Editor Interview: The Molotov Cocktail Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.Dark matter. Underbelly.Josh Goller, Editor on 13 August 2010What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?Glimmer Train Tin HouseupstreetWord RiotPANK MagazineSententiaJersey Devil PressTitularJosh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?Kurt VonnegutRaymond CarverThom JonesRon CarlsonDenis JohnsonPhillip K. DickGore VidalJoyce Carol OatesBonnie Jo CampbellBrady UdallJosh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?By publishing twice monthly, we keep our content fresh. For online publications, brevity is of great importance. The shelf life isn't as long online. The flash fiction format is perfect for cyberspace. Also, our focus on darker themes, without delving into any specific genre (such as horror or science fiction), sets us apart from the purely literary mags out there while still maintaining a literary bent. Basically, we want to have it both ways.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?Probably what every other editor out there says: "Familiarize yourself with our content first!" Frankly, I don't understand how anyone who is unfamiliar with our content can expect to get published by us. We have a specific brand of dark fiction, of offbeat prose, that we appreciate and want to feature. It's crucial to tap into that flavor. The Molotov Cocktail, while focusing on dark themes, doesn't cater to stories that are nasty for the sake of being nasty, and that's probably the mistake I see too often.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010Describe the ideal submission.Concise. Poignant. Vivid. Strange.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?As alluded before, sending in gratuitous violence, sex, or just plain nasty stories without any other redeeming qualities. We want dark, but not dark for darkness' sake. Don't simply try to gross us out. That's uninteresting.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?We do not want to see cover letters. Ever. Cover letters are for job applications. We do require two-line bios. Publication creds are nice and all, but I'd rather see a really clever bio.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?Usually the first few lines, on average. May sound harsh, but it's true. We certainly reject many stories that we enjoyed and read through several times, but usually it's evident very early if the narrative voice or content are not something we would publish.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?How will it fit with our aesthetic?Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?It's wonderful to share great writing with the online literary community. Running The Molotov Cocktail is a joy. Maybe someday it'll be my day job, but I won't hold my breath.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?It's wonderful to share great writing with the online literary community. Running The Molotov Cocktail is a joy. Maybe someday it'll be my day job, but I won't hold my breath.Josh Goller, Editor on 17 August 2010 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