For two years, I’ve worked as a freelance writer, trying to get my work published and make a career for myself. What have I learnt in that time?
1. Getting published is incredibly competitive. Setting yourself apart as a new writer is almost impossible without prior connections or a star-studded portfolio. To make matters worse, you’re often competing against experienced writers who already have a long-established relationship with a particular magazine
2. Nepotism, elitism, and discrimination are massive barriers to success for new writers in the industry - particularly those from marginalised backgrounds.
3. Many of the smaller Indie magazines, where you have a higher chance of getting published, are unable to pay writers due to a lack of funding. This means that writers who are serious about a career in creative writing/editorial work will have to go through years of unpaid or poorly paid work just to build up the portfolio they need to be considered for full-time roles in larger publications.
In short, the future looks bleak, and it’s no wonder that the majority of writers who start out with this career in mind end up quitting.
With The Ilford Review, my goal is to change this industry standard by leading by example. I want to show that it is possible to offer writers fair pay for their work and provide an accessible platform that is open to all.
With all that said, I’m pleased to share that the first issue of The Ilford Review is now live! Featuring eight long-form nonfiction essays from writers across the world, Issue [1] deals with topics ranging from motherhood to the American arcade industry.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could show your support by reading the amazing stories featured in this issue, following the magazine on our socials (@Ilfordreview on Instagram and X), and donating to support our mission!
It’s finally here! Issue [1] of The Ilford Review is now available to read at https://lnkd.in/ecFq-s8Z. Featuring eight non-fiction essays by writers from across the world, Issue [1] explores a diverse set of topics, from motherhood to acoustic brilliance. Tom Wade reflects on his time spent with James Simmons from the Gulfcoast Pulpwood Association, offering a personal perspective on an overlooked and yet influential grassroots movement that formed in the years following the Civil Rights Movement. Elsewhere, L.A. Ballesteros Gentile narrates, with Joycean inventiveness, a summer romance from their time spent in Italy, while J.D. Harlock takes a panoptic look at the evolution of the American arcade industry. Though non-fiction, the beauty of each of the essays featured in this issue lies in their transportive powers, taking you from the suburbs of Cape Town to the streets of Moscow.
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