I'm Every Lit Mag!

Poetry Foundation accounts for itself, Ishmael Reed on tokenism in literature, lit mags in Ireland launching new writers, profiles of new lit mags, new calls for submissions, and more.

Greetings Lit Magrodisiacs,

No, you’re not crazy. This newsletter is indeed supposed to arrive in your inbox on alternating Mondays. However, this fun interview with Richard Krawiec, Editor of One Magazine, was taking place yesterday. So please pardon the delay.

Now get ready, because lit mag news abounds. First, after taking heat for its problematic publishing practices and public statements, Poetry Foundation has announced a One-Year Commitment Update Towards Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion. “One year after committing to becoming a more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and transparent organization, the Poetry Foundation is writing to share that its commitment remains strong, its progress is notable, and its journey is ongoing.”

Meanwhile at Tablet, Ishmael Reed has written On Tokens and Tokenism, stating,

Tokens are the bane of Black literature, and for that matter, Latinx, Native American, and Asian American literature. They are often selected arbitrarily as symbols by those who know little about Black literary traditions or literature in general, and their work overshadows the production of writers who might write as well or better.

Reed goes on to credit those lit mags that have given homes to the work of writers outside the mainstream literary establishment.

Who are some of the writers that have been neglected by these guardians of patronage more likely to extend grants to fellow professors than to struggling artists? One of today’s most important Black female writers is homeless. Fortunately, her classic novel is in the midst of a revival as a result of a boost from The Paris Review. She could use a grant.

Over at Slate, Alexis Nowicki has written about the experience of learning that The New Yorker’s famous story “Cat Person” was based on her own life. “What’s difficult about having your relationship rewritten and memorialized in the most viral short story of all time is the sensation that millions of people now know that relationship as described by a stranger. Meanwhile, I’m alone with my memories…”

If you’re looking to expand your literary horizons you might be interested in Why Ireland’s literary journals are brilliant stepping stones for emerging writers. Valerie O’Connor writes, “Tolka, Beir Bua, Strukturiss, Riverbed Review and Sonder are just some of the new titles being created to publish, in a variety of forms, writers’ experiences.”

You may also want to check out Lyndsie Manusos’s piece on “short story collections as portals to literary magazines.” Manusos writes, “Many famous writers have had stories begin their journey in small literary magazines...So if you’re interested in finding new corners of the short fiction world, I will show you were to begin.”

Many new lit mags have received profiles of late. THROB “delves into Hawai’i stories.” At Taco Bell Quarterly, “an undercurrent of nostalgia and love and loss runs throughout.” Tomorrow and Tomorrow’s first issue was thought of by the editors “as a mixtape, with various contributions purposefully juxtaposed to comment or shed light on the others.” 

And while Ambit is not a new magazine, they’ve added a new edition, Ambit Pop. “Envisioned as the ‘younger sister’ of Ambit, each release of Ambit Pop will be guest edited by a different cultural icon, with the first installment being handed over to Lias Saoudi of English rock band Fat White Family.”

At Poets & Writers, M. Leona Godin talks about the lit mags that helped along the way toward publishing her new collection. “Godin’s columns [at Catapult], including those about her experience learning Braille and how blind people are often denied their sexuality, informed There Plant Eyes.”

But who among these magazines, you wonder, has the most important and coveted status of all? That being the highest amount of Twitter followers. Well, wonder no more. Brecht De Poortere has provided a ranking. Not surprisingly, The New Yorker tops the list at nearly 9 million followers, with Atlantic Monthly and Paris Review coming in next.

For those working the submission hustle right now, here are useful lists: The indefatigable Trish Hopkinson has posted 39 International lit mags seeking submissions of poetry, prose, and art. The always-instructive S. Kalekar has posted 38 Themed Calls for Submissions for July 2021. And the ever-informed Erica Verrillo has shared 85 Calls for Submissions in July 2021 - Paying markets.

Meanwhile, if you’re a lit mag editor, make sure to submit your favorite publications to this year’s Best of the Net. Subs are open until September 30th, 2021.

Finally, friends, if you would like to learn more about the ins and outs of various lit mags, remember to check out this schedule of live interviews with journal editors. Later this month I will be chatting with the editors of Story Magazine, SmokeLong Quarterly and Tahoma Literary Review.

For those of you with specific questions about submitting to journals, I will also be doing another live teaching session/Q & A this Thursday, July 15th at 2pm est. This will be an incredibly informal but highly informational conversation. We’ll talk about how to narrow the market to lit mags right for your work, how to grow your literary community and network, strategies for sallying forth in the face of rejections, and whatever else you want to discuss. This event is for subscribers only, so if you’re interested in participating, please click the red button. A registration link will be sent later today.

And that you fearless warriors, trying writing on your own, you who courageously send your most personal stories out for publication, trusting that your love is their love and my love is your love, you who learned from the best, you who, it’s true, are so emotional and yet you who take honest assessments of your work and are like, well, honestly? it’s not right but it’s okay, you honing in on revision, which is really just one moment in time, and you and you, everywhere wondering, but how will I know? Seriously. How will I know if he really loves me? even after you’ve said, so many times, I will always love you, and also had some thoughts about the greatest love of all, and you marvelous wonders who just, when it comes right down to it, like when you’re really being honest with yourself, taking stock and looking deeply within, just, truly, at the end of the day, only ever wanna dance with somebody, is the news in literary magazines.

Have an electrified week, pals.

Fondly,

Becky

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