Editor Interview: Fine Lines

Creative Writing

Fine Lines admires all modern journals, The New Yorker, Sun, and other publications that feature creative writing by young writers of all ages. We support those individuals who struggle to find and develop their voices, help others to be heard, and dare to share their messages with the world. In our twenty-seven years of life, Fine Lines has published writers in the second grade up to university graduate schools. The oldest writer ever published was ninety-four and continued to write poetry until she passed away. Our writing list includes doctors, lawyers, one Native American Indian Chief, truck drivers, prisoners, homeless people, and millionaires. Our best writers include those with many degrees, but often, the most interesting writers are those who have never been published before. Still, they say, "I have this story idea that will not go away. I think it is a good one, but I don't know how to get started. Will you help me?" We have a long list of editors who do help anyone who asks. Contact us. Let's write your story, together. Our motto is "Write On!" This is what we do. Contact us. Send us a submission. We will get back to you. Go to www.finelines.org to see one of our journals free. If it looks interesting, we will be the publication for you. Our non-profit organization publishes four books a year. They are available via Amazon. We also have four digital copies available, too. The digital copies are in color. The printed versions are in black and white. We hope to hear from you soon. Write On! David Martin, editor

My favorite writers run the gamut from Mark Twain to Bill Moyers, including John Steinbeck, Barbara Tuckman, Mary Oliver, and so many more, I could go on for pages. Our purpose is to publish the writing of our members, first, and those unsolicited entries of quality that never stop coming via regular mail and email.
Fine Lines does publish art, too. We focus on photography of our members the most.

Fine Lines is dedicated to the development of writers and artists of all ages. Our publication started out as a classroom newsletter in 1991 and has now turned into a 50 state writing network and a 501 (c) (3) non-profit educational organization. The first publication issue was 4 pages long and allowed many students opportunities to show others clear thinking and proper written expression. Now, each online, quarterly issue is about 300 pages of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art by "authors and artists in process."
Fine Lines receives creative writing from authors of all occupations: prose articles of medium length, reflective essays on widely diverse topics that reflect life experiences, what one learns through the writing process, and poetry in all forms. We printed writing from a six-year-old, a 94-year-old great-grandmother, ministers, janitors, doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers, and students of all educational levels. We have published writers from all 50 states in this country, 41 foreign countries: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Australia, Barbados, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai, Egypt, England, Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Sicily, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam, and a US Navy aircraft carrier in the South Pacific.

To paraphrase George Orwell, good writing is like a window pane, and the editors of Fine Lines hope to assist developing writers see through their windows more clearly. The bottom line of our efforts in this project is to help writers develop their full potential. We often see ourselves as "writing coaches," and we value your participation in this endeavor very much. Our editors work with the following guidelines:
1. Fine Lines provides publication opportunities for writers of all ages.
2. Our journal is one way for schools to achieve their writing goals.
3. Good writing begins with a proper, positive attitude.
4. All teachers should be writing teachers.
5. Schools can order Fine Lines for their teachers, students, and administrators.
6. Fine Lines values reader input.
7. Many English departments and libraries support this project.
8. Send email file attachments in Microsoft Word and the MLA format.
9. All writing genres are accepted. We print photography and other art forms.
10. Fine Lines does not publish profanity, sexuality, or extreme violence.
Remember Horace's words, "He who has hit upon a subject suited to his powers will never fail to find eloquent words and lucid arrangement."

The ideal submission may arrive in various formats, genres, and styles. We are looking for truth, honesty, good writing, and clear thinking made visible. We get enough of them, we develop four anthologies of creative writing each year, encourage young writers of all ages to develop their craft, provide a publication opportunity in good taste for all writers, discover new, talented, and unpublished authors, and continue our pursuit of improved literacy. This is what we do and what needs to be done. Our publications increase our understanding of the world by reducing the darkness of ignorance with the light of hope. Sometimes, all it takes is one person doing one good thing to forever change another person’s life.

Often, they are impatient. We are a small publisher and only produce four books/year. It takes time to do what we do. Frequently there is rewriting on the author's part. When the work is the best it can be, then, we publish. If people are patient and work with us, we have done great things. I am proud of our work, and our people are committed to this labor of love.

All submissions by new writers to Fine Lines must attach a one paragraph auto-bio statement. We will follow up with them, if we need anything more.

All submissions are completely read by at least three of our editors. We are thorough.

We follow our submission guidelines. We don't print profanity, overt sexuality, glorification of the dark side of the force, or drugs.

I read until my eyes cross. Then, I walk my two security dogs (well-trained Pomeranians). I read until my eyes cross. Then, I call it a day.

It all depends how much we like the piece. If it needs to be rewritten, because the author is too young or too careless, we will recommend the writer find another publication. If the piece is good and the writer is talented, we will work with him/her until we finish what needs to be done. If the writer requests help, we provide it.

No.