Journal Reports Round 2

Allison:

Name: 5x5 Literary Magazine

Rank: I feel that because of its size of staff as well as its output that this magazine is on the lower end of the scale, however they repeat the statement that they are looking for thoughtful yet concise works which leads me to believe that the work although small seems well thought and worth the read. 

Style: This magazine is pretty unique due to its very small format hints the name 5x5. This is an online Journal that has two issues a year (summer and winter), it is free to read and free to submit to, and you can submit all year round. It accepts poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as long as it is 500 words or less. It also features photography. The fiction category is sometimes given a theme they wish you to write about but are open to new writers as well as the more well established writers. The issue I read had a theme of Outsiders so the tone was a dark and sad one but something I think everyone can relate to at some point in their life. The length of the stories also makes for a great tone because we only get a glimpse of these characters and their situations making for really talented writing to create such great emotion in such a small space.

Name: Crazy Horse

Rank: This seems like a much more widely known and respected magazine that has a lot of prize money opportunities so somebody has got to be reading them, right?

Style: This magazine has been around for a long time and has its fair share of famous and award winning writers as submissions as well as judges and editors making this journal last throughout the good and bad times as well as switching Colleges and all that jazz. While reading some of the stories in the latest edition it seems very clean cut and has great attention to language while also keeping some great humor in the somewhat serious stories. I really enjoyed one called Since Vincent Left by Karin Lin-Greenberg. The tone was somewhat lonesome as well as hilariously cynical which is a lot like my style of literary writing.

Name: Iowa Review

Rank: This journal is one that I have researched for my senior portfolio class and I know that it is widely praised.

Style: The version that I read was a much older one but I knew that this journal was going to be interesting considering that there was a whole section dedicated to very old photos of half dressed or completely naked prostitutes from the early 1900’s. This shows the way that the Iowa Review is interested in the history of America and doesn’t shy away from the things others might try and avoid. The Iowa Review is a daring journal that displays a love for the America of the past while also not being afraid to air all of its dirty laundry.

The One I Will Likely Send To: Honestly I think that the magazine most interesting to me was the 5x5 Literary Magazine because of its very open feeling. I like that there is no payment to read or submit it so if published it could be shared easily with people I know. I also like the very small amount of writing needed, but the challenge for it to be the best writing still there. I think that as a new writer this is the perfect magazine so that the pressure is not too overwhelming and the success is still satisfying.

Molly:

Three literary journals of interest for me are Beginnings Publishing Inc., Literal Latte, and Natural Bridge. I believe they are all considered third-tier magazines, especially Beginnings Publishing. Literal Latte might be second tier, but I am not certain. I chose these because stylistically Literal Latte and Natural Bridge appeal to me, and Beginnings Publishing is an accessible place to start without having previous publication experience.

            Beginnings Publishing accepts fiction from unpublished, new writers. This seems like a good place for gaining traction and getting a first story published. They accept all genres of fiction, including contemporary literature and literary fiction, which are what I have worked on this year. They are unique because they only publish new writers, so the competition is not against well-known authors who have been writing for many years. I didn’t get access to their publications, but some things I found important are that their submission deadline is December 31, so it fits within our time frame, and they accept simultaneous submissions. Both of these qualities appeal to me for publication tactics of submitting to several places in December.

            Natural Bridge accepts contemporary literature, some themes being around human interaction and relationships, which I think my writing addresses. Many of their published writers have won the Flannery O’Connor, the Drue Heinz, and the John Ciardi prizes. They accept simultaneous submissions as well, but they charge three dollars for submission if you don’t have a subscription. They take submissions through May 1, so it gives more time for revision for the stories written this semester. Even though it is a university publication, they don’t favor their own students (in fact, they don’t accept from their own students). This is not like others I have found, which take half from their own students and half from elsewhere. I am uncertain if an agent would read this journal.

            Literal Latte accepts a variety of styles including classical fiction and experimental. I think my writing plays in experimental, especially if I submit “Conscience”. The attractive title aside, I enjoy the stories published in Literal Latte because they include important internal human issues.  This is the type of topic I think about and hope to portray through my writing, so I think it is a good venue for publication. I have also seen some political undertones throughout the featured stories, particularly liberal. I believe this is a result from our present climate because some of the previously published stories do not have this theme. I think this may be a phase that will pass that I might not have to include to get published. Some published writers within Literal Latte include Christopher Allen (who has been published in over 100 anthologies and journals), or Carol LaHines (who has been published in about 15 journals). This seems like a publication that an agent might read. The most appealing journal of the three is Literal Latte. I enjoyed the stories I read from it, and I think with some work, I could fit my story into the publication.

Zachary:

          The first journal I decided to research was the Camera Obscura Journal of Literature and Photography. To me, it comes across as somewhere between a middle tier and a top tier journal. It has standards for its submissions, including a specific word count (though exceptions can be made) and that the work must be previously unpublished. It’s made clear that if the work is published later on elsewhere, then Camera Obscura should be noted as its point of origin. For agents, it doesn’t quite seem like the first choice to look, but it’s certainly not a bad place. It’s specifically listed as a literary journal, so of course, it’s going to have literary works. What makes it so unique compared to other journals is that, as its name implies, there are photography competitions that go on while short stories are submitted. The winners will be put into the issues along with those stories. There’s also a bonus cash prize for the best story that puts the pictures together into a cohesive narrative.

            The second journal I looked at was Black Warrior Review. From looking at the guidelines, it comes across as middle tier to me. Just like Camera Obscura, it wouldn’t be a bad place for agents to look. What’s requested from submissions are works that make people think and feel; stories that restructure the world and challenges standard writing conventions.

