Fiction Writers Review (FWR) is an online literary journal that publishes reviews of new fiction, interviews with fiction writers, and essays on craft and the literary life.
The journal was founded in 2008 by former Michigan MFAs, and in 2011 it was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Today, FWR has more than 100 regular contributors—including numerous UM MFA faculty and alums—and serves as the backbone of a healthy literary community: the site averages 10,000 unique visitors and 30,000 page-views a month.
Since its founding, FWR’s primary endeavor has been the publication of its online literary journal. It also founded and hosted “The State of the Book,” a literary symposium and bookfair that took place on UM’s campus in 2012 and 2013. And for the last three years it’s been a sponsor and organizing partner of the Voices of the Middle West symposium. FWR also hosts an annual write-a-thon in Ann Arbor during the month of November.
Interning for Fiction Writers Review
FWR offers Editorial Internships to MFA students and Zell Fellows who are interested in learning about publishing and the book trade, as well as getting behind-the-scenes experience working for an online literary journal. This includes:
- reading slush pile submissions
- curating titles for review from publisher frontlist catalogs
- editing and copy-editing content
- corresponding with authors aond contributors
- coordinating publicity with publishers
- working with media partners
- managing social networking tools
- learning basic HTML and coding skills on the WordPress publishing platform
Interns are trained in the above skills — no experience is necessary. Individuals can also choose which elements of the journal's production are most interesting to them, as well as the amount of time they would like to commit to the endeavor.
For me, the concrete editorial work was really satisfying during a year of open-ended and solitary writing. I've continued doing it into two years of lecturing for similar reasons, actually—and because I've come to really appreciate the site's project of featuring emerging writers and craft-based content. FWR plays a valuable role in our world as writers and our network of publications. And the content is really good! In 2015, for example, we had multiple pieces featured on Lit Hub—for example this interview with Kelly Link and this essay on Ben Lerner's 10:04. Jeremy is really supportive and easy to work with, and I've never felt unwanted pressure or that my work with FWR infringes on my writing/teaching time. Not surprisingly, we are all working on a volunteer basis.
—Eric McDowell MFA '13
Deputy Editor at FWR
FWR is happy to provide opportunities for current MFA students, Zellows, alums, and faculty to contribute reviews, literary interviews, and craft essays for publication. Please feel free to contact FWR's Editor-in-Chief Jeremiah Chamberlin (MFA '04) at jeremiah@fictionwritersreview.com with questions, to pitch ideas, or to submit work for consideration.
