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Editor Interview: Port Yonder Press

Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

Lyric chapbooks

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

Paris Review, New Directions, Graywolf

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

Anne Carson, Ellen Meloy, Annie Dillard, Stephanie Dickinson, Kathleen Dean Moore, Gertrude Stein, Emily Dickinson, Kurt Vonnegut, etc. Think sound and uniqueness.

What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?

We love beauty of language. Sound is paramount.

What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?

Read what we've published in our journal (Eastern Iowa Review) for the kind of writing we especially love, especially the prose poetry and creative nonfiction. Buy Eastern Iowa Review's "Best Lyric Prose Plus" print edition on Amazon.

Describe the ideal submission.

Honesty, tact and tenderness, beautiful and tight wording, surprises.

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

They submit generic (rather than prose) poetry or material that's generic rather than lyrical. They submit the wrong material.

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

A cover letter shows civility but we're not that interested in credits.

If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?

I like to read the first few pages at least, but many times I don't get that far. I/we read until we can read no further, until I/we decide it's just not a good fit.

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

A thorough read-through and an indication that an author will be a breeze to work with.

What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?

Lots of reading, lots of decisions, some waiting, some collaborating, final decision.

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

We/I do careful copy editing and line editing, but rarely does it amount to much at all. If a manuscript needs a lot of editing we'll pass on it as I/we simply don't have time for extensive edits. Of course author always approves of final edits.

Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?

Yes, several, all the usuals. Several review copies are sent to author as well so they can enter contests, etc. Like many other especially small (but large also) publishing houses, we have zero dollars for marketing, so the author needs to factor that in to their own after-publication duties.

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