Are you passionate about world literature? Have you always wanted to work with a journal that has published writing from 82 countries (and counting!), by authors such as Haruki Murakami, José Saramago and Etgar Keret—and whose current issue was just recently plugged by The New Yorker? Well, Asymptote is now taking applications!
We seek permanent staff (but also accept interns) to take up seats in the following areas:
Fundraising
The Fundraiser looks into raising capital and attracting financial backers for Asymptote and will receive a small commission for any funds he/she successfully raises. We prefer to work with connected fundraisers with some level of experience under their belt. Please inquire within if interested.
Social Media
The Social Media Manager is responsible for generating social media content for the journal on Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr, and for establishing a unified public "voice" for the journal. The applicant should have experience with or show aptitude for generating exciting on-voice copy, and may be asked by either the Marketing Manager or the Editor-in-Chief to craft certain announcements for general release.
Marketing
The Marketing Manager works closely with the Managing Editors and various Editors-at-Large to promote Asymptote globally, via strategic ad placements and via partnerships with literary journals, book stores and other institutions from around the world. The marketing manager is also responsible for generating press releases and other promotional material (e.g. media kit) to spread the word of Asymptote as much as possible.
Events
Since our 2nd anniversary we have organized ten events around the globe, most of them concentrated around our 2nd anniversary (see video trailer here). We are looking for someone to organize future events from overseeing their logistical requirements, to liaising with participants and publicizing the events as much as possible.
Graphic Design
The Print/Web Designer works closely with Marketing Manager, the Social Media Manager, and other Project I/Cs to generate designs that reflect Asymptote's aesthetic whenever needed. This person may but not necessarily also help with the video trailer for each issue as well as with the layout of each issue's mailer. Finally, they may also be assigned to liaise with each issue's guest artist for a smooth and successful collaboration.
The following permanent positions are also at the moment not yet filled:
Managing Editor (Content)
The Managing Editor (Content)'s responsibilities include overseeing communications with the editorial team, ensuring the various parts of each issue fit together properly, providing input on issue-to-issue visioning and commissioning new work for sections which need assistance.
Managing Editor (Administration)
The Managing Editor (Administration) is responsible for liaising with the Technical and Corporate Communications Managers, supervising the work of interns, and working closely with the Editor-in-Chief on HR matters.
Executive Assistant
The Executive Assistant acts as personal assistant to the Editor-in-Chief, drafting communications, coordinating special projects and monitoring project deadlines. This is a highly flexible and dynamic role.
Technical Manager
The Technical Manager's responsibilities cover technical aspects of the journal such as handling the website's Content Management System, managing the archive, and monitoring web stats.
Editor-at-Large and Section Editor
We recently added 7 new editors-at-large from Argentina, Central Asia, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Kenya (see current masthead here) and are currently talking to interested prospective editors-at-large from the Philippines and Macedonia. We'd like to extend our network even more to ensure a constant stream of quality content from underrepresented regions (including but not limited to: Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia). Editors-at-large also help to promote our journal locally, explore partnerships with local journals or even organize events (though not a necessary requirement).
Some section editorships are also available, but please note that the application process is highly selective for this particular role. Enquire within first if interested in either of these positions.
All Asymptote staff work from home and communicate via email and gmail or Skype chat.
To apply for any of these unpaid positions, please send a cover letter explaining why you'd like to join our team and a copy of your CV to editors@asymptotejournal.com, with the position you're applying for in the subject line. Take note that all successful applicants will start with a 3-month 15 hour-a-week internship period, during which they will be assessed on their suitability for the role.
If you're motivated and passionate about international literature, join our team today!
21 May 2012
ANNOUNCING ASYMPTOTE'S FIRST EVER CONTEST FOR EMERGING TRANSLATORS
Jonas Hassen Khemiri's inspiring message against racial profiling is currently the most tweeted document in Swedish history. It was first commissioned to be published in English in our current issue (see article here), and was afterwards the subject of a viral op-ed in the New York Times.
To get the message out to even more people, we asked Jonas if he would authorize us to get his 2000-word letter re-translated from the English into as many languages as we can find volunteers for. We will also undertake to look for newspapers all around the world to carry his rousing letter. (Important note: If the newspaper pays a fee, the translator can take half of it.)
We're now looking for translators to step forward for this project. If you yourself translate or know a translator who might be interested in participating, please email us at editors@asymptotejournal.com with "JHK TRANSLATION PROJECT" as the subject line. Translators working with any language (except Swedish, Chinese, German and Finnish) are welcome!
1 May 2013
ASYMPTOTE HITS FUNDRAISING TARGET, THANKS TO YOU!
Our three-month long Indiegogo fundraiser ended on Apr 30 with a total of 20,184 USD in donations all in all coming from 231 contributors. We actually PASSED our target by 184 USD!
What this means is: we can keep going for another year, bringing you even more literature from all around the world. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. We couldn't have done it without you.
Please note that you can still toss us some coin at our Donate page. In fact, we would be very happy for any additional support.
A few members of the public have since stepped forward to offer backing at the 5,000 USD tier and above, with one patron even pledging to give us 5,000 USD every year. If more such patrons step forward, we will be able to secure our future beyond the next year while still keeping the editorial independence that is so important to us. Email us at editors@asymptotejournal.com if you would like to become an official patron of Asymptote.
Goethe thought world literature important not as a mere cultural product but because it could "foster the true progress of mankind." Donate to Asymptote today so that we can continue to back the translators who bring us world literature.
4 Jan 2013
ASYMPTOTE CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH GLOBAL LAUNCH
As our second anniversary approaches, we are in the final stages of preparing a series of launch events covering eight cities and three continents. Readings and discussions are set to take place all over the globe, from New York to Beijing, featuring some of the very best contemporary writers and translators.
Reif Larsen, Asymptote contributor and author of the critically-lauded Selected Works of T.S. Spivet (soon to be a Jean-Pierre Jeunet film), heads our line-up in New York alongside poet Cole Swensen, a winner of the PEN USA Literary Award for Translation. In Chicago, Asymptote contributing editor and towering figure in Chinese translation Howard Goldblatt opens up about the challenges of translating Mo Yan's POW! in a one-to-one conversation with Paola Iovene. In Beijing, Asymptote's founder Lee Yew Leong has invited the editors of Chutzpah! (a magazine that has previously partnered with Granta) and new kid on the block Pathlight to discuss their mediating roles as editors between non-Chinese readers and the latest crop of Sinophone writers.
In other Sinophone regions, Asymptote will also be making its presence felt. In Taipei, Steve Bradbury (translator of superstar poet Hsia Yu), Darryl Sterk (Wu Mingyi) and Lee Yew Leong (Jing Xianghai) tell us about the difficulties and rewards of "Translating Taiwan". In Singapore, two gatekeepers of the local literary scene: Toh Hsien Min (editor, QLRS) and Lee Wei Fen (co-editor, Ceriph), a 2012 Singapore Literature Prize nominee (Leonard Ng) and three of the most internationally-recognized Singaporean writers (Cyril Wong, Alvin Pang and Desmond Kon) come together for a conversation about what a Singaporean 'national literature' might mean.
We are also proud to be hosting our first events in Pakistan, Germany and Spain. UK-based contributing editor Aamer Hussein flies to Islamabad for a panel entitled "Found in Translation: the very best modern writing in English and Urdu". Back in Europe, Soren Gauger joins fellow Asymptote contributors Christian Hawkey and Uljana Wolf, as well as Brittani Sonnenberg and Jane Yager for an evening of drinks and discussion in Berlin. In Barcelona, ten writers and translators (including Peter Bush) convene for a presentation of literature in English, Spanish and Catalan, accompanied by live music from Silver Lining.
