The Queer Writer: February 2024

**FREE!** Novel Immersive for LGBTQ+ Writers Open House & Info Session

• Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm ET
• Virtual via Zoom
• Free!
• 50 seat maximum (We maxed out at 75 seats last year. Make sure to register early if you're interested.)

Thinking of applying to the Novel Immersive for LGBTQ+ Writers? GrubStreet will host an online Q&A session with instructor Milo Todd on Thursday, February 22nd, from 6:00-7:00p.m. Milo will answer any questions you have about the Novel Immersive, including the workload, the application process, what the program does and doesn’t entail, the schedule, the philosophy behind our approach, and anything else you have on your mind! Please note that the upcoming round of the Novel Immersive for LGBTQ+ Writers, which begins in June 2024, will take place online via Zoom.

Queer Writing Essentials

• Saturday, March 9th, 2024 from 10:30am to 1:30pm ET
• Virtual via Zoom
• $85, scholarships available
• 12 students maximum

Writing authentic marginalized work can come with some unique problems, especially if/when we engage with the mainstream publishing industry or its readers. This 3-hour class was designed to help queer writers navigate some of the less-discussed aspects of marginalized writing, including how to introduce your characters as queer, creating effective social justice themes within your storytelling, handling “relatability,” and how to invite in outside readers without compromising your story’s authenticity. Peppered with writing exercises, this class will engage with works from such authors as Gabby Rivera, Andrea Lawlor, Rajiv Mohabir, Kacen Callender, Akwaeke Emezi, Carmen Maria Machado, Jordy Rosenberg, and more.

*While this class is designed with queer writers in mind, cisgender/heterosexual writers are welcome to attend and learn. However, please know we won’t be discussing introductory levels of queer representation or community, nor the do’s and don’ts of writing outside of one’s lane.

**FREE!** Transcestors Series: Pirates of the 1600s Atlantic

• Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 from 11:00am to 12:00pm ET
• Virtual via Zoom
• Free!

How do modern-day portrayals of queer and trans pirates stack up to the real thing? Were there any pirates who we'd today define as trans? How did pirates view queer sexual orientations and gender presentations? What about other so-called political topics, such as slavery and disability? Take a look at queerness during The Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1730), centered around the Atlantic Ocean, with opportunity for Q&A. Note: This session includes mentions of queer/transphobia, racism/slavery, murder, sexual assault, misgendering/deadnaming, and appropriation.

Transcestors is a series of free 1-hour sessions focused on trans and queer (but mostly trans) history based on Milo Todd's research for his historical fiction. Those interested must have any subscription tier of The Queer Writer, paid or free, and must use their subscriber email to register for sessions. For safety reasons, sessions will NOT be recorded. Donations are not expected, but the opportunity to donate will be available during sessions. A Zoom link will be sent to registered attendees ~15 minutes before a session starts.

*Sessions are open to all identities, but please know Transcestors centers trans and/or nonbinary attendees.

Disclosure: I'm an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Any purchase through my storefront supports local bookstores and earns me a commission. Win-win!

This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill

Abby Akerman believes in the Universe. After all, her Midwest high school marching band is about to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City--if that's not proof that magical things can happen, what is? New York also happens to be the setting of her favorite romance novel, making it the perfect place for Abby to finally tell her best friend Kat that she's in love with her (and, um, gay). She's carefully annotated a copy of the book as a gift for Kat, and she's counting on the Universe to provide an Epic Scene worthy of her own rom-com. Leo Brewer, on the other hand, just wants to get through this trip without falling apart. He doesn't believe the Universe is magical at all, mostly because he's about to be outed to his very Southern extended family on national TV as the trans boy he really is. He's not excited for the parade, and he's even less excited for an entire day of sightseeing with his band. But the Universe has other ideas. When fate throws Abby and Leo together on the wrong subway train, they soon find themselves lost in the middle of Manhattan. Even worse, Leo accidentally causes Abby to lose her Epic Gift for Kat. So to salvage the day, they come up with a new mission: find a souvenir from every location mentioned in the book for Abby to give Kat instead. But as Leo and Abby traverse the city, from the streets of Chinatown to the halls of Grand Central Station and the top of the Empire State Building, their initial expectations for the trip--and of each other--begin to shift. Maybe, if they let it, this could be the day that changes everything, for both of them.

