EDITING PROCESS

All submissions to the Portal email inbox by the final Friday in November are grouped by genre for the class to read over Christmas holiday. Acceptance or rejection letters are typically issued the third week of January.

Portal asks for exclusive First Print and Electronic Serial Rights for 3 months after publication for all accepted works.

Once your work has been accepted your contact email will be passed on to a genre editor assigned to your work. The editor will do a close reading of the piece and discuss with the other 2-3 members of the genre editorial team as well as the Managing Editors and Publisher.

After conferring about the proposed edits and having taken other class members’ suggestions into account during the selection process, the editor will make clear suggestions in Track Changes and Comments in the Word document regarding titles, substantive suggestions (re structure, plot, character, narrative descriptions, setting, language/dialogue, POV, tone), line editing suggestions (breaking up long sentences and paras, line/stanza breaks, scene direction, and format) and proposing additions that would further develop the author’s vision.

The editor may also note any language that may unintentionally appear homophobic, racist, sexist, or may show signs of other insensitivity, or be legally questionable. Suggested changes will also clean up punctuation and spelling errors in each submission according to Portal’s Style Guide while making sure tone isn’t jeopardized.

Finally, the editor will write the author an accompanying editorial letter underscoring the work’s greatest strengths, querying anything that is unclear, and outlining significant proposed suggestions in order of priority. The letter will include the due date for the revised draft approximately a week -10 days later.

You and your editor will communicate by email or another agreed-upon platform to exchange versions back and forth (usually two rounds of edits) until you are satisfied with the final version, which you approve in writing.

Finally, the editor will suggest pull quotes for your piece, accompanying photography or art, and its order in the magazine when this discussion arises in class. They may also be involved in selecting the pieces and cutlines for the cover.

Your editor will also encourage you to read at the launch in April, record your piece for a podcast on the website, and request a 150-word professional bio written in 3rd person and focusing on publications, contests, awards, and accolades. You will receive a copy of the magazine prior to the launch or by mail.