"Running a Literary Magazine is Like Pouring Urine All Over Yourself." A Chat with Genna Rivieccio, Editor of The Opiate

Editor of anti-establishment journal takes us behind the scenes

Good day! I come with tidings of a new editor interview, freshly wrapped.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Genna Rivieccio, Founding Editor of The Opiate Magazine. The Opiate publishes online and print-on-demand and is “a quarterly literary journal dedicated to publishing narcotically good works.”

Genna started the magazine in 2015 upon feeling a “dissatisfaction with what’s available.” She was in New York City at the time and was not excited by the literary scene there. Presently she lives outside Paris, where there is still some of the cliquishness and petty politics she encountered in New York. France, however, is not as overcome by the cancel-culture mindset that has become so pervasive in the U.S.

Indeed, opposing cancel culture and existing outside the mainstream literary establishment is a defining part of this journal’s ethos. In describing her role as editor, Genna said, “I’m not here to censor people.”

Nonetheless, I did sense a certain hesitation on Genna’s part, a carefulness to her words. If you watch the video (which of course I hope you do!), you might notice the same, at least initially.

The interview picked up steam in the second half, as I assured her—because I genuinely believe—that more people agree with her than don’t, and that a lot of writers relate to where she’s coming from. People are tired of hierarchies within the literary establishment, they are tired of the political insularity, tired of the petty jockeying for power, and tired of being told what they are allowed to say or not say, think or not think, how to write and what to write about. At least, I personally find all this tiresome.

How, though, does an editor who defines her magazine as being anti-establishment and existing on the fringes also grow a readership? How does such a magazine connect with an audience? How does she keep up her morale?

Well, it’s not easy. Hence why Genna described the experience of being an editor as “like pouring urine all over yourself.” (I asked her to repeat this, because I wasn’t sure that’s what she said, and yes, she said it, and yes, it was awesome.)

As to what she wants to see more of in submissions, Genna said she likes humor. She also wants to see more fiction and especially more criticism. She attributes the dearth of criticism submissions to the fact that “everyone is afraid to speak.” But no personal essays please. If you send criticism, make it hard-hitting—“that Susan Sontag shit.”

As for everything else that was asked and discussed here, you’ll have to watch the video for it all!

The Opiate publishes fiction, criticism and poetry. Submissions are open year-round. If the Duosoma portal is closed, you can submit to Genna via email. Please be patient for a response, as Genna is the sole reader of submissions.

Also, if you watch the video and/or check out the magazine and would like to get more involved, Genna is always looking for help. You can email her directly.

To everyone who came out today, thank you so much for tuning in! Your faces are the pumpkin in my pie, the apple in my sun-dappled fall orchard!

And, of course, thank you to Genna, for taking the time to peel back the curtain of another groovy little magazine.

Happy viewing!

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