Six Questions for Mason Young, Editor-in-Chief, Ark Review

Ark Review publishes environmental writing: fiction, memoir and personal essays to 1,200 words, poetry to thirty lines, and art. Read the complete guidelines here.

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

MY: I felt the disconnect in our perception between the environment and us as humans. Climate change persists, and it is a problem far closer to home than stranded polar bears; it is a migration and diaspora problem, a disease control problem, a global economic problem, a national security problem, a problem about resource wars, land wars, sovereignty, heat-deaths, cold-snap deaths, storm-deaths, flood-deaths, food. Environmental disasters are human disasters.

I also felt the disconnect between modern literature and young writers/readers. Most journals of creative writing are exclusively from adult authors, or from authors with previous publications, while others are exclusively for teens. This is understandable as newer writers (and newer humans) tend to have less experience in their craft and need more guidance in producing quality work. However, without an intention to bring in a diverse set of authors, issues of creative writing become monolithic. We at Ark Review try to share not just international but intergenerational volumes of creative writing, united for this common cause.

So, with the youth nonprofit Everything Starts Small, we started Ark Review.

SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?

MY: Firstly, an environmental focus. This is the first thing we look for in a submission. This doesn't necessarily translate into setting; the piece can take place anywhere, from in the middle of a city to all in your head. But the piece's theme must revolve around connecting with what the world was like before us, what the world will look like after us, or what the world looks like with us and within us, right now.

Secondly, uniqueness. When you establish a journal centered around a common theme, you tend to get a lot of submissions that communicate the same thing. Tell us something new about our relationship with the environment.

Finally, the piece should elicit a reaction. Reading it should provoke a physical response, lingering image, or emotional impulse. This is how we move our readers towards taking action, towards ecological justice.

SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

MY: A lack of that second aspect. The key to tackling a broad topic, like climate change, is not to zoom out but rather to zoom in. Avoid being vague or broad in favor of focusing on a single instant or a single story, because, with a few pages or a few lines, that's the only way to contribute to the larger story of all of us.

SQF: What do you look for in the opening paragraph(s)/stanza(s) of a submission?

MY: Beyond what I've already mentioned, I immediately look for a strong sense of craft. Tell us something new—yes—and tell it in a new way, one that demonstrates purpose and ferocity in every word. That's what makes us fall in love with pieces.

SQF: Many editors list erotica, or sex for sex's sake, as hard sells. What are hard sells for your publication?

MY: Sex for sex's sake and violence for violence's sake are two of them. Our targeted audience comes from a diverse age and political range, and these two elements have a tendency to alienate certain readers. However, sex and violence may be necessary themes in a piece, and thus are hard sells but still on the table if written with intention. We also acknowledge that when presenting a heterogeneous volume of work, not every piece is meant to appeal to every reader, and finding those pieces that connect with you is what makes this project so beautiful.

Other hard sells would include: doomism; metaphors without characters, or proper nouns; and disregard for current environmental science, though not to discount absurdism. To reiterate: it's all about intentionality.

SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

MY: What type of submissions do you wish you got more of?

Optimistic pieces. Not pieces that are ignorant, or even necessarily happy. But pieces that give us hope. That show that people are changing their minds about the environment. That they've stopped viewing it as something separate from us. Hope is our symbol, right? Our mission is to be the Ark: the words that carry us through the storm.

Thank you, Mason. We all appreciate your taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.

Six Questions for Emily Lawton and Jay Holley, Co-Editors, Johnny America

Johnny America is the name for both our sporadically published print ’zine and clockwork-regular website of fiction, humor, and other miscellany. 

Our typical reader has a literary bent but enjoys the silly and absurd and isn’t too self-serious: we appeal to those who can appreciate both Ulysses and Mad Magazine. Read the complete guidelines here.

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

JA: Johnny America started as a lark, springing from chats over AOL Instant Messenger as we sneaked internet access at our respective day-jobs at the turn of the millennium. The two of us were best of friends who'd moved to different cities, so we started J.A. first and foremost because we wanted to create a project where we could share stories with each other. We knew we’d invite a handful of friends in on the fun, but didn't expect we’d ever attract so many readers and writers not personally known to us.

SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?

JA: The top thing we look for is a tonal fit. While it makes us a little uncomfortable to describe our general sensibility—because that feels pigeon-holing—it’s fair to say that J.A. has an irreverent, somewhat playful tone that frequently blends dry humor with whimsical sensibilities. We’re looking for stories that sit well next to each other on the page or Internet.

We’re also looking for stories that are fully realized. We’ll of course proofread for typos, because there are always typos, but it’s rare that we’ll accept a story that needs more than minor edits. 

And of course, we look for submissions with cover letters complimenting our toned abdominal muscles.

SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

JA: Some of our big turn-offs include gratuitous violence or grotesqueness, trippy drug stories, and humorous submissions that were clearly written to fit an idiosyncratic tone of another publication—say the faux news of The Onion or a “list” that clearly aspired to McSweeney’s. 

In our submissions guidelines we provide a list of topics that generally don’t work for us as a guide to potential submitters. We’re so very grateful that strangers from across the Internet send us their stories to read, and we don’t want to waste anyone’s time when they could be targeting other venues where their story might click.

SQF: Do you provide comments when you reject a submission?

JA: Sometimes. If a submission is obviously a bulk submission with a tone so far off the mark that it’s clear the author doesn’t have even a passing familiarity with J.A., we’re likely to reply in kind with a “thank you, but this one’s not for us.” 

Many times, particularly with humorous submissions, we’ll reply with something along the lines of “this one didn’t quite work for us,” which we recognize is a too vague to be a truly constructive comment but is true none-the-less. While it’s relatively easy to comment on basic structural problems in fiction, it’s surprisingly difficult to succinctly and thoughtfully comment on the humorous potential coiled in a phrase like “the cat had a bad case of impetigo.”

If the decision to pass was a particularly difficult one—meaning the two of us had extended discussion about a piece or had to stew on whether it was a good fit for us—we’ll say so, usually with specific comments, and encourage the author to share with us again in the future.

SQF: If Johnny America had a theme song, what would it be and why?

JA: If Johnny America had a theme song, it would probably be something a little askew, something upbeat but also off-beat—like 'Once in a Lifetime' by Talking Heads. That song’s mix of absurdity and introspection feels in line with the spirit of Johnny America. It's a celebration of the weirdness and charm in everyday life, which is what we aim to capture in our stories and illustrations. 

SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

JA: Hmm. That’s a fun one with so many answers! How about... If Johnny America were a person, what would they be like?

To which we might reply: Johnny America would be that friend who shows up to the party in a thrift-store suit, armed with a pocket notebook full of observations and doodles. They’d crack jokes that make you laugh first and think later, and spend the night in a kitchen swapping weird, heartfelt stories. Johnny would be equal parts raconteur and confidant, with a dash of mischief—exactly the energy we aim to channel on the site.

Thank you, Emily and Jay. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.

Six Questions for Doug Jacquier, Editor, Witcraft

Witcraft publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry of 200-1,000 words. “We're looking for skillful writing that is brief, humorous and engaging, with the emphasis on wit, word play, absurdity and inspired nonsense. We offer monthly prizes of A$50, A$20 and $A10. Entry is free. Read the complete guidelines here.

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

Doug Jacquier: I love humour, wit, absurdity, wry social commentary, and people’s funny moments in their lives. I love writers who know how to craft their submissions to reach the audience they crave.

I know there’s a market out there of people who want some daily relief from the gloom and doom that seems to pervade the news and the web. And I know writers who love to write humour.

In despair at being able to find a home for well-crafted humorous work, I decided (with a lot of encouragement from my wife, Sue) to be the change I wanted to see. Hence Witcraft.

SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?

DJ: We look for stories and poems that share these common elements:

• They span cultures and tap into the universal.
• They are well-crafted and use literary skills.
• They don’t assume that everyone is mired in consumer culture (food, fashion, binge TV, the Royals, etc.).

SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

DJ: There are some basic no-no’s that will automatically get you a rejection.

• Pieces that use a sledgehammer to nail a tack.
• Work that is gratuitously offensive.
• Thinly disguised comedy routines.
• Writers who think excretion or genitalia or four-letter words are inherently funny.
• Current political satire, including fake news. 