            The final journal I decided to research was Glimmer Train. This one seems like it’s between low tier and middle tier, but an agent looking for fresh talent may look at the New Writers category. It may not be the most well-known magazine or the highest end, but it’d be a good place to start for aspiring writers. What attracted my attention are the cash prizes awarded for the winners of five categories: New Writers, Very Short Fiction, Fiction Open, Family Matters, and Standard. I noticed that the cash prize for New Writers is the second greatest of all, so I believe that they’re especially trying to attract new writers.

            Originally, I was going to go for Black Warrior Review, but upon discovering Glimmer Train, I’ve decided that that one would be the best choice to send my work. It’s not so high end that new writers can’t gain a foothold in it, in fact they want them, but at the same time, there are worse places to start out at. Plus, I want the cash.

            

Rebecca:

New Letters: Second Tier Journal. I’ve been a subscriber and fan of New Letters for about seven years and never considered submitting to this journal because the writing is so spectacular and leading edge on the industry. New Letters accepts all kinds of writing, regardless of genre, style, subject. Which means they also accept poetry, visual prose and unique approaches to sharing stories. The one critical concern for anyone submitting to New Letters is that the submission meets the standard of literary excellence.

There is no submission fee. New Letters also has writing contests, awards and weekend writing conferences, which do require fees. New Letters also offers a hands-on experience as internship in the world of publishing and credit hours towards a degree, the New Letters Magazine Publication Practicum (English 449A). The course includes experience with BkMk Press, which is book publishing and New Letters on the Air, the radio series.

New Letters Magazine Publication Practicum (English 449A).

BkMk Press has a separate submission standard and does not except genre, but instead nonfiction essays, fiction short stories and poetry. BkMk Press will take unsolicited submissions for a period of time in the calendar year.

I do believe agents scout a journal such as New Letters because of the diversity and the high quality literary content. So for serious agents of literary writers, this is one publication that should be considered. New Letters supports literary writers in levels, workshops, magazine, internships and conferences.

And should your story be accepted, they do pay. Not much, average $100. They do accept simultaneous submissions if you notify them.

One Story: I would consider One Story a Second Tier publication. I think the lucrative aspect of this publication for agents is that they only publish one story and so agents understand that this was a pick selected from hundreds of submissions. One Story seeks literary fiction between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They accept any style, so long as the work is literary.

One Story pays as well, $500 and twenty-five copies for First Serial North American rights. Rights revert to the author following publication. One Story seeks unpublished work only unless published outside of North America. This includes blogs and personal websites, which I find common among most publications, so it is best to hold onto your work until published in a journal before sharing on sites.

One Story does accept simultaneous submissions with notification. One Story also accepts interviews and translations. One Story also has a separate publication, One Teen Story, worthy of a glance for YA writers.

The Sun: Second Tier Journal. The Sun publishes essays, interviews, fiction and poetry. They lean towards personal writing, but also seek out pieces of political and cultural concerns. The Sun pays well, $300-2000 for essays and interviews, $300-1500 for fiction and $100-200 for poetry. The Sun purchases one-time rights and then the rights revert to the author upon publication.

The Sun discourages simultaneous submissions and rarely publish anything longer than seven thousand words. They do not require a query letter except for interviews.

The Sun receives submissions the old-fashioned way – through printed, typed, double-spaced submission using the postal system accompanied with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Since The Sun is selective, receiving thousands of submissions per publication, I believe agents scout for new clients through a journal of this caliper. Also, since The Sun publishes personal stories and interviews, agents might seek out particular voice or style that they preference and are passionate about in an up-coming writer.

Submissions for interviews for The Sun have a different method, usually a letter of inquiry first with the shape of the story and interview to avoid wasting time and receiving The Sun’s “approval” prior to conducting the interview.

Glimmer Train: First Tier Journal. Since this is a first tier journal, agents definitely read this magazine, to stay abreast of new styles and ideas, but also to find fresh and undiscovered voices in writing. Glimmer Train considers any original short story that is unpublished. Previous on-line publication is fine, but no novels, poetry or children’s stories.

Glimmer Train pays generously and reads every submission in every category. There is a two dollar processing fee, but Glimmer Train will even waive this if it is a hardship for the writer as the philosophy at Glimmer Train is no writer will be prevented from submitting work due to lack of funds.

A great aspect of Glimmer Train is the five submission categories to choose, along with four separate contests. There is the Short Story Award for New Writers (first place is $2500), circulation over five thousand. Most entries are one to five thousand words in length, but Glimmer Train will accept up to twelve thousand words. There is Very Short Fiction (first place is $2000) and word length is three hundred to three thousand words. Fiction Open has a first place compensation of $3000 with most entries running from three to six thousand words, but Glimmer Train will accept three to twenty thousand words in this category. There is also the Standard Category with a maximum word count of twelve thousand words and the first place prize is $700.

Finally, there is Family Matters with a first place of $2500. This category is for stories about families of all shapes and sizes, running between one and five thousand words, but up to twelve thousand words are accepted.

Glimmer Train is all about the writing. And all about supporting new writers. So this journal isn’t concerned with format, font, style and size…or even double spacing.

Out of the above journals, I will probably submit to all. I purposely did research on journals that I had a personal interest in submitting. For this class, I plan to submit to Glimmer Train as they are accepting stories concerning psychiatric care and I have a story that fits the bill so I feel it has a higher chance of publication. I plan to submit “Normal with Food” for this journal.

Last week I submitted interviews that I run professionally to The Sun and am anxiously awaiting to hear if these are worthy of the style and content that they are seeking.