The global scale of this launch is, we believe, truly unprecedented for a non-profit translation journal, and we hope you can join us in celebrating what promises to be our best issue yet.
We are looking for help with editing, proof-reading and uploading the content for our October issue as well as with publicity and fund-raising efforts. Experience with Photoshop, InDesign and HTML is helpful though not absolutely required. Enthusiasm for international literature a big plus. Interns will be working from home and communicating via email with the editors on a day-to-day basis. 15 hours a week for 3 months is the minimum commitment.
To apply for this unpaid position, send a resumé and a cover letter (explaining why you'd like to be part of our magazine) to editors@asymptotejournal.com.
26 Aug 2012
ONGOING CALL FOR GUEST ARTISTS
DEADLINE: ROLLING DEADLINE
If you like our look and want to help us keep it exciting, spread the word!
We are seeking illustrators, photographers, or other visual artists to
provide artwork for our upcoming issues. If selected, you will be given 2 months
to provide 12 to 16 artworks to go with 12 to 16 articles. You may use already
completed artworks of yours or produce new ones for the article (we much prefer the latter, however). The artwork,
if not a literal illustration of the article's content, should at least relate
strongly to its mood. You will be asked to read through the
articles for inspiration. Click around our website (especially the fiction and nonfiction) to get an idea of
what will be expected of you. Each illustration will be credited; your name
will be prominently featured in our masthead and your URL linked
from our site. You will also get token gifts of appreciation
upon successful completion of the issue.
To be considered for this gig, design a cover for the magazine (boldly stamped with your aesthetic) following these guidelines: (1) The cover, at 855px by 583px, must
feature a Venn Diagram of two overlapping circles against a rectangular background. There should be no text anywhere. (2) Each circle
should contain the same object in each, but in a
different position, or form.
(3) The circles must overlap interestingly.
For the configuration of the circles, use our current cover as
reference.
Once you have your cover, submit it to us at editors@asymptotejournal.com along with a link to your portfolio, and a brief bio. We will contact you if we find you suitable.
20 Aug 2012
GUEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT
Everyone: our guest artist for the October issue is June Glasson, from the USA. We couldn't be more pleased to showcase her talent.
Her ink drawings, oil portraits and meat collages can be found on her website here. Enjoy!
16 May 2012
GUEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT
It gives us great joy to announce that our guest artist for the July issue is Hong-An Tran, from the USA.
Those curious as to how the illustrations might look like can go to her photo-blog here!
20 Feb 2012
GUEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT
We're thrilled to announce that the winner of our cover contest is Hugo Muecke, from Sydney, Australia.
Hugo gets to be our guest artist for the Apr 2012 issue. Check out his website here!
1 Dec 2011
ASYMPTOTE'S NOMINATIONS FOR THE PUSHCART PRIZE RELEASED
Eve Author: Allan Popa/Marc Gaba
First published in the Oct 2011 Issue
Mountain Night Author: Erika Burkart/Marc Vincenz
First published in the July 2011 Issue
Only In New York Author: Jonas Hassen Khemiri/Rachel Willson-Broyles
First published in the July 2011 Issue
GUEST ARTIST SHERMAN ONG HELPS ASYMPTOTE RAISE FUNDS
If you like the cover for the July issue, consider supporting Asymptote by buying a 60cm x 100cm fine art print of the photo used to create it which guest artist Sherman Ong is selling in an edition of five (with one artist proof). A percentage of the proceeds will go to Asymptote. Enquire within here.
As of July 2011, after more than a few appeals to various organizations, we have yet to recover costs for the website, let alone set aside money for a print anthology.
If you have enjoyed our new issue, consider donating to us at our Donate page, so we can grow as a magazine and in future even pay our contributors.
Thank you!
4 Jun 2011
ASYMPTOTE IS BIG IN JAPAN
An article about Asymptote was run today in Tosho Shimbun, the Tokyo equivalent of NYRB.
