Emma Dries at Loyola MD: On Reading and Publishing
by Ari Acevedo
To become a better writer you must read. It seems obvious, but Emma Dries, a literary agent at Triangle House Literary and former editor at Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday Books and Ecco, stressed that it’s absolutely necessary. I recently attended a talk by Dries at Loyola University Maryland, where she spoke to students about her career and opportunities for students interested in editing and publishing.
An element that she looks for when accepting a client is a strong voice. For Dries, voice is ineffable; it also is something you cannot change: You cannot turn someone’s voice into something it isn’t. Dries mentioned that in many cases she will take on a client with a piece that has a strong voice and weaker plot over a piece with a weak voice and strong plot. It’s also an aspect of writing that can be hard to identify. Dries’ process is similar to the work of readers at The Baltimore Review: combing through submissions to find a piece that is not just technically well-crafted but has a voice that will connect with readers. You cannot care or be invested in a piece if you do not feel a connection. You feel invested in a piece—you care and can learn from it—if you can connect with that voice.
In an industry driven by Amazon and jeopardized by Artificial Intelligence, independent publications are the backbone of communities, uplifting voices and perspectives that are often not seen as marketable. Indie publications and bookstores are also opportunities to read what is currently being published and to get a taste for the publishing world. Dries said that working or interning at a literary magazine gives you the chance to “dip your toes.”
Another tip Dries mentioned for students is to look beyond editing. There are so many ways you can apply your writing abilities. Editing can be creatively draining, so think of other routes you can take to be involved with books. She encouraged the audience to apply to any position and to be creative about the ways you're pursuing work in the industry.
At The Baltimore Review, I find myself proud to be a part of a magazine driven to platform excellence. We read through countless submissions to ensure that what is being published is the best, discussing pieces that speak to us. In a lot of ways, Dries reaffirmed the space writers and creatives have in the workforce and that there are many ways we can engage with that field beyond editing.
Ari Acevedo is a Baltimore Review intern from Loyola University Maryland.
