• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
Literary Magazines: A Conversation with Blotterature

Literary Magazines: A Conversation with Blotterature

Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group Signs Veteran White House Journalist April Ryan

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group Signs Veteran White House Journalist April Ryan

Byron Allen To Launch TheGrio.TV As An Over-The-Air Broadcast Television Network And Free Digital Streaming App To Target African-American Viewers

Morris Chestnut on CLUB SHAY SHAY, with Shannon Sharpe | Full Episode

Morris Chestnut on CLUB SHAY SHAY, with Shannon Sharpe | Full Episode

Original Soul Train Dancer Crystal McCarey discusses her time on Soul Train

Original Soul Train Dancer Crystal McCarey discusses her time on Soul Train

Beyoncé for British Vogue Magazine December 2020 Behind The Scenes

Beyoncé for British Vogue Magazine December 2020 Behind The Scenes

Inside Look of My Vogue Cover Shoot | Naomi Campbell

Inside Look of My Vogue Cover Shoot | Naomi Campbell

Retrouvé: Supermodel Beverly Johnson’s Skincare Routine

Retrouvé: Supermodel Beverly Johnson’s Skincare Routine

Making of S by Serena NYFW 2020 | Serena Williams’ Spring Collection

Making of S by Serena NYFW 2020 | Serena Williams’ Spring Collection

The Making of Serena Williams’ SWTV Season 2 | S by Serena

The Making of Serena Williams’ SWTV Season 2 | S by Serena

Tuesday, January 26, 2021
  • Galleries
  • Video
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
BLEATIVITY
  • Creativity
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
    • Press Release Central
    • Style Press
  • News & Views
  • Style
    • All
    • Beauty
    • Celebrity Beauty Brands
    • Celebrity Fashion Brands
    • Celebrity Style
    • Fashion
    • Personal Style
    • Style Blogging
    • Style Expressions
    • Style Inspiration
    • Style Press
    • Style Promotion
    • Travel-Style

    Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

    Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

    Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

    Beyoncé for British Vogue Magazine December 2020 Behind The Scenes

    Beyoncé for British Vogue Magazine December 2020 Behind The Scenes

    Retrouvé: Supermodel Beverly Johnson’s Skincare Routine

    Retrouvé: Supermodel Beverly Johnson’s Skincare Routine

    Making of S by Serena NYFW 2020 | Serena Williams’ Spring Collection

    Making of S by Serena NYFW 2020 | Serena Williams’ Spring Collection

    The Making of Serena Williams’ SWTV Season 2 | S by Serena

    The Making of Serena Williams’ SWTV Season 2 | S by Serena

    How To Master Smudge-Proof Makeup With Dear White People’s Logan Browning | British Vogue

    How To Master Smudge-Proof Makeup With Dear White People’s Logan Browning | British Vogue

    Welcome to S by Serena: A Fashion Brand Designed by Serena Williams

    Welcome to S by Serena: A Fashion Brand Designed by Serena Williams

    Who Is The S Woman? Serena Williams Shares How She Built Her Fashion Brand | S by Serena

    Who Is The S Woman? Serena Williams Shares How She Built Her Fashion Brand | S by Serena

    Lenny Kravitz Shows His Gym & Fridge | Gym & Fridge | Men’s Health

    Lenny Kravitz Shows His Gym & Fridge | Gym & Fridge | Men’s Health

    Trending Tags

    • culture style
BLEATIVITY
Home Creativity Writing

Literary Magazines: A Conversation with Blotterature

Michelle McGill-Vargas by Michelle McGill-Vargas
June 22, 2015
in Writing
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Literary magazines are a great way for writers to get their work out there and noticed. Today’s post is an interview with Julie Demoff-Larson, senior editor of the lit mag Blotterature.

What is Blotterature?

JDL: Blotterature is a literary magazine started by a few friends that live in the Northwest Indiana corridor just south of Chicago. Blot has historically (all of two years) been an online journal that features poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art. However, in 2015 we decided to move into print and are now publishing two print and four online issues per year. In addition, we have a volunteer staff of seven who write for Blot Lit Reviews—a thriving faction of Blotterature—for small press writers and publishing houses. Our main objective is to help build a strong literary arts community, not only in Northwest Indiana, but nationally.

What prompted you to start Blotterature? 

