A Meaningful Chapter in a Continuing Story

For the last several years as Electric Literature’s Managing Editor, grant writing has been a component of my job description. For those unfamiliar with the work, it is almost entirely an exercise in articulating and appropriately packaging the organization’s best features. As a result, I can, upon request, reel off a list of Electric Lit’s accomplishments. There are many. More than you might reasonably expect of what is, essentially, a small arts nonprofit. We send over 500 pieces out into the world every year, publish more than 400 authors, reach more than 3 million readers. The combined catalog of our magazines—Recommended Reading and The Commuter—constitutes the largest free archive of contemporary literature outside a library system. Our work has been recognized by nearly every major industry award. I could go on. 

When Halimah Marcus told me earlier this year that she would be stepping down as Executive Director, I was surprised. (There has, perhaps, never been a greater understatement.) It was—in that moment and still now, months later—difficult to imagine EL without Halimah. After 10 years as Executive Director and 16 years on staff, all of the successes I spend so much time writing about are also, unarguably, Halimah’s. Electric Literature would not be what it is today without her. 

But in addition to my gratitude to Halimah for creating the place where I eagerly spend all of my working days, I also feel compelled to thank her for something more. It should be obvious to any writer who has worked with her, or any editor who has sat in an editorial meeting with her, that Halimah has a preternatural ability to see what a story is trying to be—to identify what’s working, to believe in what the writer is trying to do. What is less obvious, I think, is that she does this with people too. As a leader, Halimah had high expectations. She challenged me, every single day, to do my best work—and then she paid me the enormous compliment of believing I could do it. As far as I can tell, she did this for everyone on staff, and for countless other editors and writers. Halimah sees in others what most people miss and she generously uses that insight to cultivate talent. Like the organization she led for so many years, Halimah has had a catalyzing effect on those lucky enough to be near her—and so many of us have been lucky . . . .

– Wynter K. Miller, Director of Operations & Fiction Editor, Electric Literature

As a writer and an editor, I’ve worked with many editors, and many writers, and Halimah, you’re the epitome of excellence in both regards. I simply can’t thank you enough for choosing me, first to be editor-in-chief, and now, to assume full leadership of Electric Literature. I’ve learned so much from you about how to build and lead a team, about patience, about always finding room in a packed schedule to take that little bit of extra time to think something through before coming to a decision. I’ve also learned a lot about commitment, about saying what you mean and standing on business for the people and causes you support. I’ve learned about the unwavering pursuit of excellence, and about taking up space in a chaotic world by providing talented writers with a home for their incredible, and sometimes groundbreaking, work. Their voices are beacons for us all.

So much of being an editor is about stepping out on faith. We operate behind the writer, quietly by their side in the trenches of art-making. We are tasked with maintaining unwavering belief in our writers and their work. We invest time and energy, and that investment is a labor of love. All of this is centered on our faith: in writers, in readers, in art, and in humanity. Thank you for your faith, your friendship, and for lighting my way. You’ve built a legacy with Electric Lit, and it’s my honor to carry the mantle. I’ll be seeing you real soon, friend.

– Denne Michele Norris, Executive Director & Publisher, Electric Literature

When I first started working for Electric Literature, I was nervous. Not just because it was such a huge opportunity, but because my first week of the job was AWP. I was about to have to hang out with my new bosses at staff dinners and offsite parties, trying to play it cool and not give away how surreal and thrilling it was to be in those spaces. But it turned out I needn’t have worried, because my new boss was Halimah, and she made me feel instantly welcomed: a true part of the team and not, as I’d anticipated, like an outsider who needed to pretend I belonged.

