Editor Interview: Black Lawrence Press Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.contemporary lit & poetryDiane Goettel, Executive Editor on 26 June 2010What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?Publishers: Graywolf Copper CanyonSoft Skull HaymarketAutumn HouseWTAWMelville HouseNew DirectionsCity LightsNoemiPublications:PloughsharesParis ReviewOne StoryMcSweeney'sKenyon ReviewElectric LiteratureThe SunBOMBn+1Prairie SchoonerGuernicaPleidesNinth LetterDiane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?Fiction: Willa Cather, Audre Lorde, Gertrude Stein, Jonathan Lethem, John Steinbeck, Jeanette Winterson, Poetry: Naomi Shihab Nye, Marilyn Chin, Jim Daniels, Tony Hoagland, Cynthia Hogue, Norman DubieDiane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?In addition to publishing contemporary fiction, poetry, and the occasional work of nonfiction, we also publish anthologies and hybrid works. Also, a large portion of our list is dedicated to chapbooks.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?Read one or more of our titles. We're not saying that you have to shell out for a copy. Instead, request one of our books at your local library. Then, please be sure to follow our submission instructions. They're clearly outlined within our submissions manager.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026Describe the ideal submission.We're excited about books that are beautifully written and have something interesting and important to say.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?The most common errors are sending genres that we don't publish or submitting outside of our reading periods.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?We do like cover letters. We'd ideally like to know a bit about the author submitting, a bit about the book they're sending us, and why they thing BLP is the right press for their project.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?This really depends on the piece. Some manuscripts are clearly wrong for us from the very first page. But we give every submission a fair shake.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?About 30% of the time is spent reading submissions, 30% working on books that are about to be published, another 30% on marketing books that have recently been published, and 10% conferencing with the other editors.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 2026Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?Yes.Diane Goettel, Executive Editor on 14 January 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