Editor Interview: SICK Magazine

Some of my favourite writers include Roxane Gay, Esme Wang, Sayaka Murata, Lucia Osborne-Crowley, Annie Ernaux, Bernardine Evaristo, Sally Rooney, Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Mary Oliver, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Anne Boyer, Carmen Maria Machado. Some of my favourite artists include Hilma af Klint, Louise Bourgeois, Beth Hoeckel, Tracey Emin, Hayley Wall, Kelly Knaga, Alja Horvat, Henri Matisse, Charlotte Edey, Mose Tolliver.

We only publish work by people who are chronically ill and/or disabled, but their work is not limited to only being about illness or disability. Our design is bright and bold, in contrast to the colours and aesthetics typically associated with disability. We also are able to pay all of our contributors through profit of sales and donations.

Read our most recent issue to get a sense of our style, tone, and topics we cover. If you aren't able to afford a copy, email me and I will send you a PDF! It would also be helpful to follow us on Twitter and Instagram, where I often repost work I like and share things relevant to SICK and our interests.

Cover letters are not important. However, a short bio is always nice to read alongside work, and will not affect the outcome of your submission. If pitching, you must provide relevant clips and any information on previous work is very helpful.

I live with multiple chronic illnesses and therefore have no set routine or schedule. I run SICK part-time from my bed and sofa, often working late at night and over weekends. I usually skim over submissions as they come in and set aside time when I am feeling well enough to sit down and properly read and review all work.

It varies! Some pieces require little editing, others require a bit more. I always work with the writer on this and they get final approval of the piece.