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.
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