#0086 Reflections on the Spring 2025 Issue
After a project is done, look back on how it came into being
Once you hit POST or okay the final proofs or hang the final framed photograph, you’re done. So done. No more project-related to-dos, right? Yes. And Maybe. And also No.
When you have the time and energy, reflect on how the project came into being. What went well? What, er, didn’t? You might learn from the good, bad, and ugly, and you can then take these reflections forward into future projects. Because? Practice makes perfect better.
Here’s my editor’s letter — with annotations — from the Spring 2025 All-Teen Issue, which launched May 18th.
Hello there!1
This teen issue, we celebrate several firsts: craft collaborations, bespoke illustrations, and creative insights.2
Craft Collaborations
We got experimental this time. A couple poets had a poem voted "maybe," so I paired each poet with an editor to see if the poems could go from "maybe" to "Yes." What would happen?
Across many time zones, Australian teen editor (and multicategory contributor) Jo Crocker collaborated with US poet Ari Newman to refine one of his poems, "Spirals," to make it sparkle.3 Similarly, Inlandia Institute intern and recent MFA-program graduate Kate Garcia helped regional poet (and teen editor) Isaiah "Izzy" Davidson virtually talk through the components of one of his contributions, "Hair thoughts," taking it from good to great.4
When I invited Jo, Ari, Kate, and Izzy to join in this experiment, I wasn't sure if it would work? Be helpful? Crash and burn? Because of their willingness to be open and kind, these craft collaborations were a smashing success. Who knew google docs could transform into an impromptu creative writing workshop space!
A special callout to this year's teen editors. Their suggestions and constructive feedback were shared during the collaborations, and I believe all four participants greatly benefited from the teen editors' diligent work.5
Bespoke Illustrations
While reviewing teen editor applications, I noticed Suvi O'Shea mentioned she had a daily drawing practice. My mind began to hum. What if...
I reached out to ask her if she had the time and inclination to use accepted poems as drawing prompts. If things went to plan, Suvi's drawings would be published with the pieces. She was game to give it a try. For the first time ever, we have bespoke illustrations featured in the issue!6
Check out the artwork by Suvi O'Shea (with links to each poetic prompt). Or go directly to the poems to see Suvi's visual conversations with the written works:
Skylar Beattie’s “Forget-You-Nots” with Suvi’s Don’t Forget
Abigail Elina Handojo’s “Stone Left Unturned” with Suvi’s Unturned
Chea Hwang’s “Songs of a Caged Bird” with Suvi’s Caged
Ellie Mark’s “Marching to the Anthill” with Suvi’s Marching
Emma Merchant’s “Visage” with Suvi’s Mirror
Amelia Zhang’s “Ekphrasis” with Suvi’s Paint
Creative Insights
One of the poetry submissions this issue had a hidden meaning. Literally. More than half the poem was in white text, which meant the teen editors did not read those words when screening the submission.7 Yet they accepted the poem, along with the four others Amelia Zhang submitted.
In the form of a reply to an email, Amelia's poem, "Being Horizontal," responds to (is in conversation with?) the poem "I Am Vertical" by Sylvia Plath. Amelia shares snippets but not full lines or verses in this version. To view her complete creativity — in which the white text is made apparent — go to Amelia's “Being Horizontal: Alternative version.”
When I sent Kiera Fisher the cover artist interview questions, I asked if she had other artwork to share.8 Yes she did!
In the google drive with her artwork, I spotted several photos where Kiera is painting murals. We went from my asking "What's that about?" all the way to The Making of a Mural: From create to paint, the journal's first-ever behind-the-scenes adventure, which features how Kiera put together a community mural project.9 From her techniques for making that mural to her ways for promoting the event, Kiera's insights are a gift to the entire creative community.10
Cheers11 to another awe-inspiring all-teen issue!12
Erin Michaela Sweeney
Next time: Guidelines are suggestions, right?
I start each editor’s letter with a Rexi photo and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s famous salutation to General Grievous.
Best foot forward. Celebrate the wins! But there were stumbles I didn’t reveal... This year marks the fourth time I’ve ushered the all-teen issue into the world. Yet I set up the teen editor voting/commenting on submissions incorrectly. (Or Submittable “improved” things again? idk.) No way for them to vote. Oops! So I asked the kiddos to share their feedback and include Yes/No/Maybe on the subs until things got fixed. Which it did thanks to Cati (of course!). For the first time ever, we received a teen submission that didn’t conform to our guidelines. I’d skimmed the long sub and confirmed it didn’t go over the word count before I assigned it to teen editors. When the first teen got to the ugliness, they stopped reading and contacted me. I made sure they had support (if needed), thanked them for letting me know, and immediately pulled the sub. I was shaken because I’d let down that teen editor. After talking through everything with Cati (thanks!), we came up with a plan, which I followed. I also made a silent pledge I’d never assign another sub before closely and slowly reading every single word. (I already review art subs big and close up.)
I picked Jo the Australian because she’d already finished a college creative writing degree at age 18 (non-American school systems let the smarty pants fly!) and, in her teen editor application, said she is pursuing a career in publishing. I picked Ari because he mentioned he’s taking a gap year before college, and his themes were philosophical and profound. Both had the maturity to take on the collaboration.
Kate had already conducted wonderful interviews with our recent poetry prize winners, and I wanted to give her another opportunity to shine during her internship. I picked Izzy because I had a sense he’d appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Kate and really engage.
Though I goofed up the initial submission review process for the teen editors, I feel it actually helped them to express their votes (even after the voting was enabled). Strangely, the glitch might have contributed to the best teen editor comments ever!
Now not all our published materials come from the slush pile. Come to think of it, much of the front matter (is it still referred to as “front matter” if published online and not in a physical form?) is solicited aka written for the issue by request.
I only stumbled on Amelia’s white text because I couldn’t properly pull her sub from Submittable. When she emailed the poem, I spotted the white text while grabbing the poem from the body of the email for transfer. Kinda random she never mentioned the hidden text during submission or even via email. Teens be teens, eh?
Though we limit art subs to 5 per issue, I often ask the cover artist if they have other art to share for the issue. I guess those pieces are also solicited and not from the slush pile, though the artist went through the vetting process.
So many places cut off young creator subs at “12th grade” or “under 18.” By defining “teen” as 13 through 19 years old, we keep the door open for early college submitters.
Here’s how I put it to Kiera: “One of the things I really like about your Making a Mural page is that it demonstrates the aspects that go into presenting artistic creation and artists. Doing the mural was fun for you and also will benefit your portfolio. Newbie artists might not know about artist statements, or, if they've seen them at shows, might not understand how an artist statement can help throughout the creative process (part of why I placed yours so early in the chronology). By including the poster and saying how you shared it IRL and online, young artists are able to see how to promote an event (and also themselves!). Much of the hustle during and after creating is not intuitive, can feel yucky, and often is not taught in school. By sharing how you pulled off this public art event? You are doing a great service for the creative community!”
The second time I worked at an academic journal, I noticed many professorial types closing their emails with “Cheers,” which seemed kinda faux British? (Nothing against the Brits!) I’ve finally shaken off my negativity to be able to embrace the fun of lifting a glass of sparkling apple juice to the teen contributors and editors.
Do you like the double assonance here?
That pairing was a wonderful idea!