We are so pleased to have Brian Lewis with us this month to share some information about Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things. Welcome, Brian! Would you please begin by telling us a little about yourself and about your press? I’m Brian Lewis, Editor-in-Chief of E&GJ Press. The press is actually the publishing arm of the non-profit Empire & Great Jones Creative Arts Foundation, and so our mission is a bit more involved than simply running a literary magazine. When I established the arts foundation and its press in 2012, I wanted to create a market that supported emerging writers without sacrificing high-quality storytelling—a publisher of short fiction and poetry to which established writers would be proud to submit, too. What’s interesting/unique about Ember? While all of our publications share the goal of fostering, supporting, and cheerleading talented writers—whether they’re well established or just getting started—Ember is specifically focused on younger readers and writers. Not only do we seek work intended for middle-grade and young adult readers, we allow submissions from middle-grade and young adult writers, too! The majority of our accepted contributions still come from adults, but we work hard to ensure that at least 25% of the selections in each issue are from writers ages 18 and under. One really important point of my philosophy with this publication is that making literature accessible to juvenile readers does not mean it has to be … well, juvenile. Ember’s submission guidelines include this wonderful tip: “Be accessible, not condescending.” The goal is to publish fun, intelligent writing that is nonetheless appropriate for a very broad audience. Something else I wanted to emphasize with Ember is the lasting value of great stories—especially to create this impression with our younger audience who are so focused on digital media. Don’t get me wrong: I love eBooks. I do the vast majority of my work and pleasure reading on a computer or tablet. But there’s something really affirming about holding a book in your hand that contains something wonderful you wrote, something you created, and that’s why I have chosen to step outside the mainstream and create an illustrated, full-color, print publication. Like our general adult publication, Spark: A Creative Anthology, submissions to Ember are read and commented on by several staff readers as we make a decision whether to further consider a piece for publication. This is important because as part of our writer-focused mission, we send reader notes with our response—if we decline, you always know why we didn’t feel it was a good fit for Ember and can decide whether to revise the work or seek a different market for it. What do you love about being an editor? The best thing about being an editor is that I get to create collections of my favorite stories and poems. While I hope I’m creating volumes that others will appreciate as much as I do, at the end of the day I know I am publishing literature that I love. It has happened more than a few times that I have accepted a piece and gushed to the press’s staff or to my family, “I can’t believe this author is letting me publish their work!” It’s hard for me to remember that the same author is gushing, “I can’t believe this editor is choosing to publish my work!” That mutual admiration and the opportunity to provide a professional showcase for writing and writers I respect make this role an absolute joy. What’s challenging about being an editor? On the other hand, I am constantly challenged by constraints on time and resources. Everyone at the E&GJ Creative Arts Foundation and Press is a volunteer—including me as president and editor-in-chief. The staff is amazing and has contributed so much more than I ever thought possible, but each of us has a primary “day job” that requires focus and attention we’d rather be devoting to this great literary project. What do you really want in submissions? I mentioned earlier my philosophy about literature for young readers; pieces I have selected for Ember do not always fit the traditional “Young Adult” or “Middle Grade” genres—they may not even have a young protagonist. I get excited when a story or poem respects the intelligence of younger readers and yet remains appropriate for their age and emotional maturity. A perfect example of this is “The Anniversary” in our Spring 2015 issue; the themes were complex, the protagonist an adult, but the story and writing were both accessible to young adults. I absolutely believe that even Ember’s youngest readers are smart and capable of advanced reasoning and interpretation. However, not every accepted piece will be appropriate for or of interest to ten-year-olds, who are the youngest readers in our target audience. Many readers will simply skip over stories and poems which exceed their developmental maturity—and that’s totally okay, because I know there will be enough variety in each issue that they’ll still find something to enjoy. Submissions with the best chance of acceptance will be meaningful on some level to both older and younger readers without being condescending. I also consider works which require some maturity for full comprehension, so long as the content is not inappropriate for younger readers who might choose to explore the more advanced pieces. What tips do you have for being a better writer/getting accepted into Ember? The most important, most foundational step for becoming a better writer is summed up in three words: Read, Read, Read. Read short stories. Read novels. Read poetry. Make reading such an integral part of you that it’s no longer a “step” but a constant action you undertake daily to live—like breathing. Once you have moved on to the writing step, it’s important to have it read and reviewed by someone else who can provide objective and honest feedback. This “someone else” doesn’t have to be a professional editor; local workshops, writing classes, even online writing groups can provide great value. Look for feedback first on the content of your work, then on the mechanics of the writing; the goal is to ensure that by the time you start submitting the manuscript to publishers, it is well polished and thoroughly proofread to give it the best chance of acceptance. If you’re hoping to be published in Ember, specifically—like with any market you’re hoping to get into—read what Ember has already published. This shouldn’t be cost-prohibitive; if you don’t have access to a current issue and can’t purchase one, contact me and mention this interview. I will send you a PDF from our backlist. Some other interesting things about Ember? Every issue of Ember features a different cover artist. Each story and poem is brilliantly illustrated by Casey Robin [www.caseyrobin.com]. All staff members are volunteers and cover a wide range of ages and education levels. Since Ember hopes to find works that will appeal to a young audience, we have several young staff readers reviewing and commenting on submissions—including some of my own children, ages 10 to 16. Besides the tips above, a great way to improve your writing and your understanding of literary magazines is to apply for a position as a first reader. A simple internet search for “first reader” or “slush pile reader” will turn up many opportunities. Ember’s volunteer openings, including one for staff readers, are listed at emberjournal.org/jobs. Any closing comments? Thank you so much for the invitation to participate in this interview. While I know that literature is invaluable for readers of any age, I believe that creating opportunities for children to fall in love with reading is critical. That’s why I love the work you’re doing—I’m delighted to see the resources you provide for the writers who create those critical opportunities! Thank you so much, Brian, for taking the time to share with us this helpful information and for being a major part in creating such an excellent magazine for both young people and adults. For you writers who are now inspired to submit something to this wonderful publication, guidelines are here. This is a paying market. Writing for Children's Magazines, November 2016