Book Link Interview by Papri Sri Raman, July 2013
Q1. What went into the thinking towards a e-journal, especially when there are a dozen already there? Also your journal has such an unusual name--pls tell us the process of seclect the name.
I am a writer and when I first started trying to publish my work in 2009, I felt a need for additional outlets for short fiction from the subcontinent. I began discussing it – with my sponsor, my editors and others – first as just an idea in late 2009, and then as a real possibility in early 2010. I was clear that we needed to make use of the powerful range of dissemination of an e-journal, and the flexibility it afforded us. We released our opening issue in September 2010. At the time, if you look back, you will see that there were not ‘a dozen already there’. Now there are many, and indeed, there is room for many, as writing from the region burgeons.
As regards the name, I am not sure the process will be of much interest, but the name is an indication that we are an online magazine, referencing print and beyond.
2. What is the USP? of Out of Print--whats special that others do not have? Have you been able to get new, creative writing? Have you been able to have submissions to Out of Print which can be/has been turned into a physical book?
Out of Print is unique in that it is dedicated to short fiction connected to the South Asian subcontinent. We feature writing from the South Asian countries, from the diaspora, as well as work in which characters or situations are distinctly South Asian regardless of the nationality of the authors. The writing is in English, or translated into English. Our editorial input is strong and we are committed to making a piece as powerful as possible.
We make it a point to feature writing by well known and well regarded writers – U R Ananthamoorthy, and Salma, both translated, of course, as also Sampurna Chattarji, Chandrahas Choudhury, Murzban Shroff, Mridula Koshy, Janice Pariat, Anjum Hasan and so on – as well as new and emerging ones.
The quality of our published work is high, and indeed, worthy of any medium. But our intention is not to publish in any form other than as an online journal at the moment.
3. Is it not difficult for e-journals to survive, as much as physical journals?Do you think advertisements are as needed for e-journals as for paper mags?
We work on a model akin to a little magazine and so far our sponsorship has been generously adequate.
4. What is the future for Out of Print?
The future of Out of Print lies in continuing to provide a high quality platform for short fiction from the South Asian subcontinent, and through this, to help build an ever more engaged literary community.
On the blog associated with Out of Print Magazine, http://outofprintmagazine.blogspot.in, we celebrate the awards and publications of our authors, maintain a database of literary journals that feature short fiction from the region, and, in addition to the formally edited quarterly featured on the magazine website, http://outofprintmagazine.co.in, we publish stories that emerge from our workshops or fit in with other series we are running.
Thank you for your interest in Out of Print.
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