Lucky Jefferson is an online literary journal founded in 2018 currently open for submissions of poetry, flash fiction, essays, art, comics, and recipes with the theme of exploring Black culture through cuisine. They have a quick response time of just 1-2 weeks. “Lucky Jefferson isn’t your typical literary journal—we generate constructive and interactive conversations around poetry, art, and publishing and redefine the way journals are produced and shared with readers and writers.” See my interview with Founder and Editor-in-Chief Nabeela Washington and a link to submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Lucky Jefferson.

WASHINGTON: Lucky Jefferson is a publisher that takes pride in publishing new, emerging, and established writers, especially those who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA, or people of color-identifying. Established around 2018, our mission isn’t simply to publish but to educate our literary community and expose them to diverse perspectives and worldviews—to generate and sustain conversations around new contemporary literature and art.

HOPKINSON: How/why was Lucky Jefferson originally started?

WASHINGTON: Lucky Jefferson was honestly born out of weariness—we were tired of seeing writers of color have their stories misrepresented or grossly distorted or omitted in favor of, other, less diverse stories. We were annoyed with how disengaged certain publishers seemed; how archaic certain aspects of publishing are. In everything we do, we aim to reimagine publishing. We want readers and authors alike to seek connection in some form not just once, but repeatedly. We wanted to create a literary community that truly championed everyone involved, from the artists that create our art, to editors, to authors dreaming up new realities.

After failing to ignore these surge of emotions, we spent 24 sleepless hours building our initial website, which was pretty bare-bones at the time, and I just started shouting from virtual rooftops about this dream I had—the publisher that wasn’t just a publisher; a publisher that was one of a kind, like a family.

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience?

WASHINGTON: Our core readers are really a diverse bunch—they get our message and what we are trying to do and want to join us in our mission. They are either fresh to the writing game or on their second chapbook. We honor emerging authors, especially those who didn’t have the courage to pursue writing earlier on. But really, all are welcome.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for?

WASHINGTON: We are looking for work that makes our hearts and soul go “damn that’s good.” Whatever form this work comes in (poem, flash fiction, etc.) we embrace it with open minds and arms. We’re lucky we don’t have to turn over too many rocks to find authors we want to publish.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?

WASHINGTON: Illustrated stories or poems and flash fiction that fall under the genre of fantasy. More hybrid experimental forms.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

WASHINGTON: We really admire Taco Bell Quarterly. If there’s any journal that’s stirring the pot so to speak, it’s them and we’re all about the literary drama and “sticking it to the man.”

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with Lucky Jefferson?

WASHINGTON: While I love reading and editing submissions, my favorite part has to be working with our interns. They are some of the smartest most creative beings I’ve ever been so fortunate to work with and they are the heart of our published works and nourishing relationships with authors well after their publication. I love supporting our students, educating them about LJ, and most of all, I’m also so eager to see what art they’ll make each week. I’m an artist myself so our conversations are just so enlightening and almost therapeutic.

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions?

WASHINGTON: https://luckyjefferson.submittable.com/submit

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you?

WASHINGTON: submissions@luckyjefferson.com

DEADLINE: Dec. 31, 2020 

SUBMISSION FEE: None

FORMS: poetry, flash fiction, essays, art, comics, recipes

FORMAT: online

ISSUE FREQUENCY: quarterly

AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: 1 – 2 weeks

SUBMISSION METHOD: Submittable

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: yes

PAYMENT: None

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/27483/lucky-jefferson

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