Mission Statement

As the old adage goes, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. At Bittersweet Magazine, we take that metaphor in stride—putting a spotlight on the art that comes from emotions both sweet and sour, one impossible to exist without the other. We aim to amplify the voices of creators who have struggled with hardship, mental illness, or emotional turmoil, while trying to delicately balance the line containing both hope and pragmatic realism. We reject the idea that anything can be merely one or the other, positive or negative—and by blending together these contradictory, complex, dual-flavored emotions, we make our lemonade.

Bittersweet Magazine, founded and ran by young adults and college students, is dedicated to emboldening our peers—two groups who share both distinct societal pressure and a distinct dismissal of their hardships. We hope to inspire young adult and college-enrolled writers, both new and experienced, to share their narratives of resilience against adversity, by creating transformative art that embraces both happiness and pain and acknowledges that one can never arise without the other. By shining a spotlight on this often overlooked part of the human experience, we aim to give those who struggle comradery and acceptance, a reassurance that they're not alone—and, hopefully, the strength needed to keep going.

Our hope is for the zest of our stories to inspire newfound strength and resilience in both our readers and the authors brave enough to submit. Whether you are a prospective author hoping to get published or a reader curious about what we have to share, we hope you'll join us in our mission.