Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: Prose of all types.
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: Tarpaulin Sky, notnostrums, Invisible Ear, Ninth Letter, Everyday Genius, Small Beer, Dalkey, FC2, BlazeVOX, WAVE, FENCE, NANO Fiction, Wigleaf, PANK, NOÖ, Featherproof, Bateau, 6X6, Crazyhorse,
Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?
A: In no particular order: Terese Svoboda, Colson Whitehead, Mary Miller, Matt Bell, Amber Sparks, Dennis Johnson, Teju Cole, Roxanne Gay, Rachel B. Glaser, Catherine Lacey, Blake Butler, Alissa Nutting, Amanda Goldblatt, Leni Zumas, Madeline ffitch, among many others.
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: We showcase one piece for two weeks. Next to each prose piece is a author's note written by the author of the work, commenting on either the piece itself or some aspect of literature they find relevant. Matchbook tries to slow the torrent of online publishing rapids.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: Follow the guidelines, but know that we are open to any theme, angle, or style. Nothing is too far out or even accessible, for that matter. It simply must be well done, engaging, and do whatever it is wonderful literature does when you read it.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: A work of indeterminate prose that captures your emotion and your intellect through narrative or lyricism or, ideally, both.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: Two things:
1. They submit genres of writing we don't publish on the website, like poems. We love poems to death, but we don't really publish them.
2. When they submit they do not include all submissions into one. It's easier for us to keep track if we don't have to track down five different submissions, instead finding them together in one entry.
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: Cover letters aren't necessary. A short message that is polite and/or friendly is nice. Previous publication credits don't have any bearing on what we accept, but we don't look down on them either. Gushing (honest) compliments are always welcome.
Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?
A: Since the work we typically publish is short, we read every bit of every submission, often multiple times. Some are easy to decide based on whether they hit us the right way or not. The ones we like but aren't sure about require editorial discussion, but mostly decisions aren't drawn out. Most of the time is spent simply reading.
Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?
A: Each piece that is ultimately accepted is read at least twice. There are two main editors, so if we disagree on a piece, we fight with knives until there is a clear winner. Really, we just talk about what we like or don't like, what is working in the piece and what isn't. Sometimes the editor who wasn't into the piece changes his mind, sometimes vice versa. If we truly can't decide, we put it aside and come back to it.
Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?
A: A typical day usually looks like us sitting at our computers reading a few submissions to keep the pile at bay, and then once a week having an editorial meeting to discuss submissions and other business.
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: It is hugely important for publishers to embrace modern technologies. We accept submissions electronically because of convenience and cost. We use social networking and email to let people know what we're up to. I love reading a physical book more than an electronic book. Handmade books are every bit as wonderful as crazy, online multi-media projects. There is simply more variety now. I don't necessarily always look at it as electronic versus physical, as one OR the other. In fact, both have strengths and drawbacks. We hope in the future we can adapt as mediums change, and hopefully innovate how literature is disseminated as we do it.