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

After running away from home, Sybil Clarion is eager to embrace all the freedom the Belle Époque city of Severon has to offer. Instead, she's traded high-society soirées for empty pockets. At least she has Esme, the girl who offered Sybil a home, and if either of them dared, something more. Ever since Esme Rimbaud brought Sybil back to her flat, the girls have been everything to each other--best friends, found family, and secret crushes. While Esme would rather spend the night tinkering with her clocks and snuggling her cats, Sybil craves excitement and needs money. She plans to get both by stealing the rare posters that crop up around town. With rent due, Esme agrees to accompany--and more importantly protect--Sybil. When they're caught selling a poster by none other than its subject, Maeve, the glamorous girl invites Sybil and Esme to The Absinthe Underground, the exclusive club she co-owns, and reveals herself to be a Green Faerie, trapped in this world. She wants to hire thieves for a daring heist in Fae that would set her free, and is willing to pay enough that Sybil and Esme never have to worry about rent again. It's too good of an offer to pass up, even if Maeve's tragic story doesn't quite add up, and the secrets could jeopardize everything the girls have so carefully built.

Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender

Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic--so when Ash is rejected by Lancaster College of Alchemic Science, he takes a job as the school's groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret. When he's discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he's about to be arrested--but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash's secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power. As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists--Ash's estranged father included. Ash's journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.

In the Shallows by Tanya Byrne

Mara's ex, Nico, is the girl of her dreams: beautiful, wild and unpredictable. She's Mara's everything, even though Mara's never sure that she's Nico's anything. Then Nico goes missing... New Year's Day: A girl is rescued from the sea. She knows she is called Nico, but other than that, she has no memory of why she was in the sea or what came before. When destiny reunites them, is this Mara and Nico's second chance? Can their relationship make it out of the shallows? And what will happen when they discover the truth behind Nico's accident? Because one day, Nico will remember everything.

An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson

Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua's College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold. On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla. But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

When a smart-mouthed junior joins East Nashville High's basketball team, Coach Julie Parker's ready for the challenge. What she's not prepared for is the teen's new foster parent, a super-hot ex-WNBA baller and star of Julie's fantasies. Julie knows the cool and confident Elle Cochrane is way out of her league. But despite being completely tongue-tied around her, somehow Julie persuades Elle to step in as her assistant coach. Elle has not been on a court since her career-ending injury, but she can't seem to resist Julie, who is just as adorable as her nervous babbling. Maybe because being around her makes Elle feel sparks for the first time in long while--which is why she offers to help when Julie reveals her lifelong insecurity about dating and how she wishes she could practice at it...like sports. As Elle helps Julie navigate dating life, lines grow increasingly blurred, and the two must decide whether they'll stay on the sidelines--or finally take their shot.

At Her Service by Amy Spalding

Max Van Doren has a wish list, and a great career and a girlfriend are at the top. But despite being pretty good at her job as an assistant to one of Hollywood's fastest rising talent agents, she has no idea how to move up the ladder. And when it comes to her love life, she's stuck in perpetual lust for an adorably perfect bartender named Sadie. Her goals are clear--and Max has everything but the self-confidence to go for them. Even her mother seems to assume she'll be crawling home to her childhood bedroom at some point... When Max's roommate, Chelsey--an irritatingly gorgeous and self-assured influencer in plus-size and queer spaces--offers to sponsor her for a new self-actualization app, Max gives in. If she can't run her own life, maybe an algorithm guiding her choices will help? Suddenly Max is scoring big everywhere, and her dreams are achingly close to coming true. But when one of Chelsey's posts reveals Sadie's part in the app's campaign, Max is poised for heartbreak on all fronts. Tired of the sponcon life with its fake friends and endless selfies, Max realizes that to have true influence, she'll have to find the courage to make her own, totally authentic way in the world...

Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada

Stonebridge High's resident bad boy, Wesley "Big Mac" Mackenzie, is failing senior year--thanks to his unchecked anger, rowdy friends, and a tendency to ditch his homework for skateboarding and a secret photography obsession. So when his mom drags him to a production of The Nutcracker, Wes isn't interested at all...until he sees Tristan Monroe. Mr. Nutcracker himself. Wes knows he shouldn't like Tristan; after all, he's a ballet dancer, and Wes is as closeted as they come. But when they start spending time together, Wes can't seem to get Tristan out of his head. Driven by a new sense of purpose, Wes begins to think that--despite every authority figure telling him otherwise--maybe he can change for the better and graduate on time. As a falling out with his friends becomes inevitable, Wes realizes that being himself means taking a stand--and blowing up the bad-boy reputation he never wanted in the first place.

