Does the thought of picking up a literary magazine make you shudder?
Has your brain ever been in danger of twisting itself into a knot at the thought of reading the pretentious avant-garde hogwash printed in the hippest new lit ‘zine?
Have no fear, readers. A real magazine for real readers is in the works. And writers everywhere have the opportunity to help bring it to life.
“Critique Mania” is the Whidbey Island Writers Association fundraising bonanza that will launch the “Soundings Literary Magazine.”
It involves about 55 authors from more than a dozen states and two other countries — Denmark and Great Britain — who have volunteered their time to critique other authors’ work. The fee is nominal at $20 with all proceeds going to the first edition of Soundings.
Authors from every genre are available to writers who are looking for a good critique that won’t break the bank. It’s a win-win situation as the critiquers receive a bit of publicity while the participants get an invaluable response to their work from reputable sources they normally couldn’t reach.
Submissions are encouraged in all genres including poetry, fiction, essay, non-fiction, young adult and children’s literature.
Marian Blue is the editor of the premier issue of Soundings which is reaching for a March 1, 2008 publication date — an auspicious day as it is also the tenth anniversary of the Whidbey Island Writers Conference which is hosted by WIWA.
Blue said the goal is to reach a $10,000 mark and that about $7,400 has already been raised thanks to large donors like JoAnn Kane, Peggy Shumaker and Joseph Usibelli, with smaller donations coming in from various members of the community.
Blue, who teaches poetry and fiction, said the idea for the magazine came out of a previous anthology called “Sea of Voices, Isle of Story” that WIWA published in 2003.
“The idea is to continue the anthology through the magazine,” said Blue. “The magazine will represent the authors who come to the conference, the students of WIWA, local authors and authors elsewhere, with the goal of keeping everything harmonious and continuous within the organization.”
Blue emphasized the value of creating a publication that readers want to pick up and actually read.
“The idea is to create a magazine where readers and writers connect,” she said. “To publish good stories that are not so far above the heads of humanity, as O’Henry believed. Stories for readers rather than writers.”
Soundings will take the larger, easier-to-read 8 ½-by-11-inch format, similar to the New Yorker Magazine or the North American Review, one of the oldest and most respected literary magazines in the nation. The larger format will also allow for poetry to be printed on the page as the author intended, said Blue.
Soundings will publish one issue per year to begin, and then two issues per year if funding is available.
Future funds will be garnered from subscriptions, ads for literary-related businesses, contests, reading fees and ongoing donations.
In addition to publishing quality writing, Soundings will give local writers and MFA students of the WIWA workshop an opportunity to practice editing and publishing through internships, volunteer positions and staff positions.
Submissions for Critique Mania will be accepted through Aug. 31.
For submission guidelines and or to become a member of WIWA and receive a discount on your critique go to www.writeonwhidbey.org or call WIWA at 331-6714.
