PULP Literature publishes fiction from short stories to novel excerpts "that breaks out of the bookshelf boundaries, defies genre, surprises, and delights.” Learn more here.
SQF: Why did you start this magazine?
PULP Literature: Toni Morrison wrote, “If you can’t find the book you want to read, then write it.” Similarly, we couldn’t find a magazine that hit the sweet spot for us, a magazine that had intelligent storytelling combined with fast-paced plot and excellent writing. Fun stories, plus some thoughtful fodder for the mind. So we decided to follow Toni’s advice and launch Pulp Literature.
SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?
PL: We really only look for one thing: solid storytelling. I suppose this requires three elements: craftsmanship, an idea or plot that grabs us, and a sprinkling of pixie dust. (Yeah, what do they call that magic element that makes some stories sparkle?)
SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?
PL: Boredom. I can put up with a bit of bad punctuation, but I need to want to keep reading. I need to care what happens.
SQF: Please tell us a little about your selection process for each issue.
PL: We have first readers who sort through the submissions to filter out the stories that don’t fit our criteria. That’s the easy part. Most stories take longer to decide upon and get multiple reads. We feel like treasure hunters and are willing to work with authors who need just a bit of help to pull off their story. If we decide against a story in the end, we send comments back to the author, and this personal interaction important to us.
SQF: What should readers know about the contests you sponsor?
PL: Great cash prizes, famous judges! Enter early and often. (All entries are juried). Also, all entrants get free e-subscriptions, so depending on which contest you enter, it’s the cheapest way to subscribe.
SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?
PL: How much DOES a beer cost in Canada?
Our tagline is “Good books for the price of a beer,” so we do get asked this question a fair bit. At a nightclub, beer garden, hockey game, or anywhere else there’s a captive audience you’ll pay a tenner for a plastic cup of indifferent swill. A good craft beer in a restaurant will also set you back about the same amount and be gone in twenty minutes. You’re far better spending your $9.99 on a copy of Pulp Lit that will give you 250 pages of good reading.
Thank you, Mel, Jennifer and Susan. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.
NEXT POST: 12/05—Six Questions for Beth Ayer, Senior Poetry Editor, Found Poetry Review
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