C.J. Bartunek on the Georgia Review‘s Winter 2001/Spring 2002 Restrospective

Dear Chillsubs writers, "The best way to get published in a journal is to familiarize yourself with the journal first." The Georgia Review's Winter 2001 / Spring 2002 issue aims to provide readers with a comprehensive look into the journal's legacy of publishing compelling nonfiction. Spanning essays from 1947 to 1996, this retrospective showcases the vibrant history of literary journals in the twentieth century, a history that continues to impact literary publishing today, even as many journals have shifted online.

The winter issue offers insight into how the Georgia Review approached nonfiction, as well as the special challenges and opportunities that come with publishing essays. Notable authors featured in this issue include Ernest J. Gaines, Joyce Carol Oates, Naomi Shihab Nye, Barry Lopez, Donald Barthelme, and others. While some earlier essays appear more academic in tone and reflect a different era, others, such as Louise Erdrich's "Skunk Dreams," remain relatable and contemporary.

Several authors share personal reflections on their writing journeys, such as Raymond Carver's recollection of his college creative writing professor John Gardner, whose influence is now celebrated in his book The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers. Eudora Welty also reflects on her first published short story, which was initially submitted to "Death of a Traveling Salesman," a "little magazine" published in Athens, Ohio, by a couple married to each other.

The Georgia Review is pleased to feature work by emerging writers, and occasionally, an author's debut publication. Future issues will provide a better understanding of the journal's more recent publications. The Georgia Review's selections from recent issues are available for free browsing at thegeorgiareview.com, and the publication's presence extends to Instagram (@georgiareview).