So these are the journals I got my grubby fingers on and humped back to California in my carry-on backpack.
Total # of journals: 18
Total # of pounds lost while carrying them through airport: Unknown, but likely substantial
- The Sun
- Blue Mesa Review
- Crab Orchard Review
- The Gettysburg Review
- Third Coast
- Colorado Review
- Nimrod International Journal
- Ninth Letter
- The Missouri Review
- Willow Springs
- PEN America
- Ruminate
- Open City
- Fence
- Fugue
- Black Warrior Review
- Florida Review
Out of all these journals, my favorite is Ninth Letter. It is such a beautiful journal, with innovative design and edgy graphics, and the stories, like "Man of Steel," are killer. I got a 2009 issue, not the most recent, but I have to say, it wins my Best Journal of the AWP Conference Award. No, this award does not have a history and I just made it up, but still. Get a subscription.
The real issue for me after buying books and journals on a trip is “can I lift my bag into the overhead bin by myself?”
Ha! I was actually worried they wouldn’t fit into my backpack. Had to wear a sweater and jacket so I had space.