Not Quite Right is currently building its inaugural reading team.
We’re looking for readers who want to be part of shaping a literary magazine from the ground up—people who care about writing, who read closely, and who are drawn to work that doesn’t always resolve cleanly.
This is not just about helping manage submissions. It’s about participating in the process of discovering and championing work that feels necessary, honest, and—true to our name—not quite right.
What It Means to Be a Reader
As part of the reading team, you’ll be one of the first people to encounter new submissions.
Readers are responsible for:
- Reading submissions with attention and care
- Offering brief, thoughtful feedback or internal notes
- Recommending pieces for further consideration
- Helping identify work that aligns with our editorial vision
You won’t be expected to write formal critiques or line edits. What matters most is your ability to engage with a piece honestly and articulate your response—what works, what lingers, what doesn’t quite land.
This is a collaborative, evolving process. As the magazine grows, so will the role.
What Makes a Great Reader
We’re not looking for a single type of reader.
In fact, we value a wide range of tastes, backgrounds, and perspectives. A strong reading team isn’t built on sameness—it’s built on thoughtful disagreement, varied instincts, and a shared respect for the work.
That said, the readers who tend to stand out often:
- Read closely and attentively, rather than quickly or passively
- Care about voice, tone, and emotional authenticity
- Are comfortable sitting with ambiguity or unresolved ideas
- Can distinguish between personal preference and editorial judgment
- Offer clear, respectful, and constructive responses
- Are open to work that challenges their own taste
You don’t need to love everything we publish. But you should be able to recognize when something is doing what it sets out to do—and doing it well.
A Note on Taste
Taste is subjective. That’s part of the point.
We are not trying to build a team that agrees on everything. We are trying to build a team that can engage seriously with a wide range of work, and advocate for pieces that feel alive—even if they aren’t immediately familiar.
If your taste leans traditional, experimental, lyrical, restrained, strange, quiet, loud—there is room for you here.
Time Commitment & Expectations
We aim to keep expectations reasonable and sustainable.
- Readers will be assigned a small batch of submissions on a recurring basis
- Most pieces can be read and responded to in a short amount of time
- Communication will be simple and respectful of your time
We understand that this is a volunteer role, and we want it to feel engaging—not overwhelming.
Why Join
As an early member of the Not Quite Right reading team, you’ll have a direct hand in shaping the voice of the magazine.
You’ll help decide what gets published.
You’ll encounter new writing before anyone else.
And you’ll be part of building something from its earliest stages.
We’re Currently Accepting Applications
If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Applications are open, and we’re especially interested in building a reading team with a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences.