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Editor Interview: Gatewood Prize

Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

Women & non-binary poets

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

VOLT, BoA Editions, Copper Nickel, Jellyfish Magazine, Saturnalia, Ricochet Editions, Counterpath, Noemi

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

Selective examples: Emily Dickinson, Audre Lorde, Joy Harjo, Pat Parker, Sappho, Lucille Clifton, Kimiko Hahn, Alice Notley, Ana Castillo

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

We are the only press that publishes exclusively first and second books by women and non-binary authors. We exist as a space to launch the careers of new and emerging women and non-binary writers, and we are very proud of this feminist mission.

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

Read the books we've already published! This will give you an idea of the kind of work we publish.

Describe the ideal submission.

Our ideal submission is an intentionally crafted full-length manuscript of poems that embodies the author's own unique voice. We publish poetry across a wide range of styles, from verse in traditional forms to highly experimental work. Lean in to what makes your voice your own!

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

We only publish through the Gatewood Prize, which is always open during the first three or four months of the year.

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

Please do feel free to tell us about yourself in the cover letter! Lists of previous publication credits do not matter.

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

We read every piece to the end unless we can tell very obviously early on that it isn't a great fit. Both editors read every piece.

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

Readers and editors rate pieces and then meet to choose finalists and semi-finalists. The ten finalists are sent along to the Gatewood Prize's judge, who makes the final decision.

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

Our co-editor team is entirely volunteer, so we juggle press duties with our 9-5 teaching jobs, our own writing careers, and mothering.

How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?

We do some minor editing with authors before their book goes to print, and the final decisions about what to change always lie with the author.

Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?

Yes! We nominate each book to around a dozen awards, including the Housatonic Award, the Levis Reading Prize, the GLCA New Writers Award, the Griffin Poetry Prize, and more.

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