SQF: What do you look for in the opening paragraph(s)/stanza(s) of a submission?

DJ: Our specialty is brief humour pieces, so the opening is less important than in longer formats. We look for pieces that work as a whole.

SQF: If Witcraft had a theme song, what would it be and why?

DJ: Randy Neman’s ‘You’ve got a friend in me’, which sums up my feelings for humour writers around the world. 

SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

DJ: Do you write articles on humour?

Yes, I do and you can find most of them on Witcraft’s Substack page.   

I’ve also published a free list of 100+ other magazines that publish humour, as acknowledged by Chill Subs in this piece.

Thank you, Doug. We all appreciate your taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.

Six Questions For Claudio Perinot, Editor, KUDU

KUDU publishes poetry to 40 lines,  short fiction of 500-2,000 words, nonfiction of 1,500-2,500 words, and visual art.  KUDU is an online biannual literary journal devoted to the creative work of  South Africans: resident, expat, and dual citizens are all encouraged to submit. We welcome both unpublished and previously published work by writers of all levels of experience. Any subject. Any form. Read the complete guidelines here. 

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

Claudio Perinot: Two of my main interests are literature and South Africa, where I was born and raised. Both inspired the project and it began to take shape when, while submitting my own work, I realised that there were only a few avenues available to content from or about South Africa.

In theory, South African writers can submit their work to any of the thousands of journals around the world. However, judging by the scarcity of their work out there, they must often encounter two particular obstacles on their path to publication: the editors’ limited knowledge of, and subsequent lack of interest in, the culture of the country, and the difficulties connected to the language used. The latter is true not only for South African English, whose variations might be seen as imperfections and cause their rejection by journals which follow strict American or British usage, but also, and to a greater degree, for the other official languages of South Africa.

As an editor with South African roots, I can guarantee a deeper understanding of the country, a natural sensibility towards its cultural complexity, and a greater willingness to publish. My goal is to create a small but dedicated outlet for the publication and promotion of South African writing and visual art.

SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?

CP: I look for knowledge of the subject and of the genre, for thought, for originality, for imagination, for the technique that has been used to combine them into something artistic. I look for evidence of the effort, of the work behind the piece. I want to see the craftsmanship. Then, submissions must have something to say. The subject must be meaningful, have a significance and an appeal capable of resonating with the readers. Ideally, it should, to whatever degree, change the way the readers see the world. It should complete or challenge their knowledge.

Content that is trite or banal will not get through. Careless, flimsy pieces are a waste of time: that of the submitters and mine.

SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

CP: When it is clearly unrevised work, with avoidable typos or mistakes. Then, when the submitter does not follow the guidelines. Last but not least, a cold cover letter. I would greatly appreciate a few words about where the submitter found KUDU and why the work was submitted.

SQF: What do you look for in the opening paragraph(s)/stanza(s) of a submission?

CP: A detail that catches the reader’s attention, that sparks curiosity. That keeps the reader reading. Nothing more, nothing less.

SQF: If KUDU had a theme song, what would it be and why?

CP: “Asimbonanga” by Johnny Clegg. Dedicated to Nelson Mandela, it quickly became an unofficial national anthem in the South Africa of the 1980s. It was firmly rooted in its social context, it was an inspiration for many and disapproved by others, it was provocative and stimulated debate, it was censored yet survived, at first glance it was simple but it ran deep, it divided but, because of its masterful artistic blend of music, language and meaning, it could not be ignored and, in the long run, it inevitably united. Art that is relevant and resonates will always stand the test of time. KUDU welcomes submissions of this kind: captivating, meaningful art on any subject and in any form.

SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

CP: Why should writers want to submit to KUDU?

Because publication is never useless. Credits are always invaluable additions to a writer’s biography. Secondly, KUDU is a small journal but it aims to build a strong reputation based on a transparent, solid editorial policy and being selected by KUDU, in its own small way, can be seen as a  stepping-stone in the writer’s career. Thirdly, KUDU will voluntarily continue to promote its contributors and their work after they are published to build a more meaningful relationship than the usual hit-and-run submission and publication process. Debut writers will certainly benefit from this support.

