Interview with Jake & Matt from Cult Magazine

If you could sum up your magazine's vibe in six words or less, what would they be?

Matt: The work takes priority over all.
Jake: I'm calling you if we publish.

Editors notoriously don’t get paid much (if at all) and tend to take a lot of flack. So, why do it?

Matt: Jake Hargrove, the editor in chief, and I would frequently complain about how the literary scene was getting too cute, too navel-gazing... I want to be part of a platform, giving space to writing and art that deserves a fair shake.

Jake: I remember when I called the writer Catherine Parnell—which I do when we publish anyone—we ended up having maybe an hour long conversation... And I think those connections and moments are what it’s all about for me.

Other than that, we’ve been running a gofundme to help fund our first print edition and we have ended up getting a lot of support.

Who are four or five writers you see as typifying the kind of work you look for at your magazine?

Matt: ...Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, Zadie Smith, Kazuo Ishiguro, Thomas Pynchon, Emily St. John Mandel... Effort and command of the sentence.

Jake: ...Cormac McCarthy, Joan Didion, Michel Houellebecq, Don DeLillo, and Paul Beatty.

Are there any common mistakes writers make when they submit to your magazine?

Matt: They don’t polish their work.
Jake: Not sending their work to our submission box and sending it to me directly.

The lit mag scene is massive. What did you want to bring to the community?

Matt: A place where risk taking and an attention to craft is welcome.
Jake: ...We want to steer clear of the business-ification of the lit mag and make a place where we are legitimately getting to know our artists.

What is your ideal cover letter to see for a submission?

Matt: Say who you are, where you’re from, and that you appreciate the opportunity.
Jake: Simple is better. Kind words are appreciated.

Is there a specific kind of project you’d love to see come in?

Matt: Longer fiction, 10-15 pages.
Jake: Visual submissions or longer form nonfiction.

Are there magazines you see as literary siblings?

Matt: The Militant Grammarian and Santa Ana River Review.
Jake: Sybil Journal.

What do you see as a deal-breaker in a submission?

Matt: Clear lack of effort.
Jake: Nothing, as long as it’s done well.

Is there a part of the submissions process writers fret over that isn’t that important?

Matt: Just sitting down to submit at all.
Jake: Cover letter.

If you could bring one writer back to life to write for you, who would it be?

Matt: James Baldwin.
Jake: W. G. Sebald.

What is a recent piece published in your magazine that would make a great short film?

Matt: Gary Fincke’s The Day of the Triffids.
Jake: Otter by Meg Pokrass.

What is an example of the ideal literary bio?

Matt: Keep it short: “William Literary is from Nantucket... Some of his work can be found [here].”
Jake: “John Smith is from Writertown and writes fiction...” Keep it simple, no personal fluff.

Do you have any other advice for prospective writers?

Matt: Remember why you want to share this. Ego or connection?
Jake: Talk to people. Chill Subs helps too.

If you could add one question, what would it be?

Matt: What do you write about? I write about sad, lonely people in situations beyond their control.

Jake: Is there anything you want to promote? Yes! We’re raising money for our inaugural print issue. You can check it out here:
https://gofund.me/2bba5716