Four online literary zines you might not have heard of... but ought to read.
Online literary zines are ten-a-penny these days, with many taking advantage of the blogging boom. Running an electronic publication rather than a print one makes perfect sense – it’s cheap, it’s edgy and it’s infinitely accessible. But there are so many editors jumping on the e-zine bandwagon that it can be hard to know where to start, and easy to stick to old favourites or well-known names. However, if you know where to look, there is a wealth of lesser-known writing talent out there on the web, as these four publications more than prove...
Bolts of Silk
Editor: Juliet Wilson
Established: 2006
Based in: UK
Website: http://boltsofsilk.blogspot.com
Submit via email: Juliet.M.Wilson@gmail.com
This blogzine has been around for over two years and has developed a bit of a reputation for delivering great poems… but it’s not like some other “established” publications. On Bolts of Silk you’ll find seriously established poets sharing the spotlight with relative unknowns – you’ll also find, if your poetry appears there, that you have some seriously discerning readers!
The motto of the Bolts of Silk blogzine is “beautiful poetry with something to say,” and it never fails to deliver vivid, thought-provoking poems from poets all over the world. Don’t feel limited by this motto – the poems that appear are never too similar. Part of the charm of this publication is that there’s always something surprising to read.
Juliet Wilson is a hardworking editor, running the zine single-handed and dealing with heaps of submissions quickly and without fuss. But even if you decide that you don’t want to submit, this zine is a great place to spend some time reading and getting inspired.
Pomegranate
Website: http://www.pomegranate.me.uk
Editors: Charlottle Runcie, Emily Tesh
Submit via email: pomegranate.editors@gmail.com
Pomegranate is run from 1st UNESCO World City of Literature, beautiful Edinburgh, and at the helm is talented poetess and former Foyle Young Poet of the Year, Charlotte Runcie. What makes this zine different is the fact that all of the Pomegranate team are in their late teens and early twenties, and they’re very keen to hear from young, lesser-known writers. Their submission guidelines are kept to a minimum and they’ve even gone so far as to impose an age limit... make of that what you will!
The Pomegranate team may be young and inexperienced, but in spite of this (or perhaps because of this), they are incredibly approachable. Every back-issue of the zine is available online for easy reading, and the Pomegranate team also run their own interactive forum, so you can ask them any questions you might have, or give praise and feedback to the featured poets. They’re a relatively new zine but they’re already getting heard of, so I’d really recommend sending them some work, or just taking a look at the talent that’s on display.
Spark Bright
Website: http://www.freewebs.com/sparkbright
Editors: Emily Smith, Ami Scott, Hans Femrite
Established: 2008
Based in: UK/USA
Submit via email: spark_bright7@yahoo.co.uk
Spark Bright is the brainchild of poet Emily Smith, who – tired with submitting her own work and having it rejected – set up her own zine in order to provide brand new writers with an opportunity to be published. Spark Bright bridges the gap between desperately wanting to just get your work ‘out there’ and actually being ‘good enough’ to get it into major publications. The standard of writing varies, but there are some real gems here – the concept is brilliant and the zine staff are warm, friendly and professional. Amazingly Smith, who organises the show, is only eighteen years of age.
Spark Bright was born only a matter of weeks ago, and yet already the team are garnering interest and submissions from all corners of the globe. The zine is currently open to submissions of poetry, prose and artwork from absolutely anyone, regardless of age, experience or nationality.
The first issue is currently available on the Spark Bright website in PDF form. It’s a sweet, funny and interesting read, and highly recommended.
Clearfield Review
Editor: William Soule
Established: 2008
Based in: USA
Website: http://www.freewebs.com/clearfieldreview/index.htm
Submit via email: clearfieldreview@yahoo.com
Clearfield Review the brainchild of young, hip, Utah-based poet William Soule, whose work is beginning to be featured in journals in the US and the UK and who is surely destined for great things. A real pioneer for writers and the writing community, Soule decided to start his own zine in order to help totally inexperienced writers like himself to get a good start in publishing. He is currently seeking submissions and putting together the first issue, which already looks very promising.
Running the magazine as part of a team of only two individuals, Soule is an old head on young shoulders – a fair, friendly editor with a keen eye for talent, quality and technical skill. Clearfield Review is about as small and humble as online zines come, but it’s a great example of a publication run out of someone’s bedroom in their spare time. It’s not often you find an online magazine of this kind run so professionally. It’s absolutely worth a visit.
