Lit Mag Reading Club Chat: Pacifica Literary Review, issue 19.1

Q & A with Matt Muth, Editor of Pacifica Literary Review

All new editor interview is in the books!

Today I had the great fun of speaking with Matt Muth, Editor and Co-Founder of Pacifica Literary Review. This online magazine “publishes poetry, fiction, and creative non three times a year on our website, and we are the best at what we do.”

Matt started the magazine around 2010 upon feeling a yearning to enter the literary world after completing his MFA. Rathan than covet the success of others, he decided to “make [his] own nice thing.” Pacifica Review has continued as a nice thing indeed, evolving from a print magazine to an exclusively online journal that champions new writers, or, what Matt calls “best of the next.”

The editorial team here is made up of readers with a variety of interests and vantage points, which allows for a wide array of styles and aesthetics to be represented. Among the qualities the editors here look for are attention to language, character development, sonic resonance, satisfying story structure, and work that functions as “a vehicle for making meaning.”

This journal is not affiliated with any university or organization, which gives Matt and his team a great deal of editorial freedom. This is something they clearly enjoy, as evidenced by their new Bodice Ripper Contest, which had its debut in the last issue. Why this contest? Because, Matt said, it’s fun. And the literary world could certainly use more fun these days. Also, it’s a chance to allow writers to explore issues such as the body, sexuality, intimacy and relationships in positive ways.

As lit mag editors are in a unique position to observe the prevalent concerns of our particular time, I asked Matt what recurring themes and subjects he sees a lot of these days. The answer was…well, certainly a surprise.

For that, as well as to find out specifically what Matt loves to see in poetry submissions, how this journal distinguishes itself in the vast ecosystem of lit mags, what Matt’s advice is for writers who receive a rejection from this journal, and so much more wonderful and quite funny and delightful discussion, you will have to watch the video!

This one is for members of Lit Mag Reading Club only. You can become a member by signing up anytime.

Pacifica Literary Review is open for submissions year-round. Their next issue will come out mid-May. Matt will be at AWP next week and encourages people to stop by and say hello.

To everyone who came out to participate and ask questions, thanks for tuning in!

And, of course, thank you to Matt for taking the time to give us this glimpse behind another fabulous little lit mag.

Happy viewing!