I discovered that weekend that Halimah is kind, knowledgeable, impeccably organized, and just fun to be around. Lucky for me, I’ve also gotten to spend the last four years getting to know her better and finding out just how true that first impression was. I’ve seen how all of those traits have shaped EL both inside and out: creating a work environment where everyone feels heard and respected, always keeping the ship running smoothly, and publishing work that’s as smart as it is fun. I’ve learned so much from Halimah’s leadership over the years, and while it won’t be the same around here without her, it’s thanks to her wisdom and guidance that we’re ready for it. Her influence over EL’s culture, mission, and voice will always be visible—and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

– Katie Henken Robinson, Deputy Editor, Electric Literature

After 11 years of working together, it’s hard to imagine Electric Lit without Halimah’s calm, fair-minded leadership and her belief in both EL’s mission and the people behind it. Hundreds of writers have benefited from her support, her editorial skill, and her vision. And so much of our success and growth, and so much of what we’ll carry forward, exists because of the wisdom, humor, and heart she gave to this work for so many years. If life is a book (and I think we’re all partial to this metaphor) then I’m wishing her the very best next chapter. 

– Kelly Luce, Editor of The Commuter, Electric Literature

There isn’t a day, in my three years working at Electric Literature under Halimah Marcus’s leadership, that I haven’t looked forward to logging into work. Each one is calm, orderly, and rigorous. Each has made me a better writer, editor, and artist. Halimah has a brilliant knack for choosing a staff who work well together and respect one another, who are passionate about literature and good at what we do. She is exacting in her own aesthetic tastes, and it has been a privilege to hone mine under her direction. There is nothing more rewarding than finding a new story the whole team loves, capturing its essential paradoxes in a clever and precisely-honed headline, nailing its vibes with the perfect image pairing; Halimah pushes us in these things always, so that we excel often enough. Lucky all of us, that she has written a debut novel about working at a literary magazine, and we will get to read it soon. I can never thank her enough for making Electric Literature what it is today, and for trusting me to be a part of it. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

– Preety Sidhu, Associate Editor, Electric Literature 

Halimah was an inspiration before I knew Halimah. Like so many, I was reading Recommended Reading on my high school commute, a student figuring out how to connect the dots between stories, novels, the writers writing them, the readers reading them. Halimah opened a door to the nebulous universe of literature in the peculiar way that only brilliant publishers can; and then again, when she hired me to join RR’s editorial team. Now that I know Halimah, she’s even more of an inspiration—a generous, decisive leader, a phenomenal editor everyone should be so lucky to share an editorial meeting with. These adjectives only begin to do her justice. Halimah leaving Electric Literature feels seismic, and yet she is a rising tide that will continue to lift our literary boats. I can’t wait for SLUSH and many more years of being inspired by her.

– Willem Marx, Associate Editor, Electric Literature

For years, I’ve watched Electric Lit grow and evolve from afar, always admiring the expansiveness of its vision and the community it cultivated under Halimah’s leadership. So it has felt especially meaningful to begin first as an intern and now as a member of the team during this moment of transition. In the time under her leadership, I’ve witnessed firsthand the generosity and care she brings to both the magazine and the people around her. I feel very lucky to have experienced it up close. Her influence is deeply woven into Electric Lit’s culture and community, and it’s a legacy that will continue to shape the magazine and everyone it reaches for years to come. 

– Evander James Reyes, Communications Manager, Electric Literature

Halimah and I met at the Brooklyn College MFA program, and we worked together at Electric Literature for several years—I’d call them formative years, but that would make us sound too old. During that time, we made some great decisions, like establishing the organization as a nonprofit, and some questionable ones, like launching a novel with a Valentine’s Day sexting campaign, but we always worked to keep Electric Literature a free, accessible, and essential part of popular culture. A lot has changed since those days, but Halimah remained dedicated to those values as she guided Electric Literature into a new era of innovation, growth, and resiliency. Her work and leadership at EL has left an indelible impression on the literary landscape, one that will deepen and grow as she moves into her next chapter.

– Benjamin Samuel, former Co-Editor of Recommended Reading, Electric Literature

Before I worked at EL I thought literature was a solitary activity, something you did locked alone in a room. And, well, I started at the height of the pandemic, so I was technically locked alone in a room! But Halimah never made it feel that way. She knows how to turn literature into a social event, a space where all of your favorite people, past and future, are working together on a project that is greater than anything you could achieve on your own. I learned from her that being an editor means developing a kind of emotional sensitivity, an intelligence that hasn’t just improved my writing, but also my life. Her stamp on the literary world is indelible, and I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to work with her. 

