Poetry Editor (volunteer), Bellevue Literary Review

Poetry Editor (volunteer), Bellevue Literary Review

Bellevue Literary Review (BLR) is an award-winning, independent literary magazine that features poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that connect writers and readers in the most human of themes: health, healing, illness, and disease.  

BLR is seeking a Poetry Editor. Please note that this is a volunteer position. BLR offers a modest yearly honorarium, and also helps promote editors’ writings with social media, newsletters, and events.

BLR publishes two issues per year. The Poetry Editor’s job is to read and assess the poetry submissions and work with the poetry team (three Assistant Editors) to choose the final selections. The poetry team also works with authors to edit and polish their writing as needed. 

BLR uses Submittable and receives ~2000 poetry submissions per year. A team of reviewers helps make the first cut, but the Poetry Editor is responsible for reviewing poetry submissions in a timely fashion on an ongoing basis, and ensuring that the poetry team remains on schedule with the production calendar.

Candidates must have editing experience—either at a journal or in a teaching position. The Poetry Editor will facilitate open communication with the poetry team and the larger masthead. Strong communication skills, experience with time management and successful adherence to deadlines are therefore  a must. If you have working knowledge of how to organize a team and engage collaboratively within a team framework for editorial workflow, that is a plus. 

BLR staff meetings occur 3-4 x per year (mostly online), but we are returning to in-person events and gatherings, so we will give preference to candidates in the NYC area. Poetry editorial meetings are held at the discretion of the poetry team.

As a volunteer position, scheduling is flexible, but the Poetry Editor would be expected to put in the equivalent of 3-4 hours per week. 

Editors are welcome to participate in BLR events–online or in-person readings, conversations, and author interviews—as well as our educational, social media, and outreach initiatives, but these are all optional. 

BLR recognizes that BIPOC, marginalized, and other underrepresented identities face unique challenges when accessing and engaging with the medical humanities. The poetry team strives to promote and serve writers whose work broadens the field of poetic inquiry. We look forward to speaking with applicants whose literary aesthetic engages with this mission

Application materials: 

• Cover letter and CV with two references. BLR contacts references only if the application advances.
• Please engage with a poem published within the last five years–either a poem that speaks to your literary aesthetic or one that stretches you–along with your thoughtful analysis. Length: 250-500 words. 
• Applications will be read on a rolling basis.

https://www.indeed.com/job/poetry-editor-volunteer-literary-magazine-71a558a90066199c