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About us

Who is MLM and how does it operate?

Formerly, Midwest Literary Magazine and Print (Midwest Press), MLM is a footprint company.

Our GOALS:

1. Our primary goal is to find and publish excellent authors of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. We do not give special regard to the popularity of writers. Instead, we judge works on quality.

2. The motto of MLM is, “The Quiet Press,” and it is a philosophy. Our vision includes promoting our writers and their work, but not the individuals who work at MLM. We strive toward one simple integrity, “keep the focus on the writers and their work.” We do not list the real names of our staff members. This has been our tradition for years.

Key Facts:

1. Our online magazine is always free to read. We never charge reading fees for submissions.

2. Book publishing is always free. Writers are never required to pay us ANY money.

3. We do offer books for sale and optional services. Every business needs revenue.

Please , please, please, read our submission guidelines carefully for magazine submissions or book publishing before you submit. Write us with questions.

We encourage you to read one or more of our magazines before you submit. They are free. It is the best way to judge whether MLM is right for you.

MLM began as an experiment in literature.
* What would it mean to be a publisher that was completely quiet?
* What would it mean to make a literary magazine exclusively about the writers?
* How would writers feel about an anonymous editor?

We have been well-received. Midwest Literary Magazine is truly different. Our reputation is independent of any individual. It makes us work harder. It forces us to keep our focus on the writers. The format works well for us.

Who is Anthony Shields?

Anthony Shields is the house name of the masthead of MLM. For anonymity, every masthead has the name “Anthony Shields.” Using a “house name” in place of the editor’s real name is a long-established tradition many venues have used in the past. It provides transparency from one editor to the next. Often, presses never tell you this. They just substitute the name. We are not tricky. We disclose this up front. Of course most venues have editors who want their name on everything. That’s fine for them. We choose not to, and we are happy to continue this important literary tradition at MLM.

A staff declaration: “We are writers. This is our contribution, without self-promotion. Imagine that.”

Now you know about us, please tell us a little about yourself – and submit often!