Redsight by Meredith Mooring

Korinna has simple priorities: stay on the Navitas, stay out of trouble, and stay alive. She may be a Redseer, a blind priestess with the power to manipulate space-time, but she is the weakest in her Order. Useless and outcast. Or so she has been raised to believe. As she takes her place as a navigator on an Imperium ship, Korinna's full destiny is revealed to her: blood brimming with magic, she is meant to become a weapon of the Imperium, and pawn for the Order that raised her. But when the ship is attacked by the notorious pirate Aster Haran, Korinna's world is ripped apart. Aster has a vendetta against the Imperium, and an all-consuming, dark power that drives her to destroy everything in her path. She understands the world in a way Korinna has never imagined, and Korinna is drawn to her against her better judgment. With the Imperium and the justice-seeking warrior Sahar hot on her heels, Korinna must choose her side, seize her power and fulfil her destiny--or risk imperiling the future of the galaxy, and destroying the fabric of space-time itself.

Daughter of the Bone Forest by Jasmine Skye

Rosy is a bone familiar, gifted with the power to shift into animals marked with exposed bone. She spends most of her days in the magical Bone Forest, caring for her feral grandmother and hiding her powers to avoid conscription by the Witch King's army. Until the day that Princess Shaw, a witch known as Death's Heir, visits the Forest. When Rosy saves Shaw's life, the princess offers her the chance to attend the prestigious school, Witch Hall, as payment. Though Rosy is wary of Shaw's intentions, she cannot pass up the opportunity to find the cure for her grandmother's affliction. But at Witch Hall, Rosy finds herself embroiled in political games she doesn't understand. Shaw wants Rosy for her entourage, a partner to help lead the coming war. All Rosy wants is to stay out of trouble until she can graduate and save her grandmother, but she can't deny her attraction to Shaw or the comfort Shaw's magic gives her. Will Rosy give in to her destiny, or will the Bone Forest call her home once and for all?

The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa

Dami is a demon determined to cancel every deal they've ever made in order to tether their soul to earth and become human again. There's just one person standing in their way: Silas. An irresistibly (and stubborn) cute boy cursed to die young, except for the deal with Dami that is keeping him alive. If they cancel the deal, Silas is dead. Unless...they can destroy the curse that has plagued Silas's family for generations. But to do so, Dami and Silas are going to have to work together. That is, if the curse doesn't kill them first...

Mewing by Chloe Spencer

Vixen would sell her soul to get into the Bleach Babes and, if she isn't careful, she might just get what she wants. One of the most exclusive influencer co-ops in LA, the Bleach Babes live and work together in one big house where they have it all: popularity, talent, and beauty. Their leader? Supermodel Margo, a woman as sinister as she is sexy. After Margo agrees to take Vix under her wing-and into her bed-Vixen moves in and begins hustling. Success comes hard and fast, but the glitz and glamor comes with a price that may cost her her sanity...and her life.

No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub

It's been one year since Hazeem's father passed away unexpectedly, and one year since Hazeem got his special ability: He can grant any living thing extra time. Since then, he's been randomly granting people more years to live: his old friend Holly, his study buddy Yamany, his crush Jack.... The only problem is, none of them wanted to spend any of that time with Hazeem. Now, Hazeem spends most of his days with his grandmother. When she experiences a heart attack, Hazeem is quick to use his power to save her--until Time themself appears and tells Hazeem he has accrued a time debt, having given away more life than he has left to live and putting the entire timeline in serious danger of collapse. In order to save the timeline and himself, Hazeem must take back some of the life he has granted other people. Suddenly, Hazeem is on a journey through and against time, but as he confronts the events of the past, he must confront the mistakes he made along the way. Hazeem will come to realize that when it comes to time, quality is more important to quantity--but is it too late to reclaim the life he's given away so he can really start living?

