We are an online literary journal based in New York City looking to publish work that represents the lengths (or lack thereof) people will go to in order to make money and pay the bills (to keep the lights on, for instance). We are looking for inspired work that showcases this, whether it be the odd jobs that keep you up at night or the night that brings you odd jobs.
If it's funky and helped you not get evicted, tells a story about someone who made a living scraping gum off park benches, or discusses the day to day life of a desk job, we want to hear from you.
For general inquiries, email us at: whateverkeepsthelights.com
For submission guidelines, please go here.
Our Team
Taylor Sue Leonhardt
Founder and Managing Editor
she/her
Taylor Sue Leonhardt is a writer and recent graduated of the New School’s MFA creative writing program, as well as one of the founding editors of the magazine. Her work has appeared in The New School Creative Writing Blog, Muses Literary Magazine and The Creative Anthology of Muhlenberg College, for which her short story was award third place fiction for their creative writing contest. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Follow her on Twitter @TS_Leonhardt.
Victoria Dillman
Managing Editor
she/her
Victoria Dillman is a Canadian writer living in Brooklyn, New York. She is an MFA candidate in Fiction at The New School and a Foreign Rights Associate at a literary agency. She is at work on a novel. She can be found on Twitter @Vic_Dillman.
Previous Editors
Jessalyn Johnson
Founder and Former Managing Editor
she/her
Jessalyn Johnson is a writer from Central Florida currently living in Brooklyn, New York. She recently received her MFA from The New School’s Creative Writing Program. Her work is featured in Maudlin House, The Inquisitive Eater, and Ghost City Review, among others. Follower her on Twitter @jessalyn451 and Instagram @jessalynjohnson or visit her at jessalynjohnson.com.
Micaela Walley
Guest Editor
she/her
Micaela Walley is an MFA candidate at the University of Baltimore. Her work can be found in Oracle Fine Arts Review, Gravel, ENTROPY, and Huffpost. She currently lives in Hanover, Maryland with her best friend—Chunky, the cat.