Our Process
Passager is a literary journal celebrating the imagination and creative capabilities of our older generations. Through writing, it’s a literary community recognizing the discovery, reflection, and personal reinvention that are possible in old age.
We are the proud first-publisher of many writers—brand new older writers who were surprised, in their later years, to find themselves writing; those who put an early love of writing aside for decades to raise families or pursue careers; and still others who felt getting published was never in reach for them.
Passager was founded in 1990 by poet, professor and editor Kendra Kopelke when she was just 27, teaching a poetry class of 70- to 90-year olds. She said they “loved and inspired one another, became a family. I wondered if we could publish a journal that would capture their excitement and talent and make it public.”
Now, we publish two issues each year: a Poetry Contest issue, featuring poems and an interview with the winning poet, alongside 40-50 honorable mentions; and a Winter Issue of poetry, short fiction and memoir.
Alongside the pieces we publish, each issue includes author photos, insightful notes about what inspired the work, and personal bios. As publishers who feel strongly about connecting our writers to our readers, we edit the contributors’ notes so that they tell a larger story about who is in the issue.
Beyond Publication
Publication in Passager also offers the writers the opportunity to read their work at an online launch. Writers from all over the country meet one another and form a community of like-minded people dedicated to the arts. Also, selected work in the journal is featured on Burning Bright, our weekly podcast.
While publication in Passager is limited to writers age 50 and older, it’s pages are for readers of every age.
Quality
We want every Passager writer to feel proud when they see their work in print, which is why our journal is artfully designed and typeset in-house with special consideration for older eyes. Our cover art is often by an artist over 50.
I just received my copies of Passager Winter 2024. I must say, among the many journals I’ve seen during my years writing poetry, this is one of the most artistic I’ve encountered. From the cover art to the layout of the book. Sophisticated. It really is a work of art. I am so pleased to be counted among the poets you’ve published.
jim t., contributor
We work closely with our longtime printer, Spencer Printing & Graphics, to produce small print runs using high quality paper, color and print processes. Readers often comment on the overall beauty and quality of each issue.
Help keep Passager in print! Submit, subscribe, and donate to support our mission.