Contributing Editor, Carl Scharwath's Interview with Impspired Editor, Mr. Charlie Cawte:
CARL SCHARWATH: This morning I had the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Cawte. Charlie is the editor of Impspired, which many of you have been published in. Charlie's father Steve, recently passed, and our literary community lost a great voice for us. I knew Steve as he published my 2nd book, "Playground of Destiny", in which I donated all the proceeds to Steve's charity, 'Good Causes Fund.' I enjoyed working with this amazing editor and person.
Good morning Charlie and thank you for being here with ILA Magazine, sharing your thoughts as a new editor. We at ILA Magazine, wish you the best in your new endeavor and are here for you if you need any help from our community.
CARL: Can you tell us about your father's legacy with this literary journal and what it meant to him?
CHARLIE: My father had dedicated his heart and soul into Impspired Publishing from 2019 until the week of his passing. When he wasn't being an incredible family man, you could be almost undoubtedly certain that he would be working away, building the Impspired empire. It was very clear that this literary journal gave him great joy and pride.
I don't believe it's often that a person can say that, with the power of sheer will and determination, they managed to turn their hobby into a full-time occupation. I'm sure many of the American writers noticed that, while the time of the email they received from my father might have been during normal hours for them, in the UK, it translated to 3, 4, or even 5 a.m. - and this was no rare occurrence.
He was so dedicated to his craft, to growing his brand, to pleasing his writers, that he hardly let himself catch a break. This even included the countless hours of editing that he did remotely, from the heart transplant ward at the Royal Papworth Hospital.
This passion was not only fueled by his professional aspirations, but also by his deep, genuine love for writing. It gave him motivation and purpose. I believe that writers could sense his authenticity.
His legacy with Impspired Publishing goes beyond the journal itself - it's embedded in the countless writers he supported, the community he built, and the tireless dedication he poured into every aspect of the work. My father's passion for literature and his firm belief in its power to connect people will continue to live on through the books that he has brought to life, and I'm confident that this influence will be felt for years to come.
CARL: How did you prepare to step into this role after your father's passing, emotionally and professionally? CHARLIE: Taking on the mantle of Impspired Editor has ben an incredibly tough decision. While I had previously helped my father with various business tasks, I remember being in awe of how he managed to run such a well-oiled machine, especially given the many constantly moving cogs involved. The thought of letting this ever-growing journal slow down felt wrong. yet, it was clear that I wasn't fully prepared to step into the role at the level my father had reached after five years of hard work. I knew that, like him, I would face many of the same frustrations and challenges he once did at the start of his publishing journey.
Fortunately, I have a strong network of support to guide me. Most notably, my Assistant Editor, Mary Farrell, who has embraced this challenge alongside me. With her help, and some external support, I've been able to better understand the processes needed to keep Impspired ticking. She also consistently reminds me that Impspired is mine to lead, and encourages me to make the changes I see fit. This support has been invaluable as I've prepared for this role.
Given that my academic background is in Business and the English Language, I had faith in my ability to be a competent editor. However, the hardest challenge I've faced is accepting that I cannot perfectly replicate my father's work - I have to find my own way forward and make it my own. My father initially started Impspired as a hobby, but it quickly grew far beyond that. It became a meaningful outlet for him during his challenging health journey. My aim is to build on the foundation he created, evolving the business into a sustainable venture that continues to honor his legacy while allowing me to shape it into something meaningful.
CARL: What's your vision for the journal moving forward, and how does it align with or differ from your father's approach?
CHARLIE: My vision for Impspired is definitely not set in stone. The more I learn, the more ideas I have. And since I'm still largely in the process of learning, those ideas show no signs of stopping. Regardless of any changes I make to the way Impspired is run, my focus will remain the same as my father's: helping writers to present their work and their passion in a way that they can take pride in. Whether it's a tangible book that can be showcased at book launches, libraries, or presented to family; an e-book; or simply a page in the online magazine. My goal is to continue building on the strong foundation that my father has laid, while also exploring new ways to expand.
CARL: How do you plan to balance preserving the journal's established identity with introducing your own editorial voice?
CHARLIE: Somehow balancing the journal's established identity with my own editorial voice is something I've through a lot about. My father built Impspired on a foundation of authenticity, passion, and a commitment to helping writers share their work with pride. These core values will always be at the heart of a journal. The identity he created is something I deeply respect, and I'm committed to preserving that.
However, I feel that, as the new editor, it is important for me to bring my own perspective and ideas to the table. I want to stay true to the spirit of Impspired but also infuse it with my own voice and professional goals. I plan to always keep an open dialogue with the community. If there's one thing I've learned from the outpouring of messages from Impspired writers who had only met my father briefly over video chats or exchanged a few emails, it's that personal connections are incredibly important and deeply valued by writers. These connections are definitely something that I wish to develop myself.
CARL: What's your process for selecting submissions, and how do you ensure a diverse range of perspectives?
CHARLIE: Of course, one of the most enjoyable (and admittedly hardest) roles of an editor is the submission selection process. As I am only at the beginning of my journey, I have decided to reduce the number of writers to 30 per bi-monthly issue. While this has lightened my workload in terms of formatting pieces for the website, it has made the task of selecting a limited number from the many outstanding submissions much more difficult. Typically, writers who submit multiple pieces across a variety of content types - such as poetry, short fiction, and artwork - tend to have a more favorable submission. I believe publishing a range of formats is more engaging for the readers of the site.
Luckily, despite Impspired being conceived in Lincoln, a city in the East Midlands of England - where 'Imp' refers to the Lincoln Imp and 'spire' to the Lincoln Cathedral (look it up if you haven't seen it, we're very proud of it!) - Impspired has attracted many international writers. This natural attraction of diversity means that a selection of 30 writers is practically guaranteed to offer immensely different perspectives from vastly different walks of life. With submissions from writers living on the beaches of Mauritius to New York City, finding diverse perspectives is not much of a concern when drafting the new Impspired Issue. Just check out the most recent Issue below, you'll see what I mean!
CARL: Are there any new features, themes, or initiatives you'd like to introduce in upcoming issues?
CHARLIE: For the most recent issue, which also happens to be my first published work, I decided to introduce a new concept: 'The First Time Published Slot.' This section, reserved exclusively for writers who have never been published before, will be featured in each bi-monthly Issue. The goal was to create a safe space for emerging writers to present their work for the first time and encourage those who have kept their writing private to take that first step toward publication. This new feature will hopefully be the first of many. As I become more accustomed to the work required to produce these Issues, I'll be able to identify even more opportunities for both new and established voices to be heard.
CARL: How do you hope to honor your father's memory through your leadership of the journal?
CHARLIE: All in all, I truly believe that the best way to honor my father's legacy through the leadership of Impspired would be to make it my own. While I will always hold onto the core values he instilled - authenticity, a passion for the written word, and a genuine connection with writers - I also know that I must bring my own perspective and vision to the journal. I aim to continue growing the community he nurtured, while also exploring new ideas and opportunities that can keep the journal evolving and thriving. By staying true to what he built, but also allowing it to adapt and flourish in my own way, I hope to keep the Impspired name alive, not just through the work we publish, but through the support and encouragement we give to the writers who contribute to it.
Thank you to anybody that haas read this far, and thank you to Carl for the opportunity to answer these questions. For anyone wondering about the future of Impspired in more depth, I hope that my responses have offered some clarity. Keep being Impspired!
Comentários