JDL: Michelle L. Quinn and I are founding members of Blotterature; however, we did not generate the idea of starting a literary journal. A young friend approached us about editing and we took to the project. Unfortunately, she did not stay on board through the first issue, but we were hooked. It’s a commitment and a lot of hard work to keep the magazine going, so if you are in, you are all in. It began as this small thing with a slow pace that has snowballed over the last two years because of a lot of vision. Blotterature is constantly evolving as we implement our creative ideas.

What, in your opinion, are the pros and cons of publishing with a small press and a larger house?

JDL: This is a big question and I definitely hold some opinions about the subject. I will break it down and keep it simple for everyone.

Small Press Pros: a) There are so many to choose from and chances are if you have a great manuscript you will be able to find one to publish your work. b) An intimate relationship between the writer and editor. There is more one-on-one contact and most of the middle players are eliminated. It’s like you are the teacher’s pet all over again. C) You can learn a lot about the publishing process and your work

Small Press Cons: a) There are small press publishers who do not put out quality publications. How can you tell? Look at their listings. If the cover art looks like stock images, chances are they are not truly investing in their writers. Most times these publishers are not going through the editing process and the work is sometimes not up to par. Which brings me to b) Publishers that don’t go through the editing process with the writer to ensure the best possible manuscript. Might as well be self-publishing. c) Typically, there is no budget for book tours, marketing, and such. But hey, you can always ask Blotterature for a review.

Big Box Publishers Pros: a) They have money and lots of it. And with money comes publicity and promotional tours. It is all done for you. b) Distribution is done. You don’t have to sell to your neighbors and friends and the five copies you convinced Mom to buy. c) They will go through with a fine tooth comb to make sure each and every the, is, and but are correct.

Big Box Publishers Cons: a) It is really hard to get a deal with the biggies. First, you need an agent. And it is really hard to get an agent right off the bat unless you are paying some really big bucks. And even then it is not guaranteed. Really! b) It can take a long time to get your book on the market. Sometimes years. It is a much slower process than in the small press. Patience, my dear! c) You are just a commodity. A means to an end—profit. So, in order to be recognized your work must fit into the marketing demographic. You are writing for the masses here. There is no room for your creative meanderings—on the most part.

Any thoughts on self-publishing?

JDL: Don’t do it! Stay away from it! Well, at least for your first few publications. Let me tell you why. First, you need to establish credibility among your peers. Anyone can self-publish. It’s easy, right? But when you self-publish you bypass a major step of someone credible saying that your work is good enough to be published. It is hard for the public to take a writer seriously if the writer is the only one saying the work is good. And not to mention the serious editing skills you can learn by going through the process with a publisher. And second, why would anyone want to fork out the cost of self-publishing? Legit publishing houses cover all costs. Think about that for a minute. If you are marketing and travelling around to get your name and title out there, wouldn’t you want the cost of the actual book to be covered?

What is Blotterature currently looking for?

JDL: We are always looking for innovative work that tells a new story set in place with strong characters. Poetry that has strong imagery, political in nature, takes a stand, and changes our minds, views, ideals. Love the travelogue. Love the vernacular, diction, regionalism, blue-collar loveliness we hold dear to hearts. We are accepting for our print issues continuously, and also for the dual online/print issue AD INFINITUM, which addresses the themes and elements of identity, memory, lies, the advertising ‘sell’; again and again in the same way; forever. And don’t forget we are always looking for novels, collections, journals, and anthologies to review.

What is Blotterature NOT looking for?

JDL: Anything that creates stereotypes or perpetuates hate in any way. We don’t want to read about rape or pedophilia… no matter how vague they try to make it through metaphor. Just no.

As an editor/publisher of a literary magazine, what common mistakes do you see in submissions that would prompt a rejection?

JDL: Blotterature has established a blind submission in which we don’t allow for any identifying information in the body of the work or the file name. We did this to make it an even playing field for all. This has ensured that we as editors are not biased towards our friends in the writing community. And the best part of a blind submission is the surprise when we find out who the writer is—male/female, young/mature, widely published/first publication, or straight/gay. Running on a blind seems to free us from any preconceived notions of what the meaning must be, and instead we are establishing meaning based on our own experience and connection to the piece. So to say it plain, if there is any identifying information we automatically reject.

What advice would you give to a writer regarding publishing options (whether it is long or short form or poetry)?

