New Lit on the Block :: Bear Paw Arts Journal
Bear Paw Arts Journal is a new open access online journal of flash fiction, micro memoir, poetry, and featured artists publishing one issue each year in the fall. “It’s free to submit, free to read. This is a labor of love, and we’re proud of that,” say the editors.
Bear Paw Arts Journal takes its name from the Bears Paw Mountains in north central Montana. The editors explain, “The range is known locally as ‘The Bear Paws.’ These mountains were originally named by the native Cree and Blackfeet people as ‘The Mountains of the Bear.’ Bear Paw Arts Journal seeks to publish works that, like the Bears Paw Mountains, surprise and delight with each new turn.”
Too Many Lit Mags?
The editors have ample opportunity to promote such works, as they acknowledge, “There is so much good writing out there. If we were asked, ‘Do you think there are too many literary journals?’ The answer would be, ‘No.’ There is so much good work being produced that it is wonderful to see writers represented in many different journal in print and online. We thought we could help to promote short form writers, and we attracted and published both new and established writers in our first issue.” Those contributors include Denise Duhamel, Charles K. Carter, David Dixon, Steve Cushman, Jennifer Schomberg Kanke, Cassandra Labairon, and Richard Robbins.
Editors Cheer Submitters
The editors themselves understand both discerning quality writing and respectfully managing the process. Poetry Editor Gwen Hart holds an MA, MFA, and PhD. She is author of two chapbooks and three poetry collections. Her second collection, Empress of Kisses, won the X.J. Kennedy Prize from Texas Review Press, and her latest book is Never Be the Same (FutureCycle Press, 2023). She is an Associate Professor of English at Montana State University Northern. Fiction Editor Roger Hart earned an MA and MFA, and authored two short story collections, Erratics, winner of the George Garrett Prize from Texas Review Press, and Mysteries of the Universe (Kallisto Gaia Press, 2022). And Nonfiction Editor Becky Fjelland Brooks is an MA and MFA who has authored three YA novel, numerous children’s books, and essays. She is a retired English instructor from South Central College in Mankato, MN.
For writers looking for a place to home their works, the editors explain, “After an initial read to see if the submission follows the journal’s guidelines, pieces are passed on to the appropriate editor. If we really love a piece and think it could just use a few edits, we will send a request to the author to see if those edits are acceptable. We try to respond in a timely manner, usually within six weeks of submission.”
The editors reflect that as a start-up publication, they have learned a great deal from “seeing submission from the editor’s side. We know how much editors are cheering for submitters to succeed. We want your good work, and we want to promote it.”
The Reader Experience
For readers, Bear Paw Arts Journal editors strive “to showcase a wide variety of voices.” There are also two artists featured in each issue with a profile, and their work accompanies the literary pieces. The publication aims for one Montana artist and one other artist for each issue.
The production quality is also unique, as the editors share, “Many people (submitters and readers) have said to me that they checked out the journal, and they were surprised that it is ‘nicer’ than they thought it would be. The beautiful art from our featured artists, and the skills of Graphic Design students at Montana State University Northern have helped us to produce a journal I hope writers can be proud to be in, and readers can enjoy perusing.”
Engaging Writers
The future for Bear Paw Arts Journal focuses on engaging more readers and writers, “This year, we produced a 30 Days of Prompts series on our Facebook page, with the prompts inspired by the pieces in the first issue. These prompts are available for free and can be used by writers and teachers to spark new work. We plan to continue to find creative ways to connect readers and writers to our journal.”
Bear Paw Arts Journal is open for submission from May 1 to September 1 of each year.
