FAQ

Special Bulletin: Why is AU doing a double-issue for Spring 2020?

It's difficult to ignore or understate the impact of our current situation, so for the first time in our magazine's history we are going to be creating a special secondary issue with the theme of CRISIS. We want to create a safe, creative outlet for people to explore and connect over their current challenges and fears. We want to be a platform for the community to heal through art and literature, and to feel less alone.

However, we don't want the pandemic to overshadow everything so we have decided to also continue with our regular magazine issue under the theme of EPHEMERAL.

What is Speculative Fiction exactly?

Like all the best things in life, the exact nature of 'speculative fiction' is hard to pin down. The Collins Dictionary defines it as “a broad literary genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural, fantastical, or futuristic elements”while the Miriam-Williams dictionary doesn't even bother. Wikipedia thinks of it as “an umbrella term encompassing the more highly imaginative fiction genres, specifically including science fiction, fantasy, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.”

The most important aspect of speculative fiction for us is the potential of re-imagining our world.

What does “AU” stand for?

The letters “AU” stand for “Alternate Universe.”

Where can I get a copy of AU?

We sell our journals at the University Bookstore, Bulldog Newsstand, and the Undergraduate English Advising Office in Padelford A-2-B. Our latest issues are $3 and older issues are $2. If we're out of stock, we offer digital copies as well.

What's the best way to stay informed about AU issues and events?

We update our Events page to reflect our quarterly agenda. We highly recommend you follow us on either Facebook or instagram to keep up with last minute announcements and to interact with our magazine--which includes being able to vote on upcoming themes. If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to us at strayingfromreality@gmail.com!

Why is AU so inexpensive?

We’re not doing this for money--we want to share our love of speculative fiction in a way that is accessible and affordable to everyone, especially students. We do have some heavy production cost but we try to fund it through independent sponsors and the generous support of the University of Washington. If you’re interested in helping fund future issues or otherwise know of potential sponsors, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Does AU host events on campus?

Most of our editorial team’s time is taken up by the creation of the journal, but at the end of each quarter, we host a release party to kick off the most recent issue! Although we don’t host events very often, there are many events happening in the U-District that are of interest to speculative fiction fans. If we hear of such an event, we try to post it on our Facebook feed and News page a couple days prior. You can get these updates by joining our Facebook page at AU: UW Speculative Fiction.

I’m interested in editing with AU. What’s it like?

Our staff is small and good at multitasking. We are always on the lookout for people who are flexible, creative and have the drive to keep up with our fast-paced schedule. We employ both Visual Arts Editors and Literary Editors. Visual Arts Editors are responsible for reviewing art submissions and for our journal design including logos, posters and issue covers. Literary Editors are responsible for reviewing prose and poetry submissions and for running our email, social media, publication and distribution. If you are interested in joining our staff, email us at strayingfromreality@gmail.com and we will send you an application. We are currently looking for (4) literary editors, (1) visual editor and (1) social media/communications officer.

I am a published speculative fiction author and I love your journal. How can I help?

We'd love to hear from you! We've collaborated with published authors like T.A. Barron in the past and would love to continue working with established voices in the field.