By Melissa Nunez, written January 2024
For Melissa Martini, publishing is more than just a job. It is a way to connect with and support creatives the world over. Melissa M. established Moss Puppy Magazine in 2021 and made it her mission to platform diverse perspectives and encourage artists of all experience levels. The pages of Moss Puppy Magazine are filled with visual art, poetry, and prose that is unconventional yet captivating. You can read past issues of Moss Puppy Magazine and find current calls for submission on their website mosspuppymag.com.
Melissa Nunez, Yellow Arrow interviewer, and Melissa Martini connected in conversation through Discord where they discussed the creative inspiration and passion that fuels this publication.
What inspired you to start Moss Puppy Magazine? What is the story behind the name?
I always felt destined for a career in publishing, specifically as the editor of a literary magazine. In high school, I discovered that we had a defunct lit mag and decided to take on the challenge of reviving it—and I succeeded. We managed to publish a couple of issues before I graduated high school.
Upon entering college, I missed working on a literary magazine so much that I ended up taking over Seton Hall’s lit mag, The Corner Pocket, as well! I began enrolling in publishing courses and delving deep into the intricacies of running a literary magazine—reviewing submissions and orchestrating the creation of a successful issue.
After completing grad school, I found myself without any lit mags to adopt. So, I took up a full-time office job. Initially fine, it soon became apparent that the whole “editor of a lit mag” aspect was missing from my life. Eventually, I quit my full-time job and founded Moss Puppy the very next day.
I named Moss Puppy Magazine after a creature I had created—the Moss Puppy. She originally started as a potential character for a Neopets-esque website I wanted to build. Although there were a few other characters planned for this Neopets-inspired world, Moss Puppy always remained my favorite creation! Some aspects of her lore are based on the original Moss Puppy concept’s backstory as well.
What is your mission as an indie publication?
At its core, Moss Puppy’s mission is to publish artwork and literature from creatives across the planet. Publishing has been so inaccessible to many of us for far too long, and there’s no reason to gatekeep the sharing of our creativity with the world. While prestigious publications have their time and place—and I never mean to discredit them—indie publications are equally, if not more, important for creatives like you and me to share our work and connect with others.
A piece doesn’t need to be by a household name or a famous person to be good, to impact someone, or to be exactly what someone else needs to read or view. Therefore, Moss Puppy’s mission is to encourage publishing to be more accessible to all of us, so that we can share our beautiful work with others.
What other female or BIPOC led publications do you admire? What female identified writers do you admire?
There are way too many to shout out! I’d recommend starting by checking out the Moss Puppy masthead (past and present), as a few of our female/BIPOC team members run their own indie publications. I also deeply admire their work!
What inspires your themed calls for submission? Do you have any advice on writing to a theme?
Our themed calls draw inspiration from both the ‘moss’ and ‘puppy’ elements of the magazine’s name. We typically alternate between themes that are more closely related to the ‘moss’ aspect and those aligned with the ‘puppy’ aspect. For instance, issue 1 featured the theme ‘swampland’ for the ‘moss,’ while issue 2 embraced ‘puppy love’ for the ‘puppy.’
When selecting themes, I draw from various aspects of Moss Puppy’s lore and story. As I develop the character’s narrative, the issues reflect her journey. For example, our [last] issue focused on the ‘whimsical woodland,’ representing the forest Moss Puppy traversed during her adventures.
While I love writing for themes, I recognize they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. To cater to diverse preferences, I provide mood boards and word pools for inspiration. Additionally, we always curate a Spotify playlist for writers and artists to listen to while working on submissions for the theme. Personally, when writing for a theme, I immerse myself in its atmosphere by listening to theme-matching Lofi, conducting related research, and more.
What do you look for in a submission?
I enjoy the lingering impact of a submission, where it stays with me throughout the day or even for a few days. I appreciate those submissions that prompt me to excitedly message the team, saying, “OMG, did you read that one yet?”
For prose I value fully developed characters that are complicated, complex, and memorable. I want to continue pondering about the characters long after I finish reading, becoming invested in their lives both on and off the page. I am drawn to sentences that are a pleasure to read, poetic with effortless flow. Specific details hold significance for me. Rather than generic descriptions, I believe that specific details bring stories to life.
For poetry I appreciate when lines feel natural, as if the words willingly found their place in the stanzas rather than forced rhymes. Regarding length, I don’t necessarily favor long or short poetry, but I seek a length that aligns with the subject matter. The poem should neither leave me wanting more nor risk losing my full investment. Format is flexible; whether traditional or non-traditional, I appreciate when it complements the subject matter.
What is your favorite part of running a magazine?
One of the most gratifying aspects of overseeing a magazine is the day of or the day after we release a new issue. Witnessing contributors eagerly share their work and seeing readers engage with and applaud each other’s pieces is truly magical. It’s a moment of collective appreciation, where we share an understanding of the value of artistic expression. This shared enthusiasm creates a unique bond among creatives, emphasizing the significance of each piece and its impact on an individual’s artistic journey and career. Expressing admiration for a particular work becomes more than just a compliment; it’s a celebration of creativity. I take immense pleasure in encouraging fellow creatives to recognize the worth of their work and witnessing the joy of sharing it with the world unfold right before my eyes on social media.
What is the hardest part of running a magazine?
The most challenging aspect of running a magazine, without a doubt, is the process of sending out rejections. While it’s an integral part of maintaining the quality and cohesion of the publication, delivering disappointing news to talented contributors is always a tough task.
How do you balance running a magazine with your own creative pursuits?
Achieving a balance between running Moss Puppy and nurturing my personal creative projects is an ongoing journey. Recently, I’ve started setting aside dedicated time for Moss Puppy-related tasks and a separate block for my own creative endeavors. This intentional separation helps me compartmentalize these two significant aspects of my life. It’s a strategy in progress, and I’m eager to see how it goes!
Are there any new projects that readers should look out for?
We have a Moss Puppy Encyclopedia in the works! This project aims to delve deep into the lore and intricacies of Moss Puppy’s universe, providing readers with a comprehensive guide to the characters, stories, and themes. Additionally, I’m planning to relaunch the journals at some point.
What advice would you share with other editors/artists?
Never stop creating. Take the breaks you need, but don’t let them become a permanent hiatus.
Print copies of Moss Puppy Magazine are available for purchase through lulu. You can also follow the latest info on issues, calls for submissions, and highlights of the Moss Puppy team and contributors on their twitter account @mosspuppymag.
Melissa Martini (she/her) is a short fiction writer and Capricorn from New Jersey. She studied creative writing in both undergrad and graduate school at Seton Hall University. Currently, she serves as founder and Editor-in-Chief of Moss Puppy Magazine.
Melissa Nunez makes her home in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas, where she enjoys exploring and photographing the local wild with her homeschooling family. She writes an anime column at The Daily Drunk Magazine and is a prose reader for Moss Puppy Magazine. She is also a staff writer for Alebrijes Review and interviewer for Yellow Arrow Publishing. You can find her work on her melissaknunez.com and follow her on Twitter @MelissaKNunez.
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