Horror is Other People


I noticed a jump from Issue Zero of this magazine to Issue One. Not in the quality of the stories. We got seven-hundred fifty submissions for Issue Zero and chose the top four. So the quality is there, trust me. But Issue Two is more cohesive and a better representation of horror targeted to a new audience. I feel strongly that this occurred because more people were invited into the process of creating Issue One. As this magazine expands, it gets better. More cooks are needed in this kitchen, I believe.

So grant me a moment, if you would, to discuss some important people whose contributions help our little mag gain a toehold in the literary cosmos.

First and foremost, our slush team puts in the brunt of the work. These folks spend hours pouring over hopeful entries. Some entries are exactly what we’re looking for. Some entries are confused about our guidelines. But our slush team (and myself) go over each and every one to ensure the magazine maintains a consistent vibe and fresh tone. I am indebted to them for helping me parse out what this magazine should look like and what product would look most appealing to our audience. They are truly some of the most amazing writers and authorities on writing that I have the pleasure to know. You can meet some of them, who are listed as “Managing Editors” on our site. To thank them, I’ve got a special issue in the works for the 2023 holiday season. Stay tuned.

My wife gets her own paragraph. She’s listed on our site as our “Operations Supervisor,” as this is most accurate to what she actually does, which is make sure my dumb ideas go through a filter before I announce them on Twitter. When Twitter started giving us feedback on the “New Talent” (now known as The Food Court) section of our site, she endured many conversations with me trying to come up with viable solutions. She also helps manage our intake process, since we currently don’t use a submission system service.

I also am fortunate enough to have a supportive amount of friends and family who have been behind this endeavor since day one. My buddies Evan and Joe specifically have put in work to keep this thing together, and my sister-in-law is one of our slushers. But I also want to throw some kudos to those people who’ve just listened to me ramble on about this project ad nauseam, as I am occasionally want to do. I know it’s probably painful to sit through, but it helps my brain, so I thank you all.

Next up would be our Patrons on Patreon. I still am over the moon every time I get an email from one of them. You all help more than you know. That tiny three bucks a month really adds up for us, and it helps pay for the incredible art you see in the rest of this issue. If you’d like to meet these people, they’re listed on our site as “Donors.”

Penultimately I’d like to thank our readers. These stories take on a life of their own, and you all make that happen. I can’t tell you how many messages I get from folks telling me they heard about this magazine from a friend who read it and liked it. Turns my heart to goo every time. 

And lastly, I’d like to thank our authors and artists. This magazine was created in the faith that “soft horror” short stories and art were out there and that not enough mags were publishing them. You proved us right last July with a deluge of submissions. And every few months, you show us what you’ve been working on since, and reading it is a privilege and a delight for us. You make my day, y’all. Keep up the good spooks. And consider entering our fundraising contest in May. 

Want to help us but don’t fit in any of these categories? Our merch store is linked on our site. Or possibly consider subscribing to us on social media. We’re on most platforms.

And if not, no worries. It’s not for everyone. I just appreciate that you read this far.

Brian Rosten

Editor

The Maul


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