We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller

Jordan Elliott is a fat, nerdy lesbian, and the first junior to be named editor in chief of the school newspaper. Okay, that last part hasn't happened yet, but it will. It's positive thinking that has gotten Jordan this far. Ever since Mackenzie West, her friend-turned-enemy, humiliated her at the start of freshman year, Jordan has thrown herself into journalism and kept her eyes trained on the future. So it's a total blow when Jordan discovers that she not only didn't get the editor in chief spot, but she's been assigned the volleyball beat instead. And who is the star and newly crowned captain of the volleyball team? Mackenzie West. But words are Jordan's weapon, and she has some ideas about how to exact a long-awaited revenge on her nemesis. Then things get murky when forced time together has Mack and Jordan falling back into their friendship, and into something more. And when Mack confesses the real reason she turned on Jordan freshman year, it has Jordan questioning everything--past, present, and future. If Jordan lets her guard down and Mack in, will she get everything she wants, or will she be humiliated all over again?

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

Kai Song dreams of being a warrior. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved father, the commander of the Royal Legion. But while her father believes in Kai and trains her in martial arts, their society isn't ready for a girl warrior. Still, Kai is determined. But she is plagued by rumors that she is the granddaughter of Gumiho, the infamous nine-tailed fox demon who was killed by her father years before. Everything comes crashing down the day Kai learns the deadly secret about her mother's past. Now she must come to terms with the truth about her identity and take her destiny into her own hands. As Kai desperately searches for a way to escape her fate, she comes to find compassion, and even love, in the most unexpected places.

Deconstructing the Fitness-Industrial Complex: How to Resist, Disrupt, and Reclaim What It Means to Be Fit in American Culture ed. by Justice Roe Williams, Roc Rochon, and Lawrence Koval

Fit is subjective. Who our society designates as fit--and who gets to be fit in our society--is predefined by the coaches, gyms, and systems at large that uphold and reproduce the Fitness Industrial Complex for their own structural and material gain. The Fitness Industrial Complex uplifts some bodies while denigrating others. Bodies that are Black, Brown, queer, trans, poor, fat, and disabled--bodies that don't conform, that resist and disrupt--are excluded from being "fit." Through the stories and experiences of activist trainers, coaches, and bodyworkers of diverse identities and experiences, this anthology interrogates: The ideas and beliefs we've internalized about health, fitness, and our own and others' bodies. How to deconstruct and re-envision fitness as a practice for all bodies. The fitness industry's role in upholding and reinforcing oppression. Exclusivity, unsafety, and harm in mainstream fitness spaces. How to empower ourselves and our communities to push back against the FIC. Speaking directly to sick, queer, trans, disabled, and BIPOC readers, Deconstructing the Fitness Industrial Complex is part urgent inquiry, part radical deconstruction, and part call to action: to build spaces that welcome and work for all; to reclaim movement as a vital and liberatory practice; and to embody a model of joy and community care outside the mainstream fitness culture.

Joy, to the World by Kai Shappley and Lisa Bunker

Joy, a twelve-year-old trans girl, just moved to Texas with her mother and older brother. Her family has accepted Joy as the girl she is early in her transition, with little fuss, leaving Joy to explore her love of sports, competition, teamwork, school spirit, and worship. But when she is told she's off the cheerleading team, Joy wants to fight for her right to cheer. As her battle with the school board picks up momentum, Joy attracts support from kids all around the country...she even gets the attention of her hero, trans activist Kai Shappley. Inspired by Kai's own life, Joy, to the World is a timely story of living life to the fullest, celebrating and centering trans joy, courage, and resilience.

Bi Women Quarterly Spring 2024: Letters to Self

• What: "Have you ever wished you could go back in time and give your younger self some much needed advice? Or perhaps you want to write to your future self about the moment you’re currently living in, so you don’t forget any part of it, or to provide some advice? What if you were asked to write to your present self—what would you say? Share your letters to yourself of advice, wisdom, and memories, with us for our next issue!"
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $0
• Deadline: February 1st, 2024

Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction

• What: "The Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction, in memory of the celebrated author Randall Kenan, honors Black LGBTQ writers of fiction. The award will go to a Black LGBTQ writer whose fiction explores themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and/or history. To be eligible, the winner of the prize must have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking work."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $3,000
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction

• What: "Lambda Literary’s Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction, in memory of the beloved activist and author, honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming nonfiction authors. The award will go to a writer committed to nonfiction work that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and/or history. The winner of the prize will have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking and challenging work."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $2,500
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers

