American Poetry Review
(bimonthly, print/partly online, $3.95)
This newsprint tabloid flirts with prose, but poetry is obviously its first and truest love. Since its inception in 1972, APR has become a nationally recognized outlet for established and emerging voices, and is occasionally celebrated/blamed for turning poets into celebrities. The journal will celebrate its 33rd anniversary with a party at the Constitution Center on Nov. 16. In addition to an all-star lineup of poets (Robert Pinsky, Rita Dove), Meryl Streep will be there reading from the works of Emily Dickinson. Looks like they can turn celebrities into poets, too.
www.aprweb.org

Bucks County Writer
(Web quarterly, print annually, $7.95)
Based at the busy Bucks County Writers Room, this lit journal has an enthusiastic pool of talent to draw from and built-in readers interested in the craft. "As an extension of the Writers Room we aim to share interviews with artists and writers about process, from the inception of an idea to bringing a finished work to the public," says editor Joy Stocke. Everything from fiction to poetry to book reviews to photography has graced its pages, including pieces by Mark Rosenthal, Joe Queenan, Christopher Durang and Rachel Simon.
www.writersroom.net/pages/bcw.htm

Ducky
(biannually, Web-only, free)
Edgy but not immaturely so, this still-young site is an exciting, if infrequent source for prose, poetry and "a few uncatagorizables." Audio "mixtape" files accompany each virtual issue. Though Ducky isn't known for literary starpower, it has managed to lure up-and-comers like Richard Nash, Dave Koch, Nelly Reifler and Susannah Breslin, among others. "I, personally, am not interested in hunting down a famous author and begging him or her to send me a discarded old story, just so I can say that we published it," explains Dennis DiClaudio, who co-edits the journal with some expatriates from Painted Bride Quarterly. Look for Ducky to break into the physical world with a print compendium at some point.
www.duckymag.com

HiNgE
(quarterly, Web-only, free)
Founded in 1999, the smart, stylish HiNgE enjoys 501(c)3 classification as a not-for-profit source for poetry, short fiction, essays, comics, fine art and music articles featuring audio accompaniment. So far they've "printed" authors Dennis DiClaudio, Adam Fieled and Maralyn Polak; visual artists Jeff Kilpatrick and Kyle Margiotta; and musical acts Ruder Than You, Buried Beds and Nate Wiley and the Crowd Pleasers. The journal got its start when a group of friends looked for a creative outlet outside their nine-to-fives in medical publishing. "We all knew a lot of artists and the Internet was free," says editor Marilyn Bess. "From our point of view, we had the contacts, the time and could afford it." HiNgE occasionally hosts readings and artist trading card sessions, with a bent toward "events that bring together musicians, artists, writers and readers at a single venue in one night."
www.hingeonline.com

Painted Bride Quarterly
(quarterly, Web-only, free)
Established in 1973 as a printed journal, the Rutgers-based PBQ is Web-only these days but it's still a big name in the local litmag scene. Its selections in poetry, fiction and nonfiction are brought to life at occasional launch parties and readings.
www.pbq.rutgers.edu

 

 

Philadelphia Stories
(quarterly, print, free)
"We both love writing, and wanted to give a voice to the many talented writers and artists in the area," says Christine Weiser, who co-founded Philadelphia Stories with Carla Spataro. "We launched one year ago, and have received tremendous community support since then." More magazine-y than most publications of its kind — the pages are full-sized and shiny — Philadelphia Stories is unabashedly unhip and untethered to any kind of counterculture. For readers who find most litmags too insidery, the friendly, folksy vibe is a breath of bakery air. Besides publishing works exclusively by area writers, the journal has featured interviews with successful locals like Jennifer Weiner, Shawn McBride and Lisa Scottoline. Readings are hosted often at Mugshots Coffeehouse in Fairmount and Maggiano's Little Italy downtown.
www.philadelphiastories.org

 

Schuylkill Valley Journal of the Arts
(semi-annually, print, $6)
Based at the Manayunk Art Center, where its readings and workshops are regularly hosted, SVJ publishes fiction, poems and essays by local authors. It's not slick, but it's professionally and carefully assembled and frequently offers unique takes on our hometown and its quirks. "We've had a lot of notable names but notable names don't make an issue," says Peter Krok, who took over as editor when founder Jim Marinell passed away in 2001. "In the long run it is not the names of notable writers but the good poems and fiction and articles that have resonance for readers and listeners that counts. We've included the best area writers."
www.manayunkartcenter.org

 

 

 

Wild Violet
(quarterly, Web-only, free)
"The goal of Wild Violet is to bridge the gap between academia and pop culture, bringing the arts to the mainstream," asserts editor Alyce Wilson. To that end, the journal regularly intersperses the normal "serious" litmag offerings with humor pieces, pop culture commentaries, flash fiction (super-short stories), snappy author interviews and movie reviews. "While Wild Violet doesn't have strict themes, we tend to structure issues so that they include material that works well together," says Wilson. "This is surprisingly easy, with material arriving from different people all around the globe and yet addressing similar ideas, similar questions."
www.wildviolet.net

Xconnect
(Web semi-annually, print annually, $12)
It's UPenn-based, but Xconnect feels no obligation to print student works (though faculty members do turn up on occasion). Within its pages you'll find the prose and poetry of nationally known writers like Russell Banks, Tom Devaney and Peter Rock. This sharp, tight-looking publication — featuring glossy covers by hip artists like Ray Caesar and Judith Schaechter — got rolling 10 years ago. "I just thought I could do better than what was available in Philadelphia in 1995," says editor David Deifer. "Browser technology allowed me to start up on the Web, to accumulate enough work to edit into a print annual. It just took off from there." Xconnect's home base is Kelly Writers House, which regularly features readings and appearances by Xconnect writers.
www.xconnect.org

Authors published in Hinge, Philadelphia Poets, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Bucks County Review and others will read at Local Literary Voices, part of the 215 Festival. Ducky will DJ. Sun., Oct. 9, 1-4 p.m., free, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475.