems of Diamond Gazette’s first issue, I want to share with you all the story behind this magazine. It all started a few months ago, when the idea of an international collective for youth writers first popped into my head. Growing up as an avid Asian writer in a small, predominantly white town, I always longed for a multi-cultural exchange of stories and diverse perspectives I could both relate to and learn from. I pushed this idea to the back of my mind in the midst of school, but as soon as summer break rolled around I dedicated all of my time to building a brilliant community of young writers. And the results could not have been more rewarding.

This magazine has turned into an international platform for young writers, a cross-cultural exchange of stories, and a free publishing hub for youth all within the span of a little over 2 months. Seeing all of the wonderful submissions Diamond Gazette has received in such a short period of time never fails to amaze me.

The process of deciding which pieces to cut and which to accept has been both enchanting and grueling. Every single one of the submissions we received were filled with a voice and creative passion that made reading them a breeze, and rejecting them an excruciating task. If your pieces were not accepted this round, do not be discouraged. We urge you to try again next time. The future of literature is in your hands, so keep on writing!

Many thanks to our talented editors, who you can see in our Masthead page. This absolutely could not have been achieved without them!

And of course, special thanks to you, the reader, for seeking out these sparkling stories.

This is only the beginning!

Chloe Chang
Editor-In-Chief, Diamond Gazette