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Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: Lyrical & illuminating.
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: Prairie Schooner, The Missouri Review, Poetry, Valparaiso Poetry Review to name a few.
Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?
A: There are too many to list. Instead, I will describe the characteristics of writing that I am drawn to.
I like lyrical works that are grounded in reality, no matter how harsh it may be. Just to go give an example, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men comes to mind or Harper' Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.
I love the tongue-in-cheek humor of Mark Twain and Dorothy Parker.
I love poetry that adheres to some form, either traditional or invented. But no matter how beautiful the form or words, that beauty needs to have a purpose. When the words spring from the innermost need to communicate an experience, they automatically serve a purpose. Some of my favorite poets are Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vicent Millay, Adrienne Rich. I also like the lyrical poetry of Sara Teasdale. These are just a few names among the vast literary writer and poets that admire.
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: The Literary Nest is not affiliated with any organization. It is truly an independent-minded publication that strives to bring together the diverse voices from around the world.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: Be yourself. Write what you are passionate about. Of course, pay attention to the mechanics of the language, but above all, be true to yourself.
Yes, and do check the guidelines every time you submit because they change as the editors learn from the process, and follow them rigorously The editors will thank you for that.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: It is a delight when someone submits in accordance of all the guidelines. A simple cover letter with the title(s) of your stories or poems help the editors when responding to your email.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: I am happy to say that most of our submissions follow the process. Occasionally, people send their work in the body of the email, and editors have to put it in an acceptable file form. Any additional work for the editors is undesirable.
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: Previous publication credits do not matter. We do ask for a 70-75 word third person bio with the submission, but that is just to expedite the publication process. The decisions to publish are not based on the previous credits. The cover letter needs simply to include the titles of the stories or poems.
Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?
A: Often, I read every piece to the end. The only time I give up before the end and reject the piece if it violates the guidelines by using gratuitous violence, profanity, or sexual situations.
Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?
A: A questionable piece usually gets a reading by at least two more readers.
Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?
A: I check the magazine submissions first thing in the morning and acknowledge the new submissions and respond to any queries. I try to read at least 2-3 submissions each day. Sometimes that causes a backlog, but to do the justice to every submission, I believe that several readings spread over several days result in a fair and unbiased selection. I never hurry to accept or reject a piece.
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: Modern technology has made publishing process easier, and I embrace it with the full heart. The goal for us is to reach the diverse and wide audience, and online publication is the best way to achieve it. I would still like to create a yearly print anthology of the best works from the journal because I like the feel of a paper book in my hand. It's still my favorite mode of reading. So, in that respect, I think it's important to remain traditional.
Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?
A: To retain the author's voice, I offer very limited editing. I routinely edit the fiction for clarity, grammar, and punctuation. I always send a preview copy to the writers for approval before we go live online. On occasion, I have edited fiction and poetry pieces to make them more effective. In such cases, I get prior approval from the writers.