Book Box | Inside Hammock: Literary magazine in an AI age
Founding editor Abhay Puri, a South Asia Speaks Fellow, counts Granta and The Stinging Fly as his literary magazine favorites.
Hammock magazine, a literary anthology, recently released its first print edition in India. The magazine's founder, Abhay Puri, a South Asia Speaks Fellow, explains that he started the publication to provide more opportunities for new writers in India. Hammock began as a digital platform over three years ago, but the first print edition felt like a milestone in their journey. The magazine's anthology includes stories set in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and a newly translated piece by Bhisham Sahni.
The founder is a former creative writing student at Birkbeck College, University of London, who feels that studying creative writing has greatly benefited his editorial work and contributed to the growth of Hammock. When asked about the role of AI in publishing, the founder expresses concerns about the increasing number of AI-generated submissions and the societal, environmental, and cognitive costs associated with AI.
He chooses not to use AI in his work and advocates for maintaining its use primarily for data handling and solving global problems.
The hardest part of publishing a literary magazine is managing the various administrative tasks, especially for a small, independent publication with limited budgets. The founder emphasizes the importance of finding ways to generate funds, such as grants and fellowships, and building a robust arts ecosystem in India to support small ventures and artist-led initiatives.
In terms of personal reading, the founder credits his childhood in a book-loving household for sparking his passion for literature. He cites favorite authors from both Mumbai and London, including Rohinton Mistry, Jayant Kaikini, Ben Judah, and Virginia Woolf.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
