Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: Engaging new work.
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: Copper Nickel, The Missouri Review, The Massachusetts Review, Booth, Moist Poetry Journal, X-R-A-Y, Southern Indiana Review, The Fiddlehead, Sixth Finch . . . and so many more!
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: The Worcester Review includes both creative writing and critical writing (on an aspect of Central Massachusetts literary/cultural history) in each issue. Our editors have eclectic tastes and varied backgrounds, so TWR features varied and eclectic work. We're always delighted to publish new and emerging writers.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: The same advice other editors give: read! Read as much work as you can, not only in TWR but in other journals, too.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: Poetry and fiction that surprise us.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: We occasionally receive more than the requested number of poems, or a story much longer than our word limit.
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: The cover letter is not a factor in our decision-making process, but we do appreciate when the editors are addressed correctly (not as "Dear Sirs"---which has happened!), and when submitters follow the guidelines (i.e., including a 3-sentence bio). Previous publication credits may be included in the bio, of course, but we are delighted when we have the chance to publish a writer's first story or poem.
Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?
A: The Worcester Review is run by volunteers, not an MFA program, so we all read whenever we can find the time away from day jobs and other commitments.
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: The Worcester Review has a long history as a print journal, but we hope to make more content available online in the coming years. It's tough, as an all-volunteer operation, to maintain a significant social media presence, but we do our best to promote the work of our contributors.
Q: Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?
A: Yes, we nominate for the Pushcart Prize.