Yellow Arrow Publishing would like to (re)introduce Sydney Alexander, an editorial associate. Sydney is a junior at Middlebury College in Vermont studying English and geography. She grew up in Maryland, near Baltimore. Her work has been published online in Hunger Mountain Review and Mulberry Literary.
Sydney says, “I am most excited to continue reading and editing the work of women and helping in their process of publication. I enjoyed working on many of the publications in 2023, and I am excited to see what 2024 holds for us. It is very inspiring to be a part of the Yellow Arrow community, and I look forward to helping in any way that I can.”
Tell us a little something about yourself:
Most recently, my story “Homebody” was published in Mulberry Literary, where it won first place in their Fresh Voices Award.
What do you love most about Baltimore?
One of my favorite things about Baltimore is Atomic Books, a comic bookstore located in Hampden. In addition to their vast array of comics, they also have a really good selection of general fiction.
How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow and what do you do for us? Why did you want to join the Yellow Arrow team?
I joined Yellow Arrow in spring 2022, where I served as the events and community engagement intern. After my internship ended, I joined the staff as a reader, and I also continued to write blogs. Now, I am excited to be an editorial associate. Something I really love about the Yellow Arrow team is how dedicated everyone is to our mission. I am constantly inspired by the community of women I have met while working at Yellow Arrow, from the authors to the staff.
What are you working on currently?
I am currently taking a gap semester from college to pursue new publishing opportunities and work on my own creative writing. I am interning at Galiot Press, a brand-new publishing company. In February, I will be moving to Portland, Maine, where I will be interning at Portland Monthly Magazine as well.
What genre do you write and/or read the most and why?
I enjoy reading and writing literary fiction and magical realism, and I especially love reading short story collections. I like literary fiction because I find the daily lives of ordinary people to be compelling and often relatable; I think there is a lot of richness to be found in the most commonplace events. I like magical realism because I think that an added fantastical element often makes the lives of normal people a little more interesting.
What book is on the top of your to-be-read pile?
The book at the top of my to-be-read pile right now is The Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang. Last spring, I read her other novel How Much of These Hills is Gold, and I loved it. I am very excited to read her newest novel.
Who is your favorite writer and why?
I have a lot of writers I admire, but the two who are always at the top of my list include Karen Russell and Carmen Maria Machado. I really admire their creative and idiosyncratic stories, which are so unique. Their use of language is also really impressive.
Who has inspired and/or supported you most in your writing journey?
I think my dad has supported my writing journey the most. Since I was in middle school, he has edited my stories and encouraged me to pursue writing as far as I want to take it. Somehow, he is even okay with the idea of me pursuing a creative writing MFA after college.
What do you love most about writing?
What I love most about writing is the opportunity to play with words and language. I am really interested in finding unexpected combinations for metaphors and other figurative language—for me, this particular challenge is the most fun part of writing.
What advice do you have for new writers?
One of the best things you can do as a writer is to network. Attend festivals, join staff of literary magazines or publishers, and try to meet as many people as you can.
What’s the most important thing you always keep near you when you work?
I am always listening to music while I work, so either headphones or a speaker. I also like to reference specific books that I’m thinking about, so I usually have books on my desk as well.
What’s your vision for Yellow Arrow in 2024?
My vision for Yellow Arrow in 2024 is another year of growth. I hope that we can continue to reach more and more women writers, finding new ways to bring them together and sharing their voices.
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Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women-identifying writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we AMPLIFY women-identifying creatives this year by purchasing one of our publications or a workshop from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, for yourself or as a gift, joining our newsletter, following us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, or subscribing to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 65185, Baltimore, Maryland 21209). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.