Editor Interview: bioStories

Literary memoir

Tin House, Fourth Genre, Missouri Review, Glimmer Train, Georgia Review

Our particular brand of nonfiction--biography, memoir, and personal essays--is more defined that many other nonfiction publication. It attempts to fill a niche of approachable, recognizable writers and subjects but delivered by writing that is memorable and lyrical.

Like all editors say, because it's true, read the magazine. We publish a new essay every week and all the work is archived, so you can gain an excellent sense of our tastes by reading some of our diverse writers. Then, be true to yourself. Honesty in the hands of good writers is always revealing.

Writing and ideas that take us somewhere we've never quite been before, perhaps literally--into lives or experiences unlike many--but by its treatment of more familiar ideas or themes as well.

Our guidelines are clear, readily available, and easy to follow so it can be frustrating when they are not followed, such as sending attachments, which we state we do not open.

No. I'd prefer to fall in love with the material on its own merits entirely.

While I often feel I know whether a piece is right for us early on, I read all pieces through to the end.

We often provide substantive editing; our view is that we meet each piece where it stands, so sometimes that's a heavier editing hand and sometimes its not much more than simple copy editing. Authors always get to approve edits prior to publication. When we stumble across a piece that shows tremendous potential or ingenuity but is not ready for publication, we often encourage such writers with specific feedback and ask for revision and re-submission.

We always nominate for the Pushcarts.