What’s It Like to Be Part of the Tributaries Staff?
Hi there. I’m Jake Ott, one of the newest staff members here at Tributaries. I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself and give you a little peek behind the scenes. First, let me give you a little backstory. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Technical and Professional Writing here at IU East, and I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in English. I work as an SEO Web Copywriter and write a great deal of fiction in my spare time. I live in Indianapolis with my wonderful wife and adorable daughter. If you know me for more than a few minutes, you’ll learn that I love hard-boiled crime fiction from the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. When I’m reading for pleasure, I reach for Raymond Chandler, James Cain, and other authors from that genre.
During my time as an undergraduate here at IU East, I wasn’t involved with Tributaries. There were a few reasons for that. My life was a bit busier back then, but more importantly, I didn’t really know what Tributaries was. Looking back, I regret not getting involved sooner. To my fellow students, I’d encourage you to consider engaging with our college’s literary journal in one way or another. Whether you want to contribute your own writing, join the team, or just read the latest issue, you might be wondering what it’s like to be part of the staff.
I always look forward to our biweekly staff meetings. As students, we often get caught up in the academic rat race. So, it’s rare to get the opportunity to discuss the works of emerging writers with a group of considerate and like-minded students. Before the staff considers any submission, we read it independently and take notes for discussion. Then, we take the time to talk about it at length. Our opinions often differ, but I’m continually surprised by the deep and careful consideration given to each piece. Even though we can’t publish every piece we receive, the Tributaries staff is always sure to listen to the opinions of everyone to ensure that the author’s work gets the respect it deserves.
So, if you’re on the fence about getting involved, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. Here on our website, you can read past publications or learn more about our submission guidelines.
