The making of Death Kit and the importance of print: In conversation with editor Joe Coward

“Print is essential – it’s what people want.”

On October 28, I was lucky enough to speak with editor Joe Coward to discuss the founding – and thriving – of London’s new small press literary magazine, Death Kit. At only four pounds a copy, Death Kit situates itself proudly as one of the most accessible lit mags in town. We covered what it takes to bring a literary magazine to life, the importance of print in an online age, and the future of the magazine-come-community that is Death Kit. Here’s the rundown:

Even the naming of the mag signals that Death Kit is publishing work that “turns away from trends”

Where did the name come from? The striking name comes from the Susan Sontag novel. Coward mentions Vanity Fair as another magazine that takes its title from literature, but even the naming of the mag signals that Death Kit is publishing work that “turns away from trends.” Unbothered by pop-culture, you can be sure to find writing that’s unapologetically strange.

How did it begin? The project that was born out of “boredom” is now six months old and is celebrating the release of its second issue this October. With accessibility at the forefront, Coward emphasised the importance of being willing to invest what you can, in order for the magazine to find itself in as many hands as possible. The team is small, with as little as two regular editors and two feature-writers: “all quite unofficial,” but successful nonetheless.

To read the full article on theboar.org, click here