– Alyssa Songsiridej, former Managing Editor, Electric Literature

On Recommended Reading editorial calls, we often discussed the difference between a situation and a story. A situation was an idea that hadn’t found its footing in the world yet. But a story—what was it exactly? I spent some of the luckiest hours of my writing life listening to Halimah pinpoint not only where the story was, but how to make each one better. Halimah knows how to make life stories better, too. Through dream editing gigs, sage leather jacket advice, and a weekly conversation about stories I never wanted to end, she helped me find my footing in the world. I’m so grateful she’s part of my story. I can’t wait to see where hers goes next.

– Erin Bartnett, former Senior Editor of Recommended Reading, Electric Literature

How can I ever properly thank Halimah for giving me the opportunity to work alongside her, a fellow cycling fanatic? It must have been the Tour’s legendary Alpe D’Huez that we watched on a summer evening in her Brooklyn home with a chilled glass of French rosé. What an invitation for the new kid on the team! What an honor to spend such time with one of the great literary minds of our era. Halimah’s impact on contemporary literature can’t be overstated. We’re so online now that digital publishing is taken for granted but Halimah saw before many others that top-quality writing could exist in the digital realm, and flourish there. We wouldn’t have the literary discourse and platforms we have today with Halimah’s vision, her Electric Literature. She is one of the most agile thinkers and creative editors that we’ve been lucky enough to have in our lifetime. She is the best mentor, the most loyal friend, the most equanimous leader. Halimah, all I can offer is the deepest gratitude for your work and friendship, and excitement for what’s forthcoming.

– Lucie Shelly, former Senior Editor of Recommended Reading, Electric Literature

Halimah’s deep knowledge of the craft of fiction, her brilliant savvy, her generosity, and her sheer belief in the power of a well-told story made EL/Recommended Reading both a special place to be a young editorial assistant, and what it is today. I’m grateful to have been even briefly in her orbit years ago, and know that whatever she does and makes next will be a tremendous gift to all of us.”

– Peter Kispert, former Editorial Assistant, Electric Literature

I’m part of the Electric Literature family because of Halimah Marcus. It’s because of her outreach and attentiveness to many of the writers/advocates across backgrounds that many of us have been able to call EL home and remain part of a growing community. Electric Literature has always believed in the transformative and galvanizing power of the written word to elevate conversations, call out systemic inequities, and revel in the beauty of work that brings us together on a continuum. And that belief has been held firm by those, like Halimah, who’ve been at the helm of EL over the years. Also, let’s keep it real that Halimah has a great knack for bringing many of us together; encouraging an atmosphere of openness, experimentation, and humility; as well as forging a signature presence in the way Electric Literature shows up in partnership with many brilliant editors, interns, administrators, and creatives. It’s hard to believe that the lynchpin of this publication—no EL is an entity unto itself—is departing. But we all know that her imprint will forever be part of what Electric Literature, and Halimah, means to the literature world at large.

– Jennifer Baker, former Contributing Editor, Electric Literature

Halimah has been my rock this past decade. One Story published her in 2013, but sometime later, after she became the Executive Director of EL, we began meeting (along with the amazing Karen Phillips), to talk about what it was to lead a scrappy nonprofit. The job brings, of course, a lot of joy, but it also comes with dark times and freakishly boring administrative puzzles to solve. Having someone who knew exactly what I was going through—a true peer—was a bit of magic. When things felt grim, when we got a grant or didn’t get a grant, when we faced cash flow challenges, had staffing changes, fundraising questions, or some unexpected bureaucratic nightmare, I knew I could call for a whine session, and Halimah would be there to listen, to laugh, and to help think of a better way to do things. I am so excited to see her shifting into the next phase of her professional life. I’m confident that she’ll remain both a friend and a stellar literary citizen. I know I’ve been lucky to have such a trusted and brilliant peer, and I know this isn’t goodbye, but damn, I’m going to miss her.   

