“We put many writers on the map who otherwise might have slipped through the cracks of the mainstream literary presses. No book publisher was going to give out a contract if you had no short story or poem published in a lit mag.”
by Jane Hope, Vice-President, MagsBC Board and recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award for 2016. MagNet, Canada’s national magazine conference, is one of
Peter Chettleburgh loves the creative aspect of publishing and enjoys producing news because it allows him to “be nosy”.
“If you want to know the future, pay attention to what youth are doing in their art, what they are trying to tell you or show you about the human condition and what is possible for humanity.”
“I believe that our authors are the best authorities on their own work and I want them to be happy with the published results because how it reads will remain important to them long after I have moved on.”
Unlike some other magazines Neo-opsis values story first and literary quality second. Karl: “I think it’s easier to fix bad grammar than to fix an uninspiring story.”
“We provide a place for the long-form essay which is a more serious study of a book.”
“Go to editing, writing, and publishing events and find or build a community. Editing can be a lonely job and it is wonderful to have colleagues to learn from, share stories with and rant about the apostrophe usage.”
“I genuinely love reading, and magazines provide the opportunities for new work to be out before they turn into books or movies. It’s like the front lines of knowledge and literature.”
“Be professional, even if you are writing for free; you’re not just building a portfolio, but also a professional reputation.”
“Stay strong. As the economy grows there may actually be opportunities for more trade publications with a Canadian focus.”
“Ultimately, I don’t think print magazines are going anywhere. I think they will continue to fragment into niches and become more specific as they explore the opportunity to become carefully targeted.”
“What I love most about producing this magazine are the CARS! I love driving cars, photographing cars, and talking cars. I never get bored. I’ve found my passion, and I’m really lucky that way.”
“I think the world of Canadian publishing is a wonderful experience. It may not be lucrative, but it is a community of fascinating people. The secret is to not let the economy worry you!”
