Souvenir: The Launch of an Exciting New Journal

The internet makes it easier than ever to launch a literary journal--which is something of a two-edged sword in that it means on one hand that there are a lot of creative minds at work pushing boundaries and taking risks, and on the other hand that there are also a lot more fly-by-night magazines cropping up and then disappearing.


More journals means more opportunity for writers to get published. It also means we face more responsibility to investigate the places we mail our work to. When I look at an online magazine, for example, I try to evaluate it based on three things:

1. The presentation of its website -- Does the journal look professional and engaging (or bland an amateurish)? Does it look like a journal with a healthy budget, even if it's a DIY affair (or does it look like a Myspace page that someone whipped together in their basement on a whim)? Is it regularly updated with fresh content? Is it, of course, free of silly errors? Do the links work? Is it obvious that someone actually cares about how it is curated? Is it the kind of place I would like to see my work made public?
2. The quality of its submissions -- Do I recognize the names of any of the writers publishing there, and (even more importantly) when I read the work, do I recognize quality in the writing? (Or does it simply look like a vehicle for publishing the editor's friends?) Again, would I be honored to see my work appearing next to these other writers?
3. The creativity of its vision -- This one is a little tougher to describe: in a world of cookie-cutter journals, I tend to favor journals that have a unique creative vision, journals that do something to stand out from the crowd. Journals that know what they are all about--they have a well-formed identity and a fresh, modern take on what a literary journal should be. 

Other factors are important, too, of course. For example, I don't believe in journals that do not allow for simultaneous submissions. (To me, that's a guideline that feels woefully outdated and, frankly, arrogant). And like any writer, I know better than to send to journals that have a reading fee (not counting, of course, contest entries)--as we all know, reading fees are just a big, neon sign advertising "Snake Oil." Later, if I choose to send to a journal, I will include the professionalism of its responses (including its ability to avoid exceeding its advertised "wait time") to my list.

But, mostly, I focus on the three points above.

I'm pleased to report that, if today's Valentine's Day-debut is any indication, Souvenir is a journal that shines in all three areas. . . .

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