– Maribeth Batcha, Co-Founder & Publisher, One Story

Long ago, I met up with Halimah Marcus and Benjamin Samuel for coffee to discuss the launch of Recommended Reading. At the time I knew Halimah as a student (from Brooklyn’s MFA program) and as an author (we published her fantastic piece “Running Alone” in One Story). The advice I gave that day was: most lit mags only last two to three years. You’ve got to figure out how to exist past the passion project phase if you want to make something that lasts. Issue No. 1 of Recommended Reading launched in 2012. It is now on Issue No. 730(!) and has not only survived but thrived, with dedicated readers around the world. A key ingredient to this success (and longevity) was Halimah. She was promoted to Executive Director of Electric Literature in 2016, and solidified the organization’s role as a leader in the indie publishing world, supporting and mentoring the next generation of writers in creating thoughtful, expressive, and vital literary art. It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of the work she did while guiding Electric Lit over the past 10 years. I’m honored to call her both a literary colleague and friend, and am looking forward to watching her shift into her most exciting position yet, with the publication of her debut novel, SLUSH, in 2027. This is just the beginning for Halimah Marcus, and lucky us, we get to watch her shine.   

– Hannah Tinti, Co-Founder & Executive Editor, One Story

As someone who has worked at literary organizations, I know all the behind-the-scenes work that goes on to make them run day-to-day and am in awe of what Halimah has built at Electric Literature. I’m grateful, too, for the visibility she’s given me as an author in the pages of Recommended Reading and The Commuter. It’s been such an inspiration to watch her career trajectory and I’m looking forward to cheering her on as she publishes her debut next year.

– Lena Valencia, Director of Educational Programming, One Story

I submitted a risky short story to Halimah back in late 2014. Even though it was an anemic mashup of sentimentality and broken imagery, Halimah somehow divined what I was trying to do, and with signal patience, guided me through a revision. A story started to resolve from the chaos, and it appeared in Recommended Reading in February 2015. Three others followed over 10 years; Halimah performed variable editorial conjures on each, transforming them into real stories. I still don’t know how she does this. I just know I’ll truly miss Halimah’s sage blue-pencil sorcery, not to mention her kindness and affable brilliance. But soon the world will get to see Halimah as a novelist—I, for one, cannot wait for her debut novel, SLUSH, next year.  

– Bill Cotter, writer & author of Recommended Reading’s “The Promise of Hotels,” “Collision,” “The Good Room,” and “The Long Walk North”

As an editor, Halimah has a broad understanding of what makes a “good” story and maintains full-throated and generous support of EL’s vast stable (horse reference) of writers long after they appear in its pages. I’m fortunate to be one of them. EL published my story “North Of” 15 years ago, and they’ve supported me in big and small ways ever since. As a friend, Halimah shows up when you need her prepared with some additive accoutrement I didn’t know the event needed. We sometimes race to the perfect one-liner but she always wins because she runs and bikes like a thousand miles a day. I thank my stars for folks like her, who with their elegant ethics make the publishing industry a better, brighter place.

– Marie-Helene Bertino, writer & author of Recommended Reading’s “Lottie Woodside and the Diamond Dust Cher,” “Beautyland,”“Parakeet,” and “North Of”

Halimah is the kind of thoughtful, assiduous reader every writer hopes for. I think that comes both from her own talents as a writer and her compassion as a person. She sees the emotional life of the story and, with great kindness, great sensitivity tells you how to lift that emotional life into being. And that’s what stories are! Emotional life intensified into a singular moment. Working with her is a joy and a revelation.

– Leigh Newman, writer & author of Recommended Reading’s “Valley of the Moon” and “An Extravaganza in Two Acts”

Halimah served as my editor on two EL stories, most memorably on “Lockdown,” about the response to an active shooter incident at a high school (which is what “lockdown” meant back then). “Lockdown” is preoccupied with fear and uncertainty, but Halimah saw deeper themes at play, particularly in the power dynamics between the group of girls at the center of the story. Her sense of how to use these dynamics to tighten the structure, deepen the tension, and enhance the emotional connection between the girls took the story from good to great, and is just one example of Halimah’s remarkable skill as an editor and guide dragging fragile writerly egos toward their best selves.

– Mark Jacquemain, writer & author of Recommended Reading’s “Lockdown” and “Island”

Thank you, Halimah, for everything.