Position opening: Poetry Editor for our quarterly print magazine
We are seeking an energetic and organised person to fill the role of Poetry Editor for Australian quarterly print literary magazine The Lifted Brow. The most suitable person will have a deep and evident passion for poetry, will be generous in their dealings with poets, and will champion the provocative, challenging and irreverent voices and viewpoints for which The Lifted Brow is known.
Our mission at TLB has always been to champion art and artists who are underserved by the literary mainstream. For this reason, we are specifically looking for a poetry editor who is from an underrepresented or marginalised background or combination of backgrounds. And specifically for this role, preference will be given to applications from persons of colour, and our ultimate choice will likely not be a cis man.
Title: Poetry Editor (quarterly print magazine)
Description: The poetry editor oversees the curation of poetry for our quarterly print literary magazine The Lifted Brow.
Currently, the poetry editor is responsible for commissioning and editing five pages of poetry for each issue of our magazine. This is achieved through directly approaching poets for new work and also assessing open submissions. Additionally, the poetry editor commissions and edits a ‘poets in conversation’ feature, which facilitates a discussion between two of the issue’s poetry contributors.
However, please note that we’re not necessarily looking for someone to exactly replicate this structure – what we are looking for is a new poetry editor who will make the role their own. As such, in your application we would love for you to communicate your vision for The Lifted Brow’s poetry pages and how you would most like to champion poetic material in the magazine.
Period: Ongoing, beginning March 2018. (The first magazine issue you’ll help with is out June 2018.)
Time required: No more than one day a week at any time.
Pay: Unpaid – all staff at TLB are currently volunteers. We are slowly working to change this.
Works with: Working closely with the editors, designer, copyeditors, and then also working alongside the rest of the TLB team including other section editors, the events coordinators, online editors, social media manager, and the publisher.
Specific responsibilities: Planning, commissioning and editing content, managing a budget, liaising with various editors, designers, interns, publisher and other staff to ensure the smooth production and promotion of each issue. Liaising with our events coordinators on launch events. Working with the publisher on grant applications and other opportunities.
Skills/tools/knowledge required: Knowledge of the local and international poetry and broader literary community, highly developed poetry editing ability, communication/interpersonal skills, time management, project management, organisational/administrative skills, and writing skills.
Also handy:
- An ability to work both independently and in a team;
- Willing to speak in public for official events and to generally be willing to represent the magazine/organisation;
- Ability to adapt to changing environments with tact and good judgement;
- Familiarity with Submittable.
Education and experience: No previous education is required, though do please include any relevant qualifications if you like. Previous print or digital editorial experience will be highly regarded, especially experience with editing poetic content.
For this role, we are looking for someone who ideally is:
- knowledgeable about The Lifted Brow both in its current state and its history;
- deeply interested in social and cultural issues;
- plugged into contemporary conversations about literature, culture, society, and politics;
- proactive and forward-thinking in their engagement with writers;
- experienced in commissioning and editing;
- experienced in print publishing;
- self-motivating;
- and very organised.
If you are Melbourne-based, you will ideally be able to come into the TLB office (at RMIT University, City Campus) for at least a portion of every Friday, which is the day when we all meet and work together. This role also requires a small degree of regular attention in order to keep on top of pitches, correspondence, edits, editorial planning and internal communication etc.
We particularly encourage applications from people whose socially constructed identity or identities have traditionally proven a hindrance to opportunities like this one. Note: our office is a couple of floors up, but is accessible by two different elevators. There are of course no age limits.
To apply, please attach a cover letter addressing the above position description, including your goals as poetry editor. We’d also love to read a list of poets you would like to publish in our magazine. Please also attach a basic/short literary/publishing CV which responds directly to the above position description.
Applications close midnight AEST February 28th
Any questions about the position should be directed to info@theliftedbrow.com