"A Literary Snapshot of Our Culture." A Chat with Rebecca Markovits, Editor of American Short Fiction
Editor of esteemed fiction mag takes us behind the scenes
Happy Tuesday! I come with news of another editor interview, freshly wrapped.
Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Rebecca Markovits, Editor of American Short Fiction.
American Short Fiction is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary organization based in Austin, Texas, that promotes the art form of the short story in a nationally-distributed triquarterly print magazine, via ASF Online, and through live events and literary programming.
This magazine is among the most competitive in the country, with 800-1,000 stories submitted each month, and space for just five to eight to be published in each issue. So how on Earth can a writer stand out in the slush pile? And do these editors even accept work from the slush pile?
Today Rebecca took us through the editorial process, which consists of a team of volunteer readers, then editors who make final decisions among chosen works. Yes, work that comes in through Submittable does get published in this magazine. A case in point was Emily Mitchell’s story in the summer 2023 issue (which we read for our Lit Mag Reading Club). Mitchell’s story is a fictional re-telling of the Great Fire of London in 1666, and its inclusion here speaks to the adventurous and varied tastes of these editors.
Other writing comes to the magazine through literary agents and through annual contests. All contest entries are considered for publication in the journal. Often, if the editors want to publish a story, they will work extensively on edits with the writer. An example from this issue was a piece by Max Ross, which read so effortlessly and naturally I was astonished to learn they’d gone back and forth on edits for one year.
A writer hoping to stand out among the pack should think about the “sure-handedness” of the work. Rebecca (who is Editor along with Adeena Reitberger), is drawn to work where the author makes the reader feel they’re in “safe hands.” This can be through the imparting of some expertise, the handling of specific story details, a writer’s way of “[lifting] the veil” on a certain corner of the world, or realness of the story’s people, among other techniques.
American Short Fiction can be a career-changing publication. Rebecca said agents frequently contact the editors to meet writers published here. But that does not mean a writer needs to have a lengthy list of publications in order to get an acceptance. Several of their contributors are often at an early stage in their careers and past issues have been dedicated exclusively to emerging writers.
What else should writers focus on before hitting Submit for their stories? What are common reasons work gets rejected from this magazine? What trends has Rebecca seen in short stories over the years? And what makes a truly great short story?
For all this and more, dear ones, you will have to tune in to watch the video! This one is for members of our Lit Mag Reading Club only. But you can join the Club anytime by becoming a paying subscriber to Lit Mag News.
In spite of its name, American Short Fiction is not limited to American writers or writers living in America. They are “open to fiction by anyone, from anywhere.” They also publish longer works of fiction and occasionally publish novellas.
General submissions to the magazine are open September through December. Contest submissions are open throughout the year.
Beginning this year, the journal will also be offering an MFA for All program, “a community-rich online educational experience led by top-notch faculty, free of the significant hurdles of time, expense, and geography that MFAs demand.”
They are also open to volunteer readers for the magazine. You should be willing to read roughly thirty stories per month. If interested, contact editors@americanshortfiction.org.
To all who came out to read this issue and join the conversation, thank you for tuning in! Your faces are my sunshine rays on this brittle January day!
And, of course, thank you to Rebecca for taking the time to tell us about another lovely little magazine.
Happy viewing!