This week’s Lit Mag Spotlight is shining on Salt Hill Journal, an outstanding journal publishing new fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art! This wonderful lit mag has been around since 1994 and publishes the likes of Dorianne Laux and H.L. Hix! They’ve got a beautiful website and awesome cover art (see below!) and we’re very honored to be featuring them.
We took some time to talk to Salt Hill’s poetry-minded editor-in-chief David Wojciechowski, and here’s what he had to say:
1. Give us the lowdown on your journal’s mission.
I’m not so sure Salt Hill has an explicit mission outside of publishing new and interesting work. If we do, I hope it revolves around subliminal messages in some ill-fated attempt at world domination.
2. Describe your ideal submission in 15 words or less.
If I contemplate claiming it as my own work, I’d say it’s pretty ideal (right?).
3. Tell us about a piece you recently published that got the staff really excited. Why did you love it? Why did it strike a chord? Can readers find it online (if so, feel free to include the URL)?
Remember that scene in Fantasia when Mickey goes ape[crazy] and hacks up the broom with an ax, then the pieces come to life as a lot of brooms and they try to drown Mickey? I felt like the words in Ben Mirov’s “Destruction Manual” (SH28) totally did that to my brain…but in a good way. The fantastical and self-referential nature of it just did it for me. An excerpt will soon be available here.
4. Regarding submissions: What’s the most common turn-off that you encounter (in terms of craft)?
Does writing about your cat count as a craft? If so, then writing about your cat and how you named it Bukowski or Calvino is a complete turn-off (now that I think about it, wouldn’t Calvino be an adorable name for a cat?).
5. What’s the most common oversight (in terms of submission guidelines)?
I know most magazines say you ought to read an issue or two before submitting, and generally I think that sounds like the magazine is trying to sell a few more issues—but seriously, read an issue before you submit to us.
6. Why is your journal awesome? (Why should readers subscribe?)
Have you seen Salt Hill? The design is absolutely gorgeous (thank you, Nieto Books!), and the work inside will leave you feeling mentally (and physically) ravished.
7. Where can readers find your submission guidelines?
Ooh! This one’s easy. Here— www.salthilljournal.net
Check out Salt Hill on Facebook and Twitter!
Leave a comment by July 19 and enter to win a free one-year subscription and tote bag from Salt Hill. This contest is now closed.
Thanks for directing me to the SH website – their comics are funny!
I think I found my new favorite journal! If the editor sounds this cool, SH must be awesome.
Great interview, just checked out the site, very cool work and concept!
Why in the world haven’t more people commented? This is a great journal!
Why in the world haven’t more people commented? This is a great journal!
Thanks for this interview – what a great metaphor for what reading brilliant writing feels like! I should re-watch Fantasia.
Will definitely follow on twitter; thanks for the intro.
“If I contemplate claiming it as my own work, I’d say it’s pretty ideal (right?).”
This is EXACTLY how I feel my ‘good poem’ spectrum works!
Sounds like an interesting journal.
David, you’re a funny guy! Loved the comment regarding people writing a piece about how they named their cat. I can’t think of anything more dull, and neither, it would appear, can you…brilliant! Off to check out the rest of the mag now
Loved the comics! Can’t wait to really dig into the site when I get home 🙂
Q: Why is your journal so awesome?
A: Have you *seen* Salt Hill?
Best response to that q ever! Go Salt Hill!
Loved this interview! I second what what K.C. Mead said–that’s the best response to that q ever. I think Salt Hill’s EIC is just as quirky/awesome as the journal 🙂
How cool! I’m always on the lookout for new literary journals these days. 🙂
Thanks for the intro -can’t wait to check it out!
I won’t even dare try to spell or say David’s last name, but he sounds crazy amazing, as does Salt Hill.
Ahh! This looks so amazing! 😀
I am ashamed to admit I am only just learning about Salt Hill as recently as this past weekend when I was in a local bookstore. I’ve been missing out!
I’m fixing that now.
I have never heard of Salt Hill and am ashamed to admit it. Sounds absolutely fantastic!
Wow now guess we’re I’m going. To their website of course
This sounds right up my alley! I can’t believe I didn’t find them sooner.
Such a fun interview and it’s great to see a literary magazine that breaks the mold.
This journal seems awesome! I hope this feature gets it some more readers!
Okay, this looks like an awesome journal! Glad to know about it now!!
I feel my cats have really been misjudged here….but I’d read Salt Hill anyways!
What a wonderful find! Thanks for sharing/