What are the elements that make INK, the University of Plymouth’s student literary anthology successful? Fire: a drive to create great work, whether that is through writing, illustration or publishing. Water: an essential ingredient in all the coffee needed for the editing and design process. Air: just keep breathing. Earth: asking the question ‘how on earth is this all going to come together?’ (and then finding that somehow it does). Soul: investing heart and soul in producing the content and publishing it. Fitting then, that the first INK of a new decade has taken ‘Elements’ as its theme.

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In a tumultuous world where politics, the environment and world health dominate conversation, it is tempting to retreat to our personal views of the world; therefore it is important, where possible, to find opportunities to connect and to celebrate, in interesting ways, how our paths cross with all kinds of people and situations. As former General Editor of INK (2015), and a keen reader of every anthology since, I can confidently say that INK has always provided that opportunity. Curated and edited by students from English, Creative Writing and Publishing degrees at the University of Plymouth, the anthology offers students from every discipline the opportunity to contribute. Showcasing writing and illustration talent, as well as the skills acquired by aspiring publishers, INK demonstrates the power of the student body working together to create and inspire with a clarity of voice.

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This idea of connectedness, of multi-disciplinary collaboration, is important in my work at Literature Works and we seek ways to work across art forms and platforms to create something unique. Setting up a digital presence for the anthology was important to my editorship of INK – and was one of the key tasks my editorial team undertook – in order to ensure that INK could go further than the page. This came at a time of interesting discussion around the relationship between print and digital modes of publishing in the industry. Now, five years on, there is a return to the book, the physical thing. This is a move that Literature Works – and I – welcome, however, in this culture of instant news, of sharing, liking and viral “everything”, the digital tools at our disposal help the written word go further. INK 2020 demonstrates what can be achieved when the two elements work together. The anthology you are holding is proof that the team have produced a high-quality printed product. The forerunner and companion to this is a strong website focused on the theme and on engaging social feeds. The anthology is the star, but its digital companion will help it go beyond the page, reaching more readers and creating its legacy.

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It is a legacy that I am proud to be a part of and I would like to congratulate the team on such a timely and thought-provoking issue. Within these pages you will find work from various disciplines and from writers and creatives at the beginning of their careers. Fiction, non-fiction and poetry about the elements intertwine here, to demonstrate how nature, humanity and creativity connect. I, for one, am excited at the prospect of future achievements of the students featured here; there is certainly much to inspire.