Literary magazines: is there a source of greater guilt for writers? We submit to them. We cross our fingers, make a small-animal sacrifice, and hope they’ll publish our work. But do we really read them?
The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) has launched a new program to encourage creative writing students to read literary magazines. From the program announcement:
The Lit Mag Adoption Program for Creative Writing Students allows undergraduate and graduate creative writing professors to include literary magazines in their courses. Students receive discounted, 1-year subscriptions for selected literary magazines (professors receive a free “desk-copy” subscription). Each participating class will receive at least two issues of the magazine during the semester. In addition, classes will have direct interaction with the magazine publisher/editor through a virtual (or in-person where local) “One-on-One” chat session.
So far over 30 journals are participating, including fiction powerhouses A Public Space, Iowa Review, Kenyon Review, One Story, Ploughshares, and Tin House.
This program sounds like a really innovative way to bring (extremely) contemporary literature into the classroom for analysis and discussion, broadening student horizons. Plus, it gives writing students an opportunity to engage with editors and publishers, valuable experience for those looking to work in the industry and for those who might submit in the future. And finally, it helps support literary magazines too—thereby alleviating some of that writerly guilt.
To learn more about the Lit Mag Adoption Program, or register your class to participate, visit the program’s website.
