Issue One Update

We have a shortlist. As in, we’ve narrowed down which submissions have tickled our spines and shivered our fancies. Now comes the harder part, of picking our favorite children, and telling the others that, yes, we still love you but for different reasons.

In all seriousness, everyone who sent us their heart and soul’s work, thank you. If we had the budget, we’d print a 900-page first issue and everyone would be in it. It would look great on your glass coffee table, people would acknowledge your coffee table’s place in the literati, and you could pulp large cockroaches with it. Maybe one day.

Anyhow, we’ll send out golden tickets by the end of the week. That’s not quite “early April” like we said in our last update. Apologies for that. We never meant to lie to you, and we know that no amount of, “all our grandmothers died,” will make things better. So, in the spirit of transparency, here’s how things are looking on our beeline to the presses, but with very generous deadlines. “Life deadlines,” as opposed to hard deadlines, because life gets in the way.

• May 6th: Issue 1 lineup is confirmed & finalized, though we are likely to have it done sooner.
• May 27th: Issue 1 is designed & print options decided.
• Mid-June: Launch event.

That should give you an idea of what to expect. Please be on the lookout for any messages from us. Prompt replies will help us beat the life deadlines. Help us beat life.

Kenny, Nonfiction & Visual Editor

"Money Makes Sex Great Again"

Dear Awesome Writers,

This is Ryan here. The fiction and poetry editor. We have all decided to start taking turns in posting here, so our readers will get to hear from all of us once or twice over the course of the year, which I think is a rather good plan.

With my turn to write, I wanted to give you all a quick update on the state of the journal and give a few highlights that have happened recently.

This last Friday, March 24th, we held our second open mic reading, and we decided to spice things up by having a few games as well. From the staff, Juli and I read, and seven others read pieces as well. I felt like it was a good range of pieces. We were at a new location this time, the Eight Art Hotel, which was a nice place right there on the Bund. It was beautiful with lots of space, and I want to make sure to thank them for hosting us with such generosity.

We finished off the night with a speed group poetry writing, based on two topics suggested by the crowd: "Donald Trump" and "Money & Sex." We heard some great lines about those topics, including the clever crowd favorite: "Money makes sex great again." 

In regards to submissions, the editorial staff continues to read all the pieces that you have sent our way, and we will be sending out our thoughts in the next few weeks. I've been amazed at the quality of some of the pieces that I have read, and I feel that our first issue will be impressive.

Our reading period for the first issue of the journal is over, but I encourage you to still send us your work. We accept new submissions on a rolling basis, though, so new submissions will be reviewed and considered for our second issue this fall.

For now, though, spring has entered Shanghai again, and the cherry blossoms have started showing themselves. In China, they're called sakura, and people can't stop taking pictures of them. I'm sure there's a poem in there somewhere, but that task I leave to you. 

Open Mic, Reading, & Literary Games - Friday March 24 @ 8 Art Hotel on the Bund

TSLR will be hosting it's second open mic night this Friday at 8 Art Hotel on the Bund, 4th Floor, 7:30pm. 

We'll also break up the readings with literary-themed games that will be fun and easy (and optional) to play, to help you meet the other literature lovers in the crowd. 

For those interested in reading their original work, come at 7:30pm to sign up for available slots, or pre-sign-up by emailing shanghailiterary@gmail.com with your name, work's title, genre, and length of reading. Again, the time limit, including introductory remarks, is 5 minutes.

8 Art Hotel on the Bund, 4th Floor, 7 Yan'an Dong Lu, Shanghai (Closest metro: YuYuan Garden station)

Submissions Paradise

Our magazine's first submissions deadline was this past weekend, and we could not be happier with the high quality, quantity, and diversity of the submissions we've received in every category. Thanks so much to everyone who sent us work. We know you've sent us your babies, and we'll be gentle and careful with each one.

What happens over the next couple of months? All of the editors are now busy reading, and you'll hear back from the editor in charge of your category if he/she has any questions or ideas. Some of you submitted months ago; thank you for your immense patience. You're still in the running. We will be getting in touch with acceptances about the print issue no sooner than early April, and about online publication about a month after that.   

Meanwhile, if you've submitted your work elsewhere and it has been accepted, please let us know asap. And if you haven't heard from us by May, please reach out. 

Inspired & grateful,

Juli, Editor of TSLR

Last Friday Night

The Shanghai Literary Review hosted its first ever reading and open mic night last Friday, February 24th at YunCai Cafe in Shanghai. 

photo courtesy of Feng Yu

What a memorable night. We filled the place to the brim, with about 70 guests and standing room only for much of the evening. (We'll remember to add extra seating for future events!) Thank you to everyone who came out, to YunCai Cafe for hosting us in their really cozy and beautiful spot, and for Lulu who arranged all the logistics and helped us market.

photo courtesy of Feng Yu

We can't wait to do it again. Stay tuned for more information about our next events - and remember that our submissions deadline is coming up: March 11, 2017.