Editor Interview: Dorothy Parker's Ashes Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.First person essaysRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 14 January 2025What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?Oldster, The Sun, The New Yorker, Vogue, New York TimesRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?Deborah Levy, Colm Toibin, Elizabeth Strout, Rachel Cusk, Ann Patchett, Mary Morris, David Sedaris, Annie Dillard, Erma Bombeck, Zadie Smith, J.M. Coetzee, Annie LamottRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?We focus on first person essays by womenRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?While the personal essay does draw directly from lived experience, it also needs to be treated as a piece of art that is crafted with the same skills used in fiction. It should be coherent with a beginning, a middle and end. We don't like op-eds but if there is some discernible (albeit subtle!) takeaway, that's good. We often get fragmentary memories which are clearly meaningful to the author but leave the reader a bit stranded.Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026Describe the ideal submission.I like to joke there are amazing stories that tell themselves and not-so-amazing stories told amazingly well. That's a lot of "amazings" in one sentence. Apologies for that.Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?We encourage everyone to write as a means of expressing themselves! But not every essay rises to publishing standards. Be rigorous in reading your own stuff. Will it be interesting to people who don't already know you and love you?Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?We don't care about backgrounds. Each piece stands on its own merits.Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?We try to read to end!Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?NothingRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?Drink coffee. Read. Drink more coffee. Play wordle. Read. Drink coffee. Riveting stuff!Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?Depends. We are volunteers so lengthy editing sessions of back and forth are really not realistic and kind of unpleasant. If somebody rejects our edit, no hard feelings! We hope they will submit again.Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?NoRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026How is your project funded?Out of our pockets but if people want to donate, we accept!Rebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 2026How do you promote your project and published authors/artists?Social mediaRebecca Johnson, Co-founder on 13 July 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