After three wonderful years, we're saddened to announce that Kate O'Gorman has completed her tenure as Grain's Associate Prose Editor. Kate joined the Grain team in Fall 2021 with Vol. 49.1, and will finish with the upcoming Fall 2024 issue, Vol. 52.1. Kate is a prolific reader and skilled editor, and we're grateful she was able to dedicate her time and talents to Grain and to the contributors who were lucky enough to work with her. We know Kate will continue doing great things on her writing journey.
In her final act as Prose Editor, we asked Kate to answer a few questions about her time with Grain.
Q: What first drew you to Grain?
A: Grain has a long history of showcasing smart prose, elegant poetry, and stunning artwork, with a particular focus on Saskatchewan-based writers. It’s a literary journal I was eager to be published in when I first started writing, and afterwards, it was a dream to be included as part of the editorial team. It is humbling and gratifying to have played a very small part in Grain’s literary legacy.
Q: What were some of the highlights during your tenure as Grain's Associate Prose Editor?
A: Working with a great team of people has been a huge highlight. I learned so much and I deeply appreciate the opportunity I was given to work alongside such sharp and talented editors. That, and getting to read some incredibly exciting work. There’s nothing better than finding that gem-of-a-story and knowing it deserves to be published. Sending out those acceptance emails wasn’t a bad way to spend a day either! It was such a delight getting to work with writers from all over the country and beyond.
Q: You would’ve read thousands of submissions over the last three years. What elements make for a strong piece of prose writing?
A: That’s a really great question. And it’s not an understatement to say that I’ve read thousands (and thousands) of submissions, so it’s important for writers to remember to make their submissions sing! What will make your story stand apart from the (thousands) of others? I would suggest that crisp, spare writing will get an editor’s attention, as will well-executed lyrical sentences. It’s tough to be both spare and lyrical, but it can be done (make a study of work by authors like Anne Michaels, Claudia Dey, Kathy Page). It’s about knowing when to hit those beats. Likewise, think about keeping the dialogue tight. Does every sentence belong? Or can the narrative survive (or maybe even thrive) with a few choice deletions? Finally, does your ending land? It’s heartbreaking to finally find a story that has all the right craft elements, only to have to reject it because the narrative structure doesn’t work.
Q: From an Editor’s POV, do you have any advice for writers submitting their work to Grain?
A: While it’s tempting to submit your story before it’s 100% ready – don’t do it. Take your time. Revise, revise, revise. Then, before hitting submit, ask a trusted, unbiased friend to read that final draft with fresh eyes and ask them key questions, like: Are the first two sentences compelling enough to make you want to read further? Does the storyline make sense? How does the ending make you feel? Are the characters robust enough? Can you follow the dialogue? Getting feedback—an outside perspective—on your work can be really helpful, but don’t forget to trust yourself either. Finally, if a rejection comes your way, consider it an opportunity to strengthen an already great story and try again. Good writers are content with “good enough.” Great writers keep developing their craft.
Q: Tell us about what you’re currently working on. Do you have any writing projects on the go?
A: I’m nearly finished writing a first draft of a novel-length piece of fiction. While it’s been a blast working with Grain, I look forward to having more time to edit my own work this year. Of course, I’ll also be reading as much as I can, including the newest issues of Grain.
Read Kate's book reviews at prairieflowerreads.com. Follow Kate on Instagram at @prairieflowerreads.