• What: "The Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers recognizes LGBTQ-identified writers whose work demonstrates their strong potential for promising careers. Two prizes are awarded annually. The applicant must have written and published at least one but no more than two books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $1,500
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize

• What: "Dedicated to the memory of author and journalist Jim Duggins, this prize honors LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation and following, and show promise to continue publishing high quality work for years to come."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $5,000
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50

• What: "The J. Michael Samuel Prize honors emerging LGBTQ writers over the age of 50. This award is made possible by writer and philanthropist Chuck Forester, who created it out of the firmly held belief that 'Writers who start late are just as good as other writers, it just took the buggers more time.' The prize will go to an unpublished LGBTQ writer over 50 working in any genre."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $5,000
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence

• What: "The Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence is named in honor of Michael Denneny, who founded the first ever LGBTQ+ imprint at a major publishing house, was essential in the publishing of literature dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and so generously shared his talents with writers right up until the end of his life. The award will go to an editor whose commitment to the publication of LGBTQ+ writers and literature contributes significantly to the advancement of the LGBTQ+ community."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $2,500
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

The Pat Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing

• What: "The Pat Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing is presented in memory of the celebrated author and long-time SF Chronicle book review editor Patricia Holt and honors LGBTQ Critical Writing on Arts & Literature. The award will go an LGBTQ arts critic or literary reviewer committed to examining queer works of art and culture, as Holt ground-breakingly did for 16 years."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $4,000
• Deadline: February 16th, 2024

The Rose Library 2024 LGBTQ Collections Fellowship

• What: "The Rose Library offers the LGBTQ Collections Fellowship, which supports research in Rose Library's LGBTQ related papers and archives that document the history, culture, politics, and public health initiatives."
• Fee: N/A
• Pay: up to $1,000
• Deadline: February 29th, 2024

Alien Magazine: Fiction

• What: "Alien Magazine is a publication with the goal of creating an archive of work, as well as an innovative and supportive literary community, for outsiders. We look to expand the literary journal community and its readership by publishing nontraditional work. As we believe that all great art takes risks, we encourage you to do so as well."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $20
• Deadline: March 1st, 2024

New Plains Review: Prose (Fiction & Nonfiction) - Central Dissent 2024

• What: "Being the first and only academic journal focused on gender and sexuality in Oklahoma, our mission is to gather and disseminate quality research, poetry, and academic reviews that explore gender theory, gender identity, as well as how race, class, and ethnicity shape society’s expectations of the individual both currently and historically. We are interested in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) that is thoughtful and compelling regarding issues related to gender and/or sexuality, but otherwise, we do not have any specific guidelines for style or subject matter."
• Fee: N/A
• Pay: N/A
• Deadline: March 18th, 2024

LGBT Chamber of Commerce 2024-2025 Scholarship Application

• What: "The LGBT Chamber of Commerce Foundation awards scholarships to build leadership and promote diversity in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied communities. Scholarships may be used for any postsecondary education, including nontraditional/alternative programs and vocational training. Applicants must provide proof they are a resident of Texas."
• Fee: N/A
• Pay: N/A
• Deadline: March 31st, 2024

Bi Women Quarterly Summer 2024: More Than One Letter

• What: "'B' isn’t the only identity in our yummy alphabet soup. To those of you who identify as bi+ and also as asexual, trans, intersex, or anything else under the rainbow: tell us what it’s like to be you! We want to hear about how your identities intersect, what challenges you’ve faced, or what opportunities you’ve been given. And most importantly, we want to know what it would take to be able to bring your whole self comfortably and proudly into these bi+ spaces."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $0
• Deadline: May 1st, 2024

GrubStreet Emerging Writer Fellowship

• What: "The Emerging Writer Fellowship aims to develop new, exciting voices by providing three writers per year tuition-free access to GrubStreet’s classes and two Muse & the Marketplace summits. Over the course of one year, each Emerging Writer Fellow will attend a combination of seminars and multi-week courses of their choosing, along with a wide selection of Muse & The Marketplace programming, in order to enhance their understanding of craft and the publishing industry. This fellowship is open to anyone 18 and older with a passion for writing. The fellowship specifically aims to assist writers in need of financial assistance in reaching their writing goals. We particularly encourage writers of color, ethnic minorities, those who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and other members of communities historically underrepresented by the literary community to apply. Priority will be given to applicants who will be able to join us in Boston."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: Free classes and conferences
• Deadline: rolling

