Porchlight: A Journal of Southern Literature
The birth of the new is exciting. When that birthing happens in an arena you dearly love, it’s even more exciting. Such is the case with Porchlight: A Journal of Southern Literature.
I built my writing career on literary journals. That was the way you did it when I was starting out. You submitted to journals and hoped you got lucky with publication. If so, you crossed your fingers that an agent would discover your work when combing through the journals, looking for new talent. It actually happened to me several times, getting an email from an agent or another journal that had found my work and solicited a submission. Mostly, I was just thrilled whenever I received in the mail my copy of the journal with my work in it.
I feel the same way today when I get an email with a notice my work is live in Porchlight: A Journal of Southern Literature.
Here’s the thing. For a journal to be worth its salt, just like a writer, it has to have a voice. A recognizable, consistent, captivating voice. Porchlight has that, hands down. The “Southern” in its title isn’t just an adjective. It’s the soul of the journal’s work. (You can see why my work fits in.) The journal features writers from North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee—all over the South. In its debut issue, the journal featured new work by Ron Rash, such a coup. It’s gone on to feature interviews with David Joy and Michael Farris Smith, Y’all, these writers are the giants of Southern literature today.
In addition to poetry, essays, short stories, and novel excerpts, Porchlight contains essays on craft. Actually useful essays on craft. This wisdom, plus the great writings, makes subscribing to the journal an easy decision. Huge congratulations to Dr. Randy Mackin and Wes Hutcheson for this extraordinary accomplishment.
If you haven’t checked out Porchlight, please do yourself a favor and give it a look.
Shining a Light on Familiar and Emerging Voices
Joe Hawes
Thanks for this. And Merfy zchristmas to you and yours.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
You’re welcome. And this is going to be my new thing this year: wishing folks Merfy Christmas. When typos birth a new tradition….
Mary Lowry
I love that your work has been published in Porchlight. Very exciting! As a nonsubscriber I hope it is available through the public library.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
It’s a great journal. I’m not sure it does have a non-subscriber option. It’s more like a print journal that, of course, you had to buy. But I am including it in this memoir-in-progress I’m working on. 🙂