Hey Asterisks! Have you ever submitted to a literary magazine and wondered what happens next? Who reads your pieces? Are they even real, or are they just highly literate robots running on caffeine?

In this episode, Zara Siddiqui and Judy Khaled discuss what it's like being a teen editor. Join them on this lighthearted, real, and somewhat crazy episode!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome & Introductions

02:00 – Are Editors Even Real People?

05:00 – Editing with Emotion, Not Just Grammar

08:00 – Balancing Aster with School & Family Life

12:00 – Meeting Chaos: Food, Family & Final Drafts

16:00 – Passion vs. Productivity: Why We Volunteer

20:00 – Burnout, Boundaries & the Need for Rest

25:00 – The Fun (and Fury) of Literary Debates

30:00 – Learning Beyond School: Podcasts & Growth

35:00 – Real-Life Lessons Schools Never Teach

40:00 – Community, Appreciation & Being Seen

45:00 – Editing Pet Peeves & Punctuation Panic

50:00 – Final Reflections: Being Human, Doing Our Best

53:00 – Ending Notes

Transcript