Wendy Call

 Call for Applications

Best Literary Translations (BLT) is an annual anthology of exemplary poetry and prose translations into English that have appeared in US-based or US-affiliated journals and magazines over the course of the calendar year. This is an independent editorial project, published each spring by Deep Vellum, that has been formally endorsed by the board of directors of ALTA, the American Literary Translators Association. Each volume has a guest editor: Jane Hirshfield for the inaugural 2024 edition, Cristina Rivera Garza for the recently published 2025 edition, and Arthur Sze for the forthcoming 2026 volume. 

This co-editorial position will begin for the 2027 volume. The work for this volume begins the first week of September 2025. It takes 18 months to bring each edition into the world. We begin working in September 2025 for an April / May 2027 publication date. 

The Best Literary Translations anthology showcases the most exemplary literary translations published in U.S. literary journals in the previous year, brought into English by U.S. translators. We encourage you to review one or both of the previous editions of the anthology before applying. 

All applicants should self-identify as U.S. translators—participants in U.S. literary circles—but do not necessarily need to currently live / work in the U.S. Four series co-editors will support the making of this anthology with their linguistic and cultural expertise. The other three co-editors are  Noh Anothai (co-editor for Asian literatures) Wendy Call (co-editor for literatures of the Americas),  and Kọlá Túbọsún (co-editor for African literatures. We are seeking a fourth co-editor, with expertise in Middle Eastern literatures. (All four co-editors work collaboratively to review translations from Europe.)

All four series co-editors are full professional and creative partners in this endeavor, collaborating on all aspects of fundraising; working with Deep Vellum on everything from copyediting to book promotion; encouraging and evaluating submissions; and working with an annual guest editor and with selected translators and authors:

-The co-editors review submissions of poetry, short prose (both fiction and nonfiction), and hybrid-genre works. All literary journals based in the U.S. or including U.S.-based editors will be invited to nominate up to seven individual works, using Submittable, and individual translators can self-nominate two of their published translations. Each year, we review approximately 500 submissions. 

-The co-editors create a longlist of notable publications, usually around 80 works, from which an invited guest editor chooses the winning works for the anthology. Finally, the four series co-editors collaborate to write an introduction to the anthology.

-The co-editors are primarily responsible for promoting each volume of the anthology and connecting with readers.

-Each co-editor currently receives an annual honorarium of US$2,000. This honorarium is set for 2027, but it is dependent on the generosity of an anonymous donor and is not necessarily guaranteed into the future. We co-editors are responsible for raising the funds for this honorarium; we do not receive an honorarium from Deep Vellum. 

To apply to be Co-editor of Middle Eastern Literatures for BLT, please submit:

(1) a detailed (one- to two-page) letter of interest, including: 

·         your full contact information, 

·         the place / time zone where you currently live (for the purposes of interview scheduling), 

·         your linguistic/geographical expertise, 

·         your editorial experience, and 

·         your experience with book and event promotion

(2) a résumé or CV that details your experience with literary translation, editing, and project administration and includes a publication list;

(3) a short sample of your published literary translation work in English (we suggest 5 pages for poetry and 10 pages for prose, along with the original text); and

(4) full contact information for two or three English-speaking professional references, with a short explanation of how they know you and your work.

We especially welcome applications from BIPOC and emerging translators. All applicants should self-identify as U.S. translators but may live and work anywhere in the world. All material should be submitted via email besttranslations@deepvellum.org (please note “Co-Editor Application” in the subject line) by Monday, August 4, 2025, at 8:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Pacific time. 

Questions and inquiries are most welcome via email.  

We intend to complete interviews via Zoom between August 11 and 20, 2025, so if your availability will be limited during that time,please note that in your cover letter.