Lady/Liberty/Lit is a new online literary magazine, featuring art, poetry, and short prose created by women-identifying and gender-non-conforming writers/artists. They are open year-round and looking for “writing centered around freedom of voice and body, from her beacon-hand.” They publish one piece at a time on a regular basis, though specific dates may vary from weekly to monthly.
I was curious how and why this art and literary magazine began, so I asked founder and Editor Gayle Brandeis some questions. See my interview with Brandeis and a link to submission guidelines below.
HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Lady/Liberty/Lit.
BRANDEIS: Lady/Liberty/Lit is a journal spotlighting women-identifying and non-binary writers who explore freedom of voice and/or body in their work. I publish one piece at a time, like a digital broadside (my original plan was to publish one piece a week, but my life doesn't always allow for that, so the posting schedule has become more sporadic.)
HOPKINSON: How/why was Lady/Liberty/Lit originally started?
BRANDEIS: In 1986, when I was 18, one of my essays was installed in the centennial time capsule of the Statue of Liberty and I was named a "steward of liberty for the next 100 years." I didn't take this title too seriously for many years, but after the 2016 election, I decided I wanted (no, needed) to do more to embody this stewardship. Creating space for other voices felt like a good step in that direction.
HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience?
BRANDEIS: Anyone who wants (or needs) a dose of passionate, illuminating language.
HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for?
BRANDEIS: Poetry, fiction, and essays that startle me awake, that make me breathe differently, that help me see the world in a fresh way. Work that isn't afraid to explore hard truths (and also work that finds joy in the face of hard truths.)
HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?
BRANDEIS: I would love to see more interviews with women and non binary folx doing important work in the world as artists and activists.
HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?
BRANDEIS: There are so many! The first that spring to mind are The Rumpus, The Nervous Breakdown, Lunch Ticket, Guernica, Rogue Agent, The Nasiona, The Sun, Normal School, Split Lip, Emergence--I could go on and on (and will probably slap my forehead later, wondering how I could have forgotten certain beloved favorites).
HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with Lady/Liberty/Lit?
BRANDEIS: I love being introduced to vibrant new voices (I've been receiving work from around the world, which I find so exciting) as well as being surprised by voices I know.
HOPKINSON: Where can folks send submissions?
BRANDEIS: Please send up to 3 poems or up to 1200 words of prose to ladylibertylit@gmail.com
HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you?
BRANDEIS: The email above, or gaylebrandeis@gmail.com.
Click here to read submission guidelines.
DEADLINE: Year-round
NOTES: previously published/reprints are okay
FORMAT: online
SUBMISSION FEE: None
PAYMENT: None
FORMS: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, essays, interviews, art
DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/26807/lady-liberty-lit
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