AMANDA & ASTER(IX)
From Summer 2021 to Summer 2023, I served as the Managing Editor of the transnational feminist literary journal Aster(ix).
As Managing Editor, I was the lead on five print issues:
Winter 2021: The Fiction Issue, Fall 2022: Mothers Unearthed, Winter 2022: The Tarot Issue (was also Guest Editor of that issue), Spring 2023: The Best of Aster(ix): Part I, and Fall 2023: The Best of Aster(ix): Part II.
I also worked on Fall 2020: Best of Hot Metal Bridge as a contributing editor, and after being Managing Editor, I stepped back into the role in Spring 2024: Bending to assist during a team change over.
Tasks included reviewing submissions, editing pieces and working closely with authors, managing contracts and version control, supporting print layout design, managing print distribution, organizing launch events, organizing digital launch (including digital issue layout, social media, newsletters).
Managed up and down for our team of volunteer editors, writers, and readers. Created new structure for succession as well as in-depth institutional knowledge guide for future Managing Editors
Wrote and produced content on the digital journal including setting up our multi-genre in-residence feature for Winter 2021-2022, a list of Best New AAPI Authors to Read, and an interview with multimedia artist and poet Jane Wong
Organically increased the journal’s Instagram (@asterixjournal) presence on Instagram from 450 to 1,550+ through bright visuals, author and community engagement, and regular, varied posting of content. Additionally, revamped Mailchimp newsletter design and process. Created campaigns to spotlight works we nominated for competitions, create reels to generate excitement for new issues, crowdsource “book club” recommendations from followers to generate engagement, share calls for submissions, highlight a Latinx tarot art project (which I later turned into a print issue!), and more
Designed digital and print materials for Aster(ix) including our social media launches and the cover for the innovative Summer 2020 issue, The Ferrante Project, which featured anonymous revolutionary contributions by womxn of color.