Thank you, Claudio. We all appreciate your taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.

Six Questions for Grace Black, Founding Editor, Ink In Thirds

Ink In Thirds is a boutique literary magazine established in 2016. Publishing Poetry, Prose, and Photography/Art. The focus is on the emotive, visceral layers of the human condition, bringing artists and writers together in cohesive fluidity. 

“Our only absolute requirement: Make us feel something!” Read the complete guidelines here.

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

Grace Black: This magazine began as a passion project. In 2014, I ran a weekly poetry prompt challenge called Three Line Thursday as an online contest via Blogspot. It ran for two years with a wonderful group of artists and writers. As that chapter came to a close, I knew I wanted to continue championing talented artists and writers, so I thought, why not start a lit mag? So, in 2016, I did just that. Meh…

Ink In Thirds had much success early on, and TLT's supportive following was the impetus for resurrecting TLT as a weekly inspiration feature on the website of Ink In Thirds Magazine.

SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?

GB: Our only absolute requirement: Make us feel something! Sad, fine. Tormented, better. Angst, gah. Happy, meh, we’ll take it. Just remember to move us with your words.

Obviously, we want submissions that take the art of writing seriously, work you know someone has taken the time to craft. A typo happens to the best of us, but when I read a submission and forget my editor hat entirely, lose myself bit by bit as I marinate in the language of the submission, I know it’s going straight into the to-be-published box!

SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

GB: I’m not a big fan of forced narrative. I love stories that unfold slowly, layer by layer, and deliver a value of surprise near the end. For poetry, it's all about language: usage, flow, and what is left unsaid.

SQF: You like brevity in your writing given the 333 word limit, as well as 100 Word Wednesday, and Three Line Thursday. What drew you to short fiction/poetry?

GB: Ahh… yes! Brevity, my beloved. While I enjoy vivid imagery, emotional depth, and creative language in all writing, I adore the idea that less is more regarding actual word count. Something about the craft of evoking all the senses and creating an entire story or scene with the fewest possible words excites me. I’m not sure exactly when it became a conscious decision I set out to curate. Still, it has evolved and seems particularly relevant given the times we live in currently, with attention spans getting shorter and shorter. Why not pack a punch.

SQF: If you could share a meal with any three authors (dead or alive), who would they be and why?

GB: Don Delillo, the man, can craft a sentence like no other. One sentence, and you can see, touch, taste, and smell the smallest intricacies of the mini worlds DeLillo creates. I’d like to pick his brain and learn to craft a sentence that can transport people the way he does.

Sylvia Plath, hands down. I am tired of the trite, “she’s a novice,” “it’s so cliche,” “schoolgirl nonsense,” I couldn’t care less what stuffy-shirted academics want to pontificate about and their preferred heralding of writers I am not a fan of. Plath makes you feel like you are in the room with her, a fly on the wall, even as sad as it was in the end. It’s no secret (to those who know and follow my personal writing) that I am a big proponent of Mental Health Awareness and abuse survivors. I’d jump at the chance to sit with Plath and dive deep about the cloying darkness that hovers like the unwanted buzzing wasp in Spring and the energy it requires to plaster on smiles day after day when you feel out of place inside your own skin.

Anaïs Nin, where to begin—a sensual woman of remarkable strength and presence who wrote freely and without fear. I first read Henry and June years ago and was transported in a literary vehicle fueled by curiosity. I’d love to share a bottle of champagne and listen to her life story firsthand, the good, the bad, and the ugly. After all, writers, the good ones, are all a little mad.

SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

GB: Why submit to Ink In Thirds?

• We are kind
• We are inclusive of all
• We respond to all submissions
• No submission fees
• Fast turnaround time (typically under 5 days)
• We are a full-color Print Mag (also available in digital download)

You can submit once each open reading period. We also encourage those we previously declined to submit again and keep writing. That is the only way to improve your craft: keep at it!

One last PSA: We do this for our love of all things art and writing. We don’t air our petty grievances across SM. We never limit inclusion based on any criteria. And we believe wholeheartedly in kindness. Voices need to be heard and art acknowledged, and we want to help get them out there for more to enjoy!

Thank you, Grace. We all appreciate your taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.