JDL: If you are just starting out on the publication circuit it is a good idea to get your work into journals. Establish your credits for your dear bio. Also, a good way to get your name recognized in the small press is working in the lit community. I recommend review writing, reading/editorial staff for a journal, start a reading series, host a panel at a writing conference, go to readings and meet friends…writer friends. Your name will be noticed and they just might consider putting you in their publication.

But the biggest advice I can give is to stay true to your art, find your voice, and have a small group of critics you trust. It is important to be able to make changes to your work, to edit, to recognize good advice, but you must have integrity and be able to say no when you don’t agree. Keep working and I hope to see some damn good work out there!

Final SP flyer

A little side note: Blotterature and Lit Press Fest are hosting the first ever “Small Prestivus” on August 1-2 in Griffith, Indiana. This small press fest will feature a book fair, readings, writing workshops, art demos, singer/songwriters, and an all-day Festival of Language that will begin with a publishing Q/A. More details at blotterature.com/events

For Submission information please visit blotterature.com/submissions

Like us on Facebook and on Twitter at @blotterature

Julie Demoff-Larson is head fiction editor, managing editor, and co-queen bee at Blotterature Literary Magazine. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Purdue University and her dedication to the writing community is second only to family and friends. Her short stories are published in Mangrove, Ricochet, Epiphany Magazine and in Good Morning, Justice, an anthology from Brine Books Publishing. She is especially interested in fresh, innovative stories that break the mundane and if you read back issues you will see that she loves regional dialect. She plans on opening an independent bookstore in Northwest Indiana in early 2016.

Tags: Blotteratureliterary magazinesshort storiessmall press publisher
Previous Post

How Juneteenth Is Linked to July Fourth & the Tragedy at Emanuel AME Church

Next Post

Go From Vision Board To Visionary In 3 Easy Steps!

Michelle McGill-Vargas

Michelle McGill-Vargas

I consider myself a Christian writer of historical, flash and short fiction. I've published in The Lutheran Witness, Splickety Magazine, The Copperfield Review, and Typehouse Literary Magazine. I am also a regular contributing author at shortfictionbreak.com. Until I make it big, I pay the bills as a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing in northwest Indiana. I'm a member of Highland Writers Group, Speculative Scribes, Indiana Writer's Consortium and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I live in Gary, Indiana with my husband and two babies: a 16-year-old (poodle) and a 8-year-old (Welsh Corgi).

Related Posts

Turning A Corner: A Short Story
Creative Works

Turning A Corner: A Short Story

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
The one rivalry Reggie Miller just couldn’t win, Reggie vs. Cheryl

The one rivalry Reggie Miller just couldn’t win, Reggie vs. Cheryl

Fashion Icon Files: Sandra Clark from “227”

Fashion Icon Files: Sandra Clark from “227”

Original Soul Train Dancer Evette Moss aka “Legs” Recalls Time On Soul Train & Why She Left

Original Soul Train Dancer Evette Moss aka “Legs” Recalls Time On Soul Train & Why She Left

Being traditional-minded in a hook-up culture

Being traditional-minded in a hook-up culture

2

My Bali Swing View

1

Blerdcon 2019 – Revenge of the Blerds

1

Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

bleative Q & A

  • How did Rosie Perez get her start on Soul Train?
  • When does former President Obama tend to do his best writing?
  • What is former President Obama’s favorite writing pen?
  • In what movie did Bill Cosby’s character and George Foreman’s character almost come to blows?
  • What does Grammarly Free check vs Grammarly Premium?

Latest

Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

by bleativity
0

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

by bleativity
0

Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

Tracee Ellis Ross Introduces Pattern Beauty Lightweight Conditioner

by bleativity
0

Trending

Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

by bleativity
0

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

Tamron Hall’s Fashion | The Tamron Hall Show

by bleativity
0

Shooting the FENTYxPuma Jelly Slides

by Jennifer Jean-Pierre
0

bleativity

bleativity = black + creativity / blerd + creativity.
bleativity.com features creative expressions, inspiration and information by, and of interest to, creatives of color and the world.

bleative net

  • bleative Q & A
  • bleative video net
  • bleative net connect
  • bleative netwatch
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Disclaimer

#bleativity

No Result
View All Result
  • Creativity
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
    • Press Release Central
    • Style Press
  • News & Views
  • Style

#bleativity

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz