Writers on Literary Magazines | An Interview with Max Kruger-Dull

This interview is with Max Kruger-Dull, whose short story, Mister Nowakowski was published by AGNI, both in print in AGNI 98 and on their website in 2023.

Mikaela: What was the inspiration for or where did you get your idea for your story, Mister Nowakowski?

Max: When I began thinking about Mister Nowakowski, I had in mind how impersonal and monetary our relationship to nostalgia has gotten. Marvel movies quite noticeably take advantage of nostalgia, as do many corporations nowadays. I felt like we were forgetting how else nostalgia can shape us. So with Mister Nowakowski, I hoped to generally expand my own thinking on nostalgia. 

Mikaela: What was your writing process like when it came to writing a short story as opposed to a longer work?

Max: When writing short stories, I try to put my ideas in close relation to each other and I also draw a tighter circle around what will be in the story. With short work, as opposed to the novel I’m working on, I like to finish writing fairly quickly. I usually spend no more than a week or two on a short story, which feels comforting to me as someone who can be a pretty impatient person. 

Mikaela: How did you discover AGNI or what made you want to submit your work there?

Max: I’m not sure how I discovered AGNI; I probably was looking through various magazines at McNally Jackson in college and found the journal. I love AGNI because they often publish writers with complex, weird ideas. Being published by AGNI felt like a sort of confirmation that I’m that kind of writer.

Mikaela: What was the process like for you as a writer when it came to submitting your work to a literary magazine, and then being accepted?

Max: It can sometimes be an overwhelming process. I’m constantly submitting my work. My main strategy is that, when a magazine rejects a story of mine, I submit another story as soon as possible (keeping in mind their submission guidelines). Staying organized is key for me. Once a story is accepted, I mostly try to take my lead from the editors of the magazine. I’ve found that this approach has resulted in me experiencing many different kinds of editorial styles. 

Mikaela: I saw on your website that you’ve been published by many literary magazines! How does it feel being a published writer?

Max: It feels wonderful to be published and to get to work with writers and editors who invest time into my stories. With each story I write, I’m never sure if it’ll resonate with a reader; I just know that I like the work. So it’s nice to feel that my work, at least sometimes, leaves enough of an impression that someone would want to publish it.

Mikaela: What do you think the role of literary magazines is in the book publishing world?

Max: To me, it seems like literary magazines are actively supporting young, less-experienced writers (while also continuing to give space to established ones). Lit mags, because they’re often less market driven, can give homes to experimental writing, which can be harder to get published. With lit mags, you also get to experience many different editorial styles and learn how the industry works through those experiences. I’ve also seen writers gain momentum through publishing in literary magazines, which resulted in them securing agents and then book deals. But in general, I love the exploratory ecosystem that the many lit mags create and foster. 

Mikaela: What are some of your favorite literary magazines?

Max: I’ll take this as an opportunity to call out some of the wonderful magazines I’ve gotten to work with: AGNI, Quarterly West, BOOTH, Fecund, the tiny journal, Litro Magazine, The MacGuffin. I’ve only had positive experiences with literary magazines so far. I also love reading Cincinnati Review and New England Review. 

Mikaela: Are you working on any writing right now? If so, tell me about it! 

Max: Yes, I’m working on a novel about a research assistant who, in seeking academic validation, begins a social experiment on himself. He hopes this experiment will not only bring him recognition but also a more integrated personal life.