Creative Writing Editor Todd Richardson Joins JAF Team, Invites Submissions

JAF welcomes Todd Richardson to the team as the first Creative Writing Editor. The members of the JAF Editorial Collective thank Richardson for serving in this role and hope that, with his help, JAF can venture more regularly into publishing excellent creative work. 

Richardson and the JAF Editorial Collective invite creative writing submissions in any genre (poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, comics, etc.). JAF is interested in work that takes an explicitly creative approach to the subjects, themes, and concepts of folklore studies. Poetry exploring meaning-making within groups, for instance, would be welcome, as would a personal essay pondering the durability of belief, but these are only two of  limitless possibilities. Indeed, we are eager to receive work we cannot anticipate. With that in mind, while we encourage submissions addressing conventionally folkloric content—a short story inspired by a traditional ballad, for instance, would definitely be welcome—we are equally interested in creative work that introduces new subjects and perspectives into the pages of JAF.  Simply put, we seek work that illuminates, mystifies, or otherwise engages with how folk make and share meaning.

We welcome work of varying length but ask that prose not exceed 14,000 words, comics not exceed twelve pages, and that poets submit three to five pieces at a time. Click to learn more about how to submit to JAF.

Richardson is a professor in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Goodrich Scholarship Program and has published a wide array of essays and art, including academic articles, creative nonfiction pieces, scholarly zines, and comics. 

Journal of American Folklore / JAF: A Global Quarterly Editorial Team

Co-Editors, Editorial Collective:

Norma E. Cantú, Trinity University, TX, USA
Coppélie Cocq, Umeå University, Sweden 
Tim Frandy, University of British Columbia, Canada
Lisa Gabbert, Utah State University, USA
Shelley Ingram, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA

Lorraine Walsh Cashman (American Folklore Society), Senior Managing Editor

Lindsay Bourgeoise (University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Editorial Assistant