The Light Bulb is a new interview series by The Lumiere Review. This month we will be interviewing editors of various regional, national, and international literary magazines to shed some light on the work they are doing. Many editors are writers themselves, and we hope that these conversations bridge the gap between these two identities by giving editors a chance to discuss their contributions and motivations, and writers a chance to learn about the editorial process, preferences, and interests behind these magazines. We also believe in amplifying a diverse range of publications and editors in the ever-expanding literary scene through this series.
This time round, we have Arielle Tipa, founder and editor-in-chief of Occulum, an online journal of prose, poetry, and other peculiarities.
I am thrilled by the work Occulum is doing! How did you get the inspiration to start Occulum and what has fueled you to continue running it?
Thank you, I’m so glad it’s really made an impact over these past few years, and I’m incredibly honored to publish such amazing work from talented writers.
I was driven to start a journal while I began to submit my own work for the first time. I was a year and a half out of college and said to myself “Hey, I think I can do something like this!”. I’ve wanted to work in publishing for quite some time, and running the journal has really sated this desire (since, let’s face it, the corporate industry is super competitive and nearly impossible to get into these days).
As far as the overall look and feel for Occulum, I was definitely inspired by Lynchian aesthetics – I’ve gravitated to the strange and unorthodox for as long as I can remember, and I knew that many people would vibe with it.
A few things have driven me to continue running the journal. First and foremost, it always brings me joy reading the excited responses from writers upon getting their work accepted. Secondly, it gets more and more exciting with the release of each issue, and promoting work from a growing and diverse array of people is a highlight. Lastly, I just really love putting together the issues each year – it gives me some of the focus and discipline I need in my life. I’ve recently been slow-paced with the journal after being on hiatus, but with the pandemic (among other things), I’m hoping the sluggishness can be somewhat forgiven. I have help and I’m grateful for it (thanks, Angelo!).
COVID-19 has definitely posed many challenges for all of us, but the work you are doing is still remarkable. Tell me something about Occulum that can’t be found on your “About” page.
If you stare at the eye chart long enough, you’ll slowly start to develop the urge to write. Or read a book. Or write a book.
I will try that the next time I have writer’s block! Is there anything that distinguishes Occulum from other journals?
Honestly, I really don’t think it stands out that much from other journals aside from the look of it! Like so many journals, it houses great work by great poets and writers. I’m constantly motivated and inspired by this wide world of indie publishing. I really believe small publications are what keep the industry and passion alive.
What do you look for in submissions? Do you have any advice for writers who submit to your journal?
I really seek out gut-punching and innovative work, as well as rare beauty, so to speak. In reality, these attributes have different meanings for everyone, of course. Every editor and every journal will have similar or completely different standards, and that’s okay. I feel as long as there’s a collective quality about each piece that’s chosen, then it’s a win-win type of situation, both for the platform and for the writer, most importantly. I always seek out inclusivity as well.
My advice for writers who submit: If your piece gets rejected, please keep going. Submit to us again and again. There have been quite a few instances where a writer’s piece just wasn’t right for us, and they submit to us again with a total stunner, so to speak. Every writer goes through an endless barrage of rejections, which is unfortunate, but you’ll find that there’s a journal for every type of style out there.
Could you elaborate on Occulum’s editorial process? How do you and your team determine the acceptance or rejection of a submission?
Well, when the journal first started out, I was the sole editor, so everything depended on my ultimate decision. Now that I have an associate editor, it comes down to a mutual agreement for each piece that we read. Physically, the editorial process is simple organization. Everything is done by Gmail and/or spreadsheets. On Gmail, every submission is organized into folders, including one for the upcoming issue. I may decide to branch out and use Submittable, but that’s on the back burner for now.
What has given you joy or fulfillment as an editor? Conversely, what has been the greatest challenge you faced while running Occulum?
Like I mentioned before, it’s reading the heartfelt responses to acceptances. I also love sharing work on social media and reading all of the wonderful comments and enthusiasm that follows with each issue. The greatest challenge for me has to be the occasional doubt that comes with being an editor. Sometimes, due to personal issues, I experience some insecurity and ennui, and I’m sure I speak for a lot of editors as well as writers when I say that. But seeing the real driving force behind Occulum (i.e. the readers and folks who send work), I’m definitely driven and inspired by all of the immense support.
Our readers may not know this, but you’re a talented writer yourself. As a wonderful writer as much as an editor, which came first for you, editing or writing? Is there a particular role you prioritize? Or do both positions come hand-in-hand?
Thank you, that’s so kind of you to say that and it means a lot to me! For me, writing came first. I started to write poetry when I was about 13 or 14, and I went through a period where I just stopped writing altogether, then decided to write seriously around 2016. To my surprise, I became a better writer through editing Occulum, and reading all kinds of amazing work gave me immense inspiration. Both the writer role and editor role really come hand-in-hand, for sure. The more I read, the more I write, and the more I get encouraged to continue and submit my own work to journals, and of course the more excited I get to read work from both aspiring and published writers. I was honored enough to have my first chapbook published last January, and I’m currently working on a full-length collection of poetry, which I’m especially excited about.
Wow, we’ll be looking forward to that. What are some of your favorite books, collections, or chapbooks?
Nightwood by Djuna Barnes has been a major favorite since I read it twice for my undergrad degree. I also adore other works of fiction like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (I’ve been a fantasy junkie since I was a kid, so the list is endless). As far as poetry collections, I absolutely fawn over Tenderling by Emily Corwin, one of the first poetry books I’ve ever purchased. Stay, Illusion by Lucie Brock-Broido is another favorite, and of course anything by Plath. I’ll never grow out of my sad college girl phase.
I guess we all have at least one writer we will never grow out of. Finally, tell me a fun fact about yourself.
I’m a novice and very passionate art journaler. I started to get into this beautiful craze after binge-watching stationary hauls and tutorials on YouTube. Now I have an entire arsenal of vintage journaling supplies at my disposal—washi tape, paper, stamps, ribbon, stickers—you name it! I can’t stop! Art journaling, besides reading and writing, have been lifesavers and incredibly fulfilling ways to unwind and escape from the world. I also have a journaling Insta in case you’re curious: @goblintape.
Arielle Tipa is a writer / poet who lives near a haunted lake in New York. She is the Founding Editor of Occulum and author of Daughter-Seed (Empty Set Press, 2019). Read her at arielletipa.com.
Interviewed by Jessica Kim, edited by Lou Willmott.