Conclusion
The whole premise of The Weekly Degree was to be based on the 30th meridian, which touches only Greenland and Antarctica. It splits the Atlantic Ocean in a virtual infinity. I guess the point of it was ‘limitlessness’ in what was to be published. And so it has been. Since July 25th, 2016, there have been countless creative and pragmatic pieces that have graced our page. Even some deceased authors have made cameos (those in the public domain AND deceased). What started as strictly a call for essays, it’s morphed into a mixed bag, but that’s kind of the point sometimes. A Neapolitan variety for exploration. For in-depth analyses. For whatever you’re not doing Sunday’s at 8 PM EST (20:00 for the international readers).
While the track record is not every week (I mean, c’mon that would be insane to have a 100% track record) it has held up very well throughout the years. It attracted readers and submitters from all around the globe, from different schools of thought and disciplines. 2020 I felt like it needed a ramping-up, so accompanying pictures were included. However, age can sometimes bring stagnation. And The Weekly Degree started becoming more of a chore as opposed to the joyful curation it once was. Readers came and went, the supposed revamp wasn’t as fruitful, and there were times when inundation with submissions, or periods of a barren submittable, threw us into a frenzy. So, again, the drawing board was set up. Votes were cast. And The Weekly Degree finally had an end date.
Could I have waited for the exact 4-year mark? Yes. Did I need to? No. When it comes to sentimentality and perceivable milestones, I think the fact The Weekly Degree being almost as old as Thirty West Publishing, is enough. And even so, the birth of Elevator Stories is what came from these hard decisions. It turned the idea of the journal into a more interactive platform. Plus, with the inclusion of Bec and Sophie, the next month or so will begin a different cosmic position and nautical alignment than The Weekly Degree. I could throw in a Phoenix metaphor, but there’s probably a poem in the archive you may come across.
On that note, for all of you contributors out there, do not feel concerned about your work. As long as Thirty West’s website is up, your work will be. Archived in perpetuity. If you need technical input for acknowledgments, simply put: (The Weekly Degree, 20XX) or however you wish to present it. If you need some help identifying your piece(s), feel free to email us and we will help out. All in all, without your work, this wouldn’t have existed, so its the least I can do for you all.
Well, here’s the last paragraph. I’m sitting on a farm in Tennessee as I write this. And while I am far away from home, I know that all of your works have essentially found a home in this journal. And that is inherently beautiful. I do hope you keep spreading the word of The Weekly Degree as you share and grow as creative people do. Small press thrives with you and from you. Stay well and take care.
Sincerely yours,
Josh D.
Editor-in-Chief