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Editor Interview: Yes, Poetry

Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

A: poetry

Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?

A: We admire many online publications, such as Pank, Elimae, The Cortland Review, Kill Author, & La Fovea. We love how accessible & easy to find online publications are, and seek to embrace this medium. Everyone should be involved in poetry, and the online format makes this possible.

Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?

A: Collectively, we adore Mathias Svalina, Charles Simic, Louise Gluck, Richard Siken, Jack Gilbert, Li-Young Lee, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Claudia Rankine, Tracy K. Smith, among many others.

Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?

A: We publish a monthly issue, and also feature photographs, reviews, and music on our website on a rolling basis. Occasionally, we post writing prompts for our readers.

Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?

A: Always read the submission guidelines. This may seem obvious, but some people don't, and it automatically looks unprofessional. Proofread your work for errors. Most importantly, submit work that has been edited; like a paper, it should be your final copy. You should be proud of your work.

Q: Describe the ideal submission.

A: The ideal submission would include a third-person author biography that isn't just a list of publications, but tells me something unique about the writer. It would include 1-7 polished poems, and contact information. A submission would be crafted in a way that entices me to read it, mainly by showing me the writer took the time & care to do it.

Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?

A: Many submitters forget to include a third-person biography, which is not only required, but disappoints me, since I am truly interested about who submits. I like to get to know the submitters--they aren't just another name for me.

Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?

A: I don't particularly care about cover letters, but I do want to know the person submitting. I enjoy the fact that Yes, Poetry includes writing from all sorts of people of any age group, rather than a specific kind of group. For me, it's interesting to see where the poetry is coming from, and encouraging as an editor to see poetry as universal, and not just an art form only academics partake in.

Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?

A: I read the entire submission, since poetry is often much shorter than fiction, so it is possible for me to do that. Sometimes, when I can tell a submission is definitely not for us, I do skim through parts, but I always maintain the policy of looking through the entire submission. For me, giving people a voice, and a chance, is crucial to expression.

Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?

A: Besides evaluating the poetry and determining if all the submission guidelines have been considered, there is usually not much else on our list. An unorganized submission does turn me off, and even more specifically, I dislike when writers try to impress me with a laundry list of every place their work has been featured. Be humble, but honest.

Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?

A: It involves a lot of organization. For example, if I accept a submission, I put it into a folder, and save it until I actually put together the issue. Submissions are on a rolling basis, so this usually happens about once to twice a month when I go through submissions. It's not at all difficult, it just requires a conversation with the other editors and making sure the submissions are appropriately marked.

Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?

A: It's all an aesthetic and personal choice, but for me, it's essential. In general, people largely communicate, learn, & consume all through the internet, so why should publishing be any different? I feel it would only hurt us if we continued to remain traditional, in that not as many people would be exposed to the magazine. This way, we have readers from around the world, who can access the magazine any time without cost. Here at Yes, Poety, our main concern is allowing art to just simply be art, without any frills or complications.