Nat Townsend

I joined Era quite shyly in my first year after going to a social on a whim. People were talking about the Prince Charles and asking what I would like to attend and write about. All questions signalled a potential which was at once intellectual and social, an atmosphere which Era cultivates, while in the process creating a unique platform for creativity. 

I have really enjoyed running the Poetry and Fiction workshop, and would be enthusiastic to carry this on into next year. This fortnightly meeting has brought the section together and has allowed the editorial process to be more democratic and tailored, moving it beyond one digital back and forth to a more productive and personal conversation. By organising similar in-person events across all Era’s sections, I would continue to make the committee and editorial process less enigmatic, while offering a consistent sounding board for ideas. 

I would also like to introduce a more formal submission framework for pitches via a form which would set out clearer guidance on what to include in the pitch. I would encourage more collaborative pieces, which consider the relation between mediums and support the communal dimension so integral to Era’s multifaceted identity. It was seeing people’s engagement with the possibilities the journal offered to participate in London’s arts scene which continuously drew me back to each meeting and print. I share this passion and will strive to promote it.