Q&A: A New Editor for the Rumpus

The new editor in chief of the Rumpus, Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn, discusses what sets the magazine apart and what she looks forward to in her new role.
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Every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine features an interview with an editor, agent, bookseller, or other literary leader in the news. Hear directly from the new editor of your favorite literary magazine or small press, the literary agent starting a new agency, or the director of a literary nonprofit with a new program in our News and Trends Q&As.
The new editor in chief of the Rumpus, Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn, discusses what sets the magazine apart and what she looks forward to in her new role.
David Treuer, a writer, teacher, and recently appointed editor-at-large at Pantheon, discusses his focus on publishing emerging Indigenous writers and the possibilities of his new role.
Anitra Budd got her start at Coffee House Press as an intern and now serves as publisher and executive director of the press. She discusses her approach to leadership and putting people before profit.
MacArthur Fellow Hanif Abdurraqib talks about his new position at the independent press, the relationship between writer and editor, and the abundant talents of the Black literary community.
Acclaimed author and agent Catherine Cho discusses her start as an agent; her decision to open her own agency, Paper Literary; and her advice for writers daunted by the process of finding representation.
Lara Ehrlich, the host of the podcast Writer Mother Monster, debunks the superwoman myth and considers how to balance writing and motherhood.
Poet Aracelis Girmay discusses her new position as editor-at-large of the Blessing the Boats Selections, a set of poetry books written by women of color and published by BOA Editions.
Poet Kaveh Akbar on his role as the poetry editor of the Nation and the challenges and possibilities of literary editing.
Dr. Gloria House, a longtime editor at Broadside Lotus Press, discusses the publisher’s future and role in the literary community.
The owner of the recently opened Harriett’s Bookshop, which specializes in the work of Black and women authors, talks about the arts as a tool for social change and her vision for the store.