Editor Interview: ZO Magazine Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.Creative new thoughtsRiver Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?We enjoy the work from "Poets & Writers" and "Artforum." Publishing takes more courage in 2025 than it ever has and we certainly admire all who still love magazines! The market has changed dramatically and trends happen at lightning speed - modern publishers are heroes.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?My favorite writer is Joan T. Zeier, if you allow me to be timeless. I seriously have dozens of favorite artists, but for the attributes listed in parens, my favorites today are: Ericco (for never limiting what can be done); Shan Ogdemli (for new world creations); Duane Kirby Jensen (for pure prolificacy); and Goro Endow (selfishly, for putting ZO on his forehead when we first met).River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?I do not know of any publications similar to ours. We are an interdisciplinary "daily" periodical featuring a myriad of arts. Our unique annual Expos call for creative submissions in art, poetry, literature, and other artistic disciplines and often combine those to complement each other. Honestly, we've been told that this approach should not work, but this is our 10th Anniversary and it has been quite a blast.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?Read the call instructions a few times and then proceed to give us something "out of the box" and intriguing!River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025Describe the ideal submission.Thought-provoking, positively inspiring, and a little quirky.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?We really do want a bio or personal statement, and many do not take time with this.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?We are building community and would prefer more information than less about submitters. Achievements, awards, previous publications, social media pages and other credits are wanted and welcome. These allow us to better highlight the submitter's work, especially when we end up publishing it or if they win our Expos.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?We usually read every piece to the end. Our entries are word-limited (and will probably remain that way), so it may not be as daunting for us as others, who may ask for longer compositions.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?This is the first year we have had to additionally evaluate whether a piece was written with AI or not.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?When our Expos are open, depending on the parameters of the project, and the number of entries, I will schedule myself to read a certain number for a limited period, then stop and repeat from day to day.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?We do not have a rule of thumb for editing. Each piece we publish is different and requires a different approach. Material that we schedule for publication is usually something we truly like and generally does not need much editing. We do not give authors final approval.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?No we do not.River Alexander, Concept Director on 28 January 2025 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