Magazine Mentor Class

Magazine Mentor Class A Beginner’s Six-Week Intensive on Publishing, Editorial Work, and Building a Literary Magazine Career With Lisa Vasquez, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Memento Mori Ink Magazine August 1 – September 5 | $25 Most writers rush to submit before they’ve asked themselves the harder questions: Why do I actually want this? Am I ready for rejection, criticism, and the slow grind of building a reputation? What does professionalism in this industry really look like? This six-week class starts there — before the submitting, before the pitching, before the publishing — and builds outward from a foundation most beginner writers never get. Led by Lisa Vasquez, whose career spans Stitched Smile Publications, House of Stitched Magazine, and now Memento Mori Ink, where she’s interviewed bestselling authors, filmmakers, and cultural figures including Joe Lansdale, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Jonathan Maberry. Lisa is known for a direct, honest, hands-on approach — she doesn’t just teach craft, she teaches the mindset it takes to build a career that lasts. What You’ll Cover: Why Do You Want to Publish? Identify what you’re actually chasing — validation, career, creative expression, community, or legacy — and understand the real difference between hobby and profession. Developing Professional Expectations. The truth about rejection rates, subjectivity in publishing, and why persistence matters more than talent alone. Emotional Resilience. How to separate your identity from your work, take editorial feedback without defensiveness, and recognize burnout before it takes you out. Professionalism and Reputation. Why publishing is a smaller world than you think, and how the relationships you build now shape the career you have later. Preparing Your Work. How to know when a piece is actually finished, why first drafts get rejected, and how to use self-editing and critique partners effectively. Building Your Author Foundation. Crafting a professional bio, establishing your online presence, and setting realistic goals for the next twelve months. Includes real homework, real deadlines, and a real deliverable: By the end of the course, you’ll write a 1,000–1,500 word article on one of five assigned topics exploring horror, dark fiction, and the psychology of fear. Your piece will be read and voted on by MMI staff and Crystal Lake Patreon members — the winning article gets published in Memento Mori Ink Magazine, with a $25 payment to the author. This class is for you if: You’re new to submitting and want to start on solid ground You’ve been rejected and aren’t sure why You want mentorship from someone who’s built real publishing career, not just theory You want your first real shot at a paid magazine credit $25 for the full six-week class.