We are so fortunate to have MARGARET MINCKS with us to share some information about SPIDER magazine. Welcome, Margaret! Would you please begin by sharing a little about yourself with us? Thank you for having me! I’m originally from Virginia, lived in Chicago for 10 years, and now live just outside Orlando with my wonderful husband and puppy. Quite a change! I’ve been working as Editor of Spider for about 5 years now. What do you love most about your editor job? What do you find challenging about it? I love collaborating with authors to highlight their unique stories and voices. I’ll cheat and give you another thing I love most—getting letters and artwork from our enthusiastic and talented readers. I post a lot of my favorite reader comments on Twitter because they make me so happy. The most challenging part is and always will be printer deadlines! For those who might not be familiar with Spider, tell us a bit about it. What sets Spider apart as a magazine? Spider is a literary magazine for six- to nine-year-olds. We publish fiction, poems, nonfiction, puzzles, activities, and jokes, as well as a serial comic strip featuring Spider and his gang of buggy friends. Spider is unique because it places emphasis on the newly independent reader. These are kids who are just discovering the joy of reading, and it’s a really special time. We try to feed that wonder and curiosity with high quality, high interest content (and a healthy dose of quirky humor). Another element that sets the magazine apart is the quality of our original illustrations. I’m astonished by the talent and imagination of our artists. Your website has helpful information about what you want in your submissions. Are any of those points ones you want to emphasize or elaborate on for us? Any information on kinds of submissions that get you particularly excited? Our big news is that we’ve switched to online submissions only (through Submittable)! I’d like to emphasize that each submission is considered for all of our magazines, so there’s no need to submit more than once. For example, if a first reader reads something that’s submitted to Spider, but it seems more appropriate for Cricket, he or she will direct it to the right editor. A knock-me-out original voice always gets my attention, and I love stories that nail a kid’s perspective. Humor is always a plus. Oh, and I’m a nerd for simple, elegantly worded cover letters (yes, I read every cover letter). What things turn you off to a submission? Any pet peeves? Lazy writing: poorly drawn characters, unrealistic dialogue, weak plots, lack of solid research in nonfiction, etc. I also tend to stay away from saccharine stories with overt lessons or morals. Any tips for writers or illustrators who might want to break into Spider? Suggestions that will increase their chances of acceptance? I’d give the same advice to both writers and illustrators: Take a look at recent issues of the magazine. This will give you a good sense of the content, styles, etc. we’re currently publishing. I think you always increase your chances of acceptance by sending your best, most polished work. Try seeking out a local critique group in your area, or even just a writing buddy, to hone your craft and get honest feedback. For puzzles and activities, do you have particular kinds you’re looking for right now? I look for smart, funny puzzles—brainteasers and creative word games are great! I’m always looking for unusual recipes that kids can make on their own, or with minimal adult supervision/assistance. I’d love to see more science-based activities and experiments that match the quirky tone of the magazine. And magic tricks are always a hit! I think writers really like submitting to you via Submittable, since it saves postage costs and they’re able to track their submissions. How is it working out for you editors and for your first readers? Do you find it helpful? I’m in love with Submittable: it’s efficient, reliable, and impeccably organized. We just made the switch to Submittable-only submissions, and I’m thrilled about it. Another exciting side-benefit of Submittable is that we’ve seen an uptick in international submissions! Any other information about Spider you’d like to share with us? I love seeing authors take a creative risk with genre or narrative style. Be bold! Thank you so much, Margaret, for taking the time to share with us this helpful information and for being a part of creating such a wonderful magazine for kids. For you writers who are now inspired to submit something to this terrific publication, submission guidelines are here: https://cricketmag.submittable.com/submit/17817. Writing for Children's Magazines, November 2014