Editor Interview: Bluff & Vine Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.Finger Lakes storiesBethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?We are big fans of The MacGuffin.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?Some of my favorite writers are Meg Wolitzer, Jess Kidd, and Tana French.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 30 March 2026What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?We publish writing and art that reflects the beauty and uniqueness of the Finger Lakes in western New York.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?Definitely check out our previous issues. We accept all kinds of writing and art, but it needs to be about, set in, or reflective of this beautiful area.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022Describe the ideal submission.The ideal submission would provide us a unique perspective on something related to the Finger Lakes. Every person who is touched by this region has their own story to tell, has a singular lens through which they experience and see this area.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?They send us submissions that have nothing to do with the Finger Lakes region.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?We appreciate cover letters, including publication credits, but mostly we want to know a submitter's relationship to the Finger Lakes and how they found out about us.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?While we can generally tell if a piece is right for us pretty quickly, we read every piece to the end—unless it's so off-base, we know there isn't a place for it in our publication. This is especially true if the work isn't related to the Finger Lakes.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 30 March 2026What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?None.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?We are a very small operation—just the two of us. We get together in my living room and read every submission out loud to each other, and then discuss how we feel about them. We track everything in a spreadsheet, and make our decisions piece by piece as we read.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?We always do copy editing and basic proofreading. If we believe strongly in a piece, but feel it needs work before we can publish it, we will work closely with the writer to complete substantive editing. The author gets to approve final edits only if the edits are beyond basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation.Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 28 September 2022Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?We haven't yet, but stay tuned!Bethany Snyder, Co-Editor on 30 March 2026How is your project funded?We are self-funded, with the occasional contribution from friends of the magazine.Bethany Snyder, co-editor on 28 September 2025How do you promote your project and published authors/artists?Email lists, local newspapers and magazines, and social media.Bethany Snyder, co-editor on 30 March 2026 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