Risky Writing, Reunion Stories & Self-Implicating Narrators: A Chat With Lisa Ampleman, Editor of Cincinnati Review

Editor of prestigious lit mag shares insights into what she seeks in submissions

Hear ye, hear ye. Another editor interview has just wrapped!

Today I spoke with Lisa Ampleman, Editor of Cincinnati Review. Among many gems of insight, Lisa informed me of the proper way to spell Cincinnati. (I seem incapable of getting it right on the first try.)

Additionally, Lisa took us behind the scenes of her journal’s editorial process, where the staff is largely made up of graduate students from the University of Cincinnati. She shared specifics about some of the work the journal has accepted and why it was just right for what this journal seeks to do.

We also talked about “self-implication” (a feature that Lisa finds important in a piece of writing) and what this means regarding fictional characters and creative nonfiction narrators. From here we discussed what it means to portray the subjectivity of characters in a way that is fresh and morally complex.

Lisa also mentioned that the journal favors writing that takes risks. Since editors tend to say this a lot (and I often repeat it as a writing instructor), I decided to question Lisa about what literary “risk-taking” means to her. Her answer? You will have to watch to find out!

Cincinnati Review publishes two print issues per year. They publish fiction, poetry, nonfiction, drama, reviews and a portfolio of artwork (from a solicited artist). Due to supply chain issues, their fall issue is behind schedule, but should be out in November.

Also due to supply issues, as well as a veritable deluge of submissions of late, they have changed their submission schedule. The journal is open for submissions during the months of September, December and May only. Please note that they cap submissions. Sometimes this means turning off open submissions as soon as six days after they open! So if you’d like to get published here, best to submit on the very first day submissions open.

Alternatively, you could also try your hand with a MiCRo submission (a piece under 500 words), for which submissions are open year-round. Contests also run in the summer months.

Thank you so much to the folks who came out to watch today. Your faces bring me joy!

And thank you to Lisa, for taking the time to not only teach me how to spell but to share great insights into another lovely little mag.

Happy viewing!