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Editor Interview: Fast Flesh Literary Journal

Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

A: Wild, rich, bold, lush.

Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?

A: We love Diagram, SmokeLong, Black Warrior Review, X-R-A-Y, and Scaffold Lit!

Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?

A: Some of our favorites include: Helen Oyeyemi, Italo Calvino, Ben Lerner, Don DeLillo.

Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?

A: We only accept work under 500 words, even for the book review category. We love concise mini-reviews! We want to read about books that came out in the last few years, in any genre. We're looking for fresh insight and analysis, not summaries. We want to read about craft: structure, line work, pacing, motifs, etc. The review itself should be infused with creativity and personality.

Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?

A: The work tells us all we really need to know, but a few tidbits about the author are always interesting! A bio doesn't influence whether or not we accept the submission, though. Keep it concise!

Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?

A: Some questions we consider: Have we read work like this before? Does it evoke a strong reaction? Does it stick with us?

Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?

A: We may suggest ways to trim the piece to highlight its strongest features, but we'll never significantly stray from the author's intention. We ask the author if they approve of our suggestions, and they make the final call.