Prismatica: Spring 2024

• What: "Prismatica Magazine is a quarterly LGBTQ fantasy & science fiction magazine. Prismatica features short fiction and poetry from emerging and established LGBTQ authors. In the magazine’s stories and poems, readers can find fantasy and science-fiction of all sub-genres and cross-genres. We happily include magical realism, contemporary science-fiction, urban fantasy, and more."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $0
• Deadline: rolling

The Afterpast Review

• What: "The Afterpast Review is a feminist literary magazine dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices. We accept poetry, prose, and dramatic writing from all writers. ​Submissions do not have to fit into a specific category nor do they have to be about feminism. All accepted submissions will be published in the magazine."
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $0
• Deadline: rolling

Baest Journal

• What: Baest Journal, "a journal of queer forms and affects," seeks to publish work by queer writers and artists.
• Fee: $0
• Pay: $0
• Deadline: rolling

How to Lose a Library

by Carolyn Dever

So, what does remain of the library? Insofar as a library is a building, I can confirm that we have a building here. Books? Check. Though the British Library does not have open stacks, the reading rooms are ringed with books, including indexes and other reference volumes. Far flashier, the famous “King’s Library” stands stalwart at the building’s center, displaying the books collected by King George III, including a Gutenberg Bible and Caxton’s first edition of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Again, books present and accounted for, consecrated by modern architecture as the heart of this institution.

But what of its soul?

As a board member of our local public library, I can vouch that the soul of a library is something really complex. Certainly in the context of the United States right now, public libraries are hot potatoes of the culture wars, and public librarians the sentinels of foundational civil rights, including those of speech and accessibility. In practical terms, public libraries like ours are community anchors, providing resources to many different populations, from infants to elders. Too often, libraries patch gaps in the social safety net, providing shelter and survival resources, along with information resources, to underserved people. Librarians are by profession information wizards, belying any analog-digital binary by instrumentalizing information as useful and as necessary. The job is to connect users and materials, to create that alchemy that blends the stuff and matter of life with the ephemera of knowledge. Whether it’s a small-town public library or one of the world’s flagship research institutions, libraries represent a radically inclusive mission dedicated to knowledge.

That’s the bitter irony at the core of this cybercrime: what was stolen was access to knowledge.

The Invisible Forces Behind the Books We Read

by Josh Lambert

The profound weirdness of our collective ignorance about books becomes evident when you compare the book business with other major culture industries. Even amateur film critics have all of the production and revenue data from IMDb and Box Office Mojo at their fingertips, and video-game reviewers can peruse a game’s credits and player counts. People win Oscars for makeup and cinematography and sound design, but there’s no Pulitzer or National Book Award for copy editors, agents, or jacket designers.

Such comparisons can also help us see what we stand to gain if we can change how reviewers, editors, critics, and scholars think about books. For one thing, we would be giving credit that’s long been due to many people who make our books. Translators have been agitating more loudly, in recent years, to be named on the covers of the books they translate. I’m all for it, but why stop there? Would it really be so difficult to have a credits page that acknowledges the contributions of the folks responsible for layout, marketing, and proofreading?

Beyond simply recognizing people’s labor, this would give us new, useful ways to understand the books we care so much about. If you knew that the same editor had acquired five of your favorite books of the past 10 years—even though she moved publishing houses twice in that time—you might want to keep an eye out for what she’s working on next. If you’re concerned about diversity, equity, and justice in the literary field, you will want to take note of not just which authors are getting their work into print but also which gatekeepers are facilitating their career, and whose support has been instrumental in allowing crucial books to reach us. Having reliable data on book sales might allow us to understand much more about not only which books have been successful in reaching wide audiences; it’ll also help us know which books have been successful in reaching which audiences. We would have a much better shot at knowing why it matters who owns Simon & Schuster.

Of course, to get there, we will need radically unprecedented transparency from book publishers about the advances they pay, the copies they sell, and the people who make the key editorial and marketing decisions for any particular title, as well as direct access to the data they collect. None of that seems especially likely to happen—critics have been calling for this kind of change for at least a century, with little success—but we can always hope.