Solidarity Forever

Hello, hello! It’s been a while since we’ve had an issue published! Since last spring! And now, it’s spring again and we have the fall issue! Can you believe it? Why, you ask? Well, Dan cut insurance out of our contracts and we, through the formidable Quiddity Union, went on strike! Here’s a glimpse from the picket lines, transcripted from a now-deleted video (as per the request of Dan’s many, many lawyers following the month-long strike): 

Taylor Hall: December 11, 2025. 11:07 AM. 

Liv: We just got out of an editor's meeting where we were told that Dan, uh, cut our insurance. Honestly, I didn’t even know we got that– would’ve been nice to know. So we’re protesting– 

(The camera pans to Quiddity staff and authors outside of Taylor Hall. Some are holding notebooks over their heads as signs, others are using their laptops at full brightness.) 

Liv: Pretty big turnout! I think we’re really getting somewhere here. And standing next to me are Allison and Rye, also here to support the cause. 

Allison: It’s a pleasure to be out here supporting our rights as small-time literary magazine editors. My eyes twitch with excitement. Not exhaustion, I swear! 

Rye: I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do on this nice December morning. 

Liv: Live from Taylor Hall! So we figured we can host a short interview to really get in the minds of our brilliant writers and staff! So, what’s it been like, being on strike as both editors and authors in this issue? 

Rye: It’s not often you get to see both sides of things in the way we do at Quiddity, acting as both talent and judge. You have to be objective as much as you can, and have an ever-sharp knife, prime for the killing of your darlings, and a clear mind. The success of the issue as a whole is more important than my ego, so I always walk in that room ready to cut my own work out if that’s what fits the vision. Working on the strike has been a lot like that for me. Change, in general, is always like that: for the better of the people before the better of yourself. 

Allison: It’s busy. I’m getting carpal tunnel from switching hats so fast! But it’s rewarding work: being able to sit in the room where it happens and listen in as your piece is discussed… that’s

an opportunity few have, you know? At the same time, that means I have to fight twice the battle. Take my experience as someone who’s been published many times and someone who’s been in a lot of meetings to fight for what we deserve. 

Liv: Did you get any inspiration from the experience? 

Rye: I think the way that people have banded together for the common good of Quiddity has been very inspirational. To quote Hannibal Lecter: We live in a primitive time…neither savage nor wise. Individualism and half-measures are infectious, and everyone’s fallen ill at one point or another, so seeing everyone inconvenience themselves to aid someone else has been great. It’s really forging friendships out here, too, which is always beautiful. 

Allison: People watching is always a great way to come up with stories! And you see people at their most natural when they’re pumped up with adrenaline, especially when they feel wronged. We feel we deserve the benefits we signed up to get, which makes us angry. Oh, man, these people are angry. And it’ll make great inspo for my capstone next semester, I bet! 

Liv: To end this quick little interview: how will this horrific betrayal from Dan change the staff? 

Rye: Well, I can’t imagine exactly what might happen, but I’d recommend he take a few self-defense lessons and get a Ring doorbell or ADT alarms before the next meeting. He’s made a lot of people very angry—and I can’t blame them. Even after we’ve sorted everything out and gotten our editors and writers the benefits they deserve, no one will forget Dan’s betrayal. 

Allison: Man, I don’t know how I’ll ever look him in the eye again. This has all been so unexpected—a total blindside. Never thought Dan had it in him! My opinion is he’ll have to change to accommodate us, or we’ll find someone else to take on his role. Though I have faith he’ll come around. And I hope he does ‘cause I don’t have the brainpower to look at a Google Calendar as tightly-packed as his. 

Liv: That’s all from the picketing lines in front of Taylor! Hopefully we can all settle this and get things moving in time for spring. 

A Note from the Boss (aka Dan): At Quiddity we’re a family—a family where I’m the only one who gets paid and everyone else does all of the work for free. Now please enjoy the fruits of that (free) labor in Issue #20!