#IndieLitMagGala 2025 Spotlight: Door Is A Jar Literary Magazine

Founded in 2015 and still standing strong a decade later, Door Is A Jar Literary Magazine isn’t trying to be edgy, obscure, or exclusive. It’s trying to be open. That ethos—radical accessibility, generous editing, and community-first publishing—has earned them a devoted readership and a well-deserved spot in this year’s #IndieLitMagGala.

This nomination came in with quiet admiration:

“They’re wonderful – so professional and exceptional. Great communication and they really care.”

That’s it, really. No fanfare. No ego. Just consistency, quality, and care—rare currency in the indie lit world.

The Team Behind the Jar

Door Is A Jar is led by a strong trio of editors:

• Maxwell Bauman – Editor-in-Chief and Art Director, a multi-genre author with a background in the visual arts. He’s a builder of both magazines and Lego sculptures. He brings a sense of play and polish to every issue.
• Dominique Isaac Grate – Fiction/Nonfiction Editor, whose background in ministry, African-American studies, and higher education infuses the editorial work with deep empathy and insight.
• Corinne Alice Flynn – Poetry/Drama Editor, a writer and academic with theatre chops and a linguistic lens, currently pursuing her PhD. She brings sharp instincts and a commitment to clarity in craft.

Together, they shape a journal that doesn’t just accept all voices—it listens to them.

The Work They Publish

Door Is A Jar publishes poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, drama, artwork, and book reviews—quarterly, in both print and digital formats. Their emphasis is on accessible writing. That doesn’t mean simple. It means inviting. Work that’s technically sound but emotionally available. They favour cadence, voice, clarity, and connection over pretension or gatekeeping.

The quote they carry from Walt Whitman says it all:

“The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”

Door Is A Jar doesn’t care where you studied or how many publications you’ve racked up. If your work is good and it moves, they’ll make space for it. And in doing so, they’ve created one of the most reader-friendly, writer-respecting lit mags in circulation.

A Few Things That Set Them Apart

• Strong editorial communication. Submitters don’t feel like they’re sending into the void. This team responds, engages, and respects your time.
• Broad submission categories. From hybrid work to traditional drama, they’ve got room for a wide range of genres and voices.
• Print and digital editions. Some journals stay digital-only. Some shun screens altogether. Door Is A Jar offers both—because readers should get to choose how they engage.
• Steady rhythm. They publish quarterly, and they do it well. That consistency is no small feat in the small press world.

Why This Nomination Matters

Plenty of lit mags are well-intentioned. Fewer back that up with a full-on publishing schedule, a reliable editorial process, and work that actually feels like it was selected by humans, not just algorithms or trends. Door Is A Jar does all that, and they’ve done it with humility and purpose for a solid decade now.

This nomination wasn’t flashy—but it was honest. Just like the work this press champions.

So to Maxwell, Dominique, Corinne, and the whole Door Is A Jar team: this spotlight is yours. Thank you for keeping things accessible without diluting craft. Thank you for caring. Thank you for publishing people, not just names.

We see you. We celebrate you.