Editor Interview: Plainsongs Poetry Magazine

Midwest-themed poetry/fic

I admire McSweeney's, Tin House, and Zoetrope quite a bit. The Paris Review always does beautiful work.

Favorite writers of editors and associate editors of Plainsongs include Mary Oliver, Ted Kooser, George Saunders, Etgar Keret, Joy Williams, and Lydia Davis.

We publish poetry and flash fiction that, although not necessarily located in the Midwest, contains echoes of and/or reflections on the Midwestern experience.

We admire original voices. Don't put precious energy into trying to sound like another writer. Avoid cliches. Create specific, concrete images and then do something unexpected with them.

The ideal submission is one that eschews tired imagery and shopworn language yet still manages to shed light on universal human experiences

A brief cover letter is preferred but not required. Lists of previous publications, though always interesting, have no bearing on our decision to publish or not to publish.

After making it through the initial round of cuts, submissions are sent to our three-member Board of Readers for scoring.