Guest Readers

Each issue of Gutter sees a Guest Reader join the team and take part in the selection of work for the magazine. The Guest Reader is a paid position, and we select guest readers from an annual open call. The opportunity is open to any person of colour resident in Scotland. Each Reader spends an average of twelve hours over the course of three months with the magazine, reading submissions and selecting work, with the opportunity to take part in editing, proofing and events. We hope that it’s a mutually beneficial appointment, offering experience within publishing and providing Gutter with new knowledge and perspectives.

Our Guest Reader programme began in 2020 when Gutter Magazine published a special issue in collaboration with the Scottish BPoC Writers Network, this was the first ever BPoC feature issue of a Scottish literary magazine.’ It was guest edited by Alycia Pirmohamed and Jay G Ying who made the case that representation was needed at the level of selection and editing as well as publication. Guest Readers from many different class and cultural backgrounds have massively enhanced the magazine, bringing their own knowledge, taste and expertise to bear on the work we publish, as well as connecting the magazine with different scenes and broadening the pool of submissions we receive. Previous Guest Readers have gone on to work at other magazines and occasionally, years later, to return and join the Gutter team full time.

We’d like to thank all the Guest Readers who have helped make the magazine so far: Sean Wai Keung, Andrés N. Ordorica, Lady Red Ego, Nasim Rebecca Asl, Jeehan Ashercook, Gabrielle Tse, and Sara Mostafa. And we would also like to thank Creative Scotland who have funded the position.