RECOMMENDED READING
BY LISA SWANSTROM
Bellingham Review showcases stunning writing of the highest caliber. In
issue #53 alone, we recommend Rebecca Kanner's short story "Thieves";
June Unjoo Yang's "Revival"; and Rebecca Black's poem "Vacation."
Details and guidelines at http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~bhreview/
Branches Quarterly features an eclectic combination of fiction, poetry,
and visual art, making it a good venue for writers and readers alike.
We recommend Nancy A. Henry's poem "Abandoned Photograph Album." Details
and guidelines at http://www.branchesquarterly.com/
Carve Magazine With two issues a month and twelve stories an issue,
Carve Magazine is an excellent market for new and established writers.
We recommend Andrew McKenna's short story "The Beatification of Ali
Obeid." Details and guidelines at http://www.carvezine.com/
Full Circle: A Journal of Poetry and Prose publishes well-crafted work
by emerging and established writers. The design is somewhat
bare bones, but the writing is solid and worth checking out. We recommend
Charles Fishman's poem "A True History of Food." Details and guidelines
at http://www.fullcirclejrnl.com
Glimmer Train is professionally produced and exceedingly well
distributed. In a day and age in which magazines such as Lucky, In
Style, and Allure dominate the racks, it gives one hope to see a copy of
Glimmer Train peeking out behind an issue of Vogue. That said, some of
the stories are hit or miss, but when they hit, they hit hard. We
recommend June Unjoo Yang's short story "A Sentimental Education," which
appears in Issue 45: Winter 2003. Details and guidelines at
http://www.glimmertrain.com
The Harrow takes its name from Franz Kafka's "In the Penal Colony" and
publishes harrowing horror fiction in Kafka's vein. Spare, elegant
design balanced against melodramatic genre fiction makes The Harrow a
good bet for horror aficionados. We look forward to reading The
Harrow's first anthology, Fear of the Unknown, when it comes out.
Details and guidelines at http://www.theharrow.com
Mid-American Review, the literary magazine of the University of Bowling
Green State University, publishes quality fiction, poetry, and
translations of literary works. We especially recommend Amy Benson's
poem, "An Argument for Disaster," which appears in the Volume XXII, No.
2 issue. Details and guidelines at:
http://www.bgsu.edu/studentlife/organizations/midamericanreview/
Missouri Review publishes outstanding fiction and poetry. We recommend
Michael Lundell's short story "Connect," which appears in the Volume 26,
Number 2 2003 issue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.missourireview.org/
Nebraska Review publishes fiction and poetry of a very high caliber. We
recommend Drew Perry's short story, "Love is Gnats Today," which appears
in the Winter 2003 issue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.unomaha.edu/~fineart/wworkshop/submits.htm
Natural Bridge This beautiful print publication offers high quality
fiction and poetry. We recommend Dan Pope's short story "House on Goose
Pond" in issue number 8, Fall 2002, and Wendy E. Coulter's "Fall" in
Volume 2, Number 1. Details and guidelines at
http://www.umsl.edu/~natural/
Nerve Cowboy offers entertaining, eclectic, and, well-written works. We
recommend "Robert Plath's poem "Master of All Masters," which appears in
the #15, Spring 2003 issue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.onr.com/user/jwhagins/nervecowboy.html
Nidus, the online literary journal of the University of Pittsburgh's MFA
program, publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. We
recommend Peg Peoples' poem "Over The Willamette," which appears in the
spring 2003 issue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.pitt.edu/~nidus/index.html
Pedestal Magazine publishes excellent poetry and literary fiction. We
recommend Michael Johnson's poem "Waterwalker," which appears in
Pedestal's 20th issue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/
River City This excellent journal showcases prose and poetry of a very
high caliber. We recommend Mary L. Tabor's short story "Madness and
Folly," which appears in Volume 23:2, Summer 2003 issue. Details and
guidelines at http://www.people.memphis.edu/%7Erivercity/
Rosebud: the Magazine for People Who Enjoy Good Writing is everything a
good literary journal should be and more. In addition to fine writing,
annual contests, and guest appearances by such literary hyper-luminaries
as Ray Bradbury and Ursula K. LeGuin (the names alone make us
verklempt), Rosebud offers outstanding illustrations and entertaining
crossword puzzles in each issue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.rsbd.net/
Stirring: A Literary Collection This monthly web journal offers an
interesting assortment of poetry, prose, and visual art. We enjoyed
Benjamin Chambers' short story "A Recommendation for Dismissal of the
Operative," which appears in the September 2003 issue. Details and
guidelines at http://www.sundress.net/stirring/
Sweet Fancy Moses: Where Wit Lives routinely publishes buffoonish
fiction of the highest caliber: consistently comic, refreshingly free of
cheese. For a real treat, open up the archive vaults and read Matt
Amati's novel Konstantinople. Details and guidelines at
http://www.sweetfancymoses.com
Swink Magazine publishes high-quality literary fiction, non-fiction, and
poetry--D. Nurkse's poem, "A Stoop in Brooklyn," is especially worth
checking out. Nice design--sedate but professional--and a clean layout
make this site a worthwhile venue. Details and guidelines at
http://www.swinkmag.com
Willow Springs, the literary magazine of the MFA program at the
University of Eastern Washington, consistently publishes excellent works
by talented writers committed to their craft. Details and guidelines at
http://www.ewu.edu/cal/cw/special/WillowSprings.html
Zoetrope launched nearly seven years ago, giving us high hopes for a
high-caliber, well-funded journal for emerging talent. Unfortunately,
while this magazine attracts big literary fish, the stories themselves
frequently lack luster. That said, we hear they pay well, so we will
keep trying. Details and guidelines at http://www.all-story.com/
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