Control
Lit publishes poetry, flash fiction (to 500 words) and short stories
(to 3000 words) in any genre, as well as visual arts. “We are a
quarterly publication. We publish music and literature reviews in
between issues.“
(ceased publication)
(ceased publication)
SQF:
What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?
Annabelle
Edwards:
1. Strong imagery and word choice
2. An original voice
3. Something that makes me want to go back and reread. Something that
I'll still be thinking about three days later.
SQF:
What most often turns you off to a submission (besides the converse
of the above)?
AE:
There are some additional
things included about this in our submission guidelines.
Nothing
previously published.
Also, when it is evident from the work
submitted that the writer did not read our guidelines or the
magazine.
The
content within Control Lit
is free and if someone cannot take ten minutes to read a few stories,
the chance of us accepting your work is low.
Submitting
significantly more words/pages/poems/stories than allowed.
Addressing
the wrong editor or magazine.
An
obvious lack of editing. A few errors is not a problem, but when the
grammatical errors distract the reader from the story that is being
told that is when I take issue.
Not
having a strong ending. There is a huge difference between wanting
more and being left unsatisfied.
Formatting
that is so complicated I am not able to read the story/poem in the
proper order.
Having
plot holes. I am all for leaving things up for interpretation, but it
is not the same as vague.
Using
hard to read fonts. Super small sizes, or single spaced prose.
Bios
that include like ten or twenty places where their work has been
previously published. Three of the most recent is good.
Things
that are extremely gory/disturbing/violent without a purpose.
Using
complicated vocabulary just for the sake of trying to seem smart.
SQF:
Will you publish a submission an author posted on a personal blog?
AE:
Yes, often the work of my
own that ends up being published comes from my personal blog. I feel
getting feedback in some way, shape, or form is important before
sending something off to be submitted.
SQF:
You’ll publish your third issue of Control
Lit soon. What has
surprised you the most about publishing an online magazine?
AE:
A few things have surprised
me about it.
1.
The amount of work that goes into the magazine. Being naive, I
planned to run everything for Control
Lit myself. When
submissions poured in, I realized I needed help. I am so grateful for
my fabulous co-editors: Allison, Chaz, Anne, and Raven. We are also
adding two more editors to our staff, Tracey and Chelsey who I am
very excited to work with.
2.
The process of laying out each issue is more complicated than I
originally anticipated. Allison makes each issue beautiful.
3.
The support that we have gotten in such a short period of time is
amazing.
4.
The quality of submissions has been outstanding.
5.
The number of connections that I have made in the literary world and
all the great people out there doing extraordinary things.
6.
How many people have submitted. I appreciate the amount of time it
takes to submit your work, the patience that comes with it, and the
trust. Out of all the literary magazines out there, I am honored
people choose Control Lit.
7.
How much I have learned in a short period of time and how much fun I
have had working with such talented people.
8.
I never thought I'd be setting up music and book reviews in between
issues. But that is just as thrilling for me as reading submissions
for the issues of Control
Lit. I love music and
literature, so to meet other people that do too and are able to
express that is wonderful.
SQF:
[Cliche alert!!] If you were stranded on a deserted island, what
three authors (living or dead) would you like to be there with you
and why?
AE:
1.
Tim O'Shei: The author of How
to Survive On a Deserted Island
(though I may elect to substitute him with Lana Del Rey. She could
sing to me and write me songs. Then I would be perfectly content to
stay on said island forever.)
2.
JK Rowling
3.
Maya Angelou
SQF:
What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't?
And how would you answer it?
AE:
How has being a magazine
editor improved my own writing and my own confidence about my work?
Obviously,
one of the best ways to improve as a writer is to read. I have become
familiar with so many different styles and forms of writing since
starting Control Lit.
The different characteristics of a writer's prose or poetry are so
rich. I find myself experimenting more because of that influence.
When
I first started submitting to literary magazines, I took each
rejection personally. I thought I sucked and that it was me. I
thought I was terrible and nothing I wrote would ever be published.
Being
an editor, I now realize rejections are not personal. Sometimes the
piece does not fit with a magazine's aesthetic, maybe it doesn't hit
the editor(s) the same way as it does someone else. There are loads
of reasons. Being behind the scenes has helped me embrace all the
rejection that comes with the submission process. I am more confident
now and rejection no longer bothers me.
I
also am better at editing my own work. I notice errors quicker and am
able to identify grammatical mistakes I would have overlooked before.
Thank
you, Annabelle. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy
schedule to participate in this project.
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POST: 10/10—Six Questions for Dawn Lloyd, Editor in Chief, The Colored Lens
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