Whenever I make a call for submissions, I generally have a checklist in my mind. The surprises that appear when I dip into the inbox. Tell me your favourite things about editing Popshot It’s part-time but I am always checking in with our social media and our subscribers and we call for submissions four times a year, so it can get very busy. I work as a freelance journalist and editor, so I’m not based in the Chelsea Magazines office and am only there for production four times a year – although with lockdown, of course, we are all now working from home. I’m also a writer myself, currently writing a novel, so it seemed like a good fit. I was Digital Arts Editor at the Independent, commissioning features about books and writing, as well as other aspects of the arts. As a long-term fan-girl of Popshot myself, I was delighted to have the opportunity to pick Matilda’s brain about the highs and lows of being Popshot editor, what really grinds her gears in submissions, and which books are best for soothing ourselves in order to survive this small matter of self-isolation.Ĭhelsea Magazine hired me a year and a half ago and I’m currently editing issue 28 of Popshot. These have solicited work on themes from the profound to the intriguing, including ‘Chance’, ‘Escape’, ‘Fantasy’, ‘Mystery’, and the upcoming issue takes ‘Earth’ as its theme. Thanks to the publication’s success, Matilda’s main charge takes the form of sifting through the hundreds of submissions for each of the magazine’s quarterly issues. With its humble origins something we can identify with at Porridge ( Popshot was essentially started by “a guy in his bedroom” ), ‘the illustrated magazine of new writing’ was bought by the Chelsea Magazine Company a couple of years ago and is now in the capable editorial hands of Matilda Battersby. One publication which has had its place firmly on the Porridge -radar for quite some time is Popshot, a well-respected literary magazine established in 2008 which publishes short stories, flash fiction and poetry alongside gorgeous and often provocative illustrations by (what will soon be) the up-and-coming generation of writers and illustrators. Whether it’s something as simple as an encouraging retweet of someone’s call for submissions, teaming up on a competition or offer, or putting the world to rights together during one of our biannual print launch events, there is certainly plenty of truth to be found in the old adage about being stronger together. Speaking personally, one of the best aspects of being involved with Porridge as an editor comes in the form of the connections we make with other publications from all around the world. To ensure that you never miss a future issue of the print magazine, subscribe from just £24 for 4 issues.Image credit: Glynn Perkins Interview with Matilda Battersby, Editor of Popshot Got a question? Drop us a line at us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We are open to original contributions from anyone, anywhere in the world.Īt Popshot towers we have just wrapped up the Haunting Issue, which will be on sale from 4th August 2022. Include the issue and form of your work in the subject line (i.e. To see your writing published and illustrated, head to our submit page for the full guidelines. Four issues are published per year showcasing the best emerging fiction writers. You can subscribe to either hard copy or digital editions. To discover more about Popshot, pick up a copy from WHSmiths or another reputable newsagent ( here are a few other ways you can safely find it). We’re very sorry but due to volume we cannot reply to submissions unless they are successful, so if you haven’t heard from us by the end of October 2022 please take it as a pass. Entries over the word count will not be considered. The Roots Issue will be published in November 2022. Submissions for the Winter 2022 issue are open until 9am (UK time) on Friday, 2 September 2022. We welcome all genres and writing styles so long as they follow our guidelines for submission ( for more on which, click here). We are looking for a mixture of humour, social commentary, honesty and thrilling storytelling. Successful submissions must display excellent writing, creative flair and originality. Feel free to take us somewhere funny and lighthearted or go very dark indeed. Perhaps you’d rather examine the feeling of being rooted, and our relationships to place or soil. We want you to explore the root of a problem or take us to a moment showing the adventure/trauma of being uprooted. Writers might want to consider the different meanings of roots from the botanical or geographical to the familial. We have just finished putting together the Haunting Issue (thank you to all who submitted), allowing us to open the doors for new submissions. The next issue of Popshot will be on the theme of… “Roots.” Submit work for the next issue between today and 9am (GMT) on Friday 2nd September 2022.
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