Editor Interview: Freshwater Literary Journal Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.Literature that connectsJohn Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?Meat for Tea, After Diner Conversations, Poppy Road Review, Iceblink, Wilderness House Review, Wordpeace, Synkroniciti, The Bluebird Word, Impspired, Dopwn in the Dirt, Five Minutes, many othersJohn Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?Among our contributors, we love Ace Boggess, Hally Day, Taylor Graham, John Grey, Ruth Holzer, Katharyn Howd Machan, John Muro, Steve Straight, and many others.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?1. Our editorial board is composed of students at Asnuntuck Community College. The work on Freshwater Literary Journal is part of a two-semester, credit-bearing course. 2. We primarily publish in print but also make the journal available online through ISSU. 3. We do one yearly issue.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?Regardless of form or subject matter, send us work that connects with a wide range of readers.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023Describe the ideal submission.Brief, friendly cover letter, one-paragraph bio note with a combination of writing and life information, and literature that combines finely crafted language and content that connects on a personal/human level.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?Sending more than our length requirements (3 poes up to 40 lines, prose totalling 1,500 words).John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?Extensive cover letters aren't necessary, but a bio note with previous publications is helpful because other literary journals benefit from the "shout-out."John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?Our editorial board members read every word ... unless it's clear from the beginning that the peace is demeaning in any way.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?We have extensive discussions based on our individual evaluations and then try to arrive at consensus to either accept or reject each piece. Sometimes we resort to a vote, but usually we reach agreement.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?The editor assembles the submissions, sends them to the editorial board members for individual reading and evaluation, we meet to discuss each piece in detail, and then we decide to accept or reject each piece. We try to get back to authors as soon as we can, but the editorial board is composed of busy community college students, most of whom are taking multiple classes, working, and taking care of family responsibilities. Even so, we reply to most submissions within a month.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?We proofread closely and do light editing of obvious errors. Rarely, we make suggestions for small content changes with the author retaining final approval. We trust that the author has worked extensively on the pieces, so we stay true to the author's vision as much as possible.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?Yes.John Sheirer, Editor and Faculty Adviso on 21 December 2023 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only