Hippocampus Reader & Community Survey

Hippocampus Reader Survey 2019

It's hard to believe Hippocampus has been around for almost 10 years! Every few years, we like to check in with our readers to see how we're doing, learn more about how you interact with us, explore what you'd like to see, and more. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your honest opinions and your participation in this anonymous survey.

We didn't make any of the questions required, so you may answer/skip as you please; but of course we'd love the most feedback we can get. Thank you!

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* 1. How long have you known about Hippocampus Magazine?

Less than one month

Less than a year

One or two years.

Between 3 to 5 years

Longer than 5 years

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* 2. Please describe your relationship to Hippocampus. You may select more than one.

I have read at least one story/article at Hippocampus Magazine.

I'd consider myself a fairly regular reader of Hippocampus.

I have submitted to Hippocampus Magazine one or more times and my submission is still under consideration.

I have submitted to Hippocampus Magazine, and I withdrew the story before a decision was made.

I have submitted to Hippocampus Magazine one or more times and my submission was declined.

I have been published in Hippocampus Magazine (or have a selection forthcoming).

I have been published in the articles section: review, interview, writing life, or craft column.

I just discovered Hippocampus magazine and have yet to read or submit.

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* 3. Thinking of the last 12 months, how often do you visit our website? To give some context, as of 2019, we publish issues 7x per year, with new articles and reviews released monthly.

Less than once per year/rarely

Once or twice a year

Less than once a month

About every month or new issue

More than once a month

At least once a week

Other comments:

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* 4. One what device(s) do you access Hippocampus Magazine?

Desktop Computer

Laptop Computer

iPhone

Android phone

Tablet

I also use assistive devices to access content (screen reader, voice command, etc)

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Please rate Hippocampus Magazine in the following categories.

	Needs Improvement	Fair	Good	Excellent	N/A or no opinion
Quality of Content	Quality of Content Needs Improvement	Quality of Content Fair	Quality of Content Good	Quality of Content Excellent	Quality of Content N/A or no opinion
Variety of Content	Variety of Content Needs Improvement	Variety of Content Fair	Variety of Content Good	Variety of Content Excellent	Variety of Content N/A or no opinion
Variety of Author Voices	Variety of Author Voices Needs Improvement	Variety of Author Voices Fair	Variety of Author Voices Good	Variety of Author Voices Excellent	Variety of Author Voices N/A or no opinion
Amount of Content Per Issue	Amount of Content Per Issue Needs Improvement	Amount of Content Per Issue Fair	Amount of Content Per Issue Good	Amount of Content Per Issue Excellent	Amount of Content Per Issue N/A or no opinion
Interaction with Audience	Interaction with Audience Needs Improvement	Interaction with Audience Fair	Interaction with Audience Good	Interaction with Audience Excellent	Interaction with Audience N/A or no opinion
Ease of Navigation	Ease of Navigation Needs Improvement	Ease of Navigation Fair	Ease of Navigation Good	Ease of Navigation Excellent	Ease of Navigation N/A or no opinion
Ease of Reading	Ease of Reading Needs Improvement	Ease of Reading Fair	Ease of Reading Good	Ease of Reading Excellent	Ease of Reading N/A or no opinion
Professionalism of Presentation	Professionalism of Presentation Needs Improvement	Professionalism of Presentation Fair	Professionalism of Presentation Good	Professionalism of Presentation Excellent	Professionalism of Presentation N/A or no opinion
Promotion of Magazine	Promotion of Magazine Needs Improvement	Promotion of Magazine Fair	Promotion of Magazine Good	Promotion of Magazine Excellent	Promotion of Magazine N/A or no opinion
Ease of Reading	Ease of Reading Needs Improvement	Ease of Reading Fair	Ease of Reading Good	Ease of Reading Excellent	Ease of Reading N/A or no opinion
Personality of Magazine	Personality of Magazine Needs Improvement	Personality of Magazine Fair	Personality of Magazine Good	Personality of Magazine Excellent	Personality of Magazine N/A or no opinion

Other comments:

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* 6. What type of content do you read, prefer to read, or would LIKE to read at Hippocampus? Check all that apply. You may also use the comments field to specify.

Memoir excerpts

Personal essays

Flash creative nonfiction (up to 800 words)

Experimental or hybrid creative nonfiction

Craft articles (articles about the craft or business of writing)

The Writing Life (articles pertaining to life as a writer)

Book Reviews (Memoir/Narrative Nonfiction)

Interviews

Prompts (user-submitted stories based on a monthly writing prompt)

Alumni & Friend Updates (news from our past contributors)

Meet the Staff: Hippocampus team profiles

Submission Tips: Hippocampus reading panelist share their advice

News about Books by Hippocampus

News about HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction

Industry News (CNF, publishing)

Literary Journalism

Literary Travel Writing

Science and Nature Writing (written for general audience, "pop-sci")

Visual Essays (photo, comic, etc.)

Audio Essays

Audio or Video Interviews

Editor's Note (to introduce an issue)

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How important is the blind reading process to you? (Where first readers do not see submitters name, only the work itself.)

Not at all

Neutral

Very

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 8. Hippocampus Magazine has expanded into publishing books and hosting educational events. We're also considering adding new offerings. Please check all that apply - in either things you're aware of, have done, or would like to see.

I'm aware Hippocampus Magazine has an imprint, Books by Hippocampus.

I'm aware Hippocampus Magazine hosts an annual three-day conference, HippoCamp.

I've purchased or read at least one Books by Hippocampus title.

I've attended HippoCamp at least once.

I would be interested in sending a book query to Books by Hippocampus when submissions reopen Aug. 1.

I am interested in attending a future HippoCamp.

I am interested in attending online webinars hosted by Hippocampus and subject matter expert partners.

I would be interested in a manuscript consultation with a Hippocampus editor.

I would be interested in a membership option that would offer exclusive content, special perks, and other benefits.

I would be interested in buying an annual print edition of Hippocampus.

I would be interested in reader guides/activity ideas for some Hippocampus essays for use in the classroom.

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Now we want to know more about how our readers interact with our magazine content. Please check all that apply.

I've commented on a story (on the magazine website itself, not in a social comment).

I've shared a Hippocampus story on Twitter.

I've shared a Hippocampus story on Facebook.

I've shared a Hippocampus story on another social media outlet.

I follow Hippocampus on Twitter. (@hippocampusmag)

I "like" Hippocampus on Facebook. (/hippocampusmagazine)

I follow Hippocampus on Instagram. (@hippocampusmag)

I get Hippocampus Magazine emails.

I've sent an email to Hippocampus with feedback or questions.

I've contacted a Hippocampus author to comment on a story (either directly or through the magazine).

I've visited the Hippocampus booth or a Hippocampus event at AWP or another writing conference or event.

I have not done any of the above.

Other comments:

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* 10. What is a word or several that come to mind when you think of Hippocampus Magazine? You may share up to three.

Word 1

Word 2

Word 3

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* 11. What are some other literary magazines, writing-related publications, podcasts, blogs, newsletters or other resources you read/listen to regularly, nonfiction or not, and for pleasure or learning. You may list up to five.

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* 12. We'd love to know more about your involvement in the literary community or publishing world. Please check all that apply, and feel free to add your own.

I attend writing events in my local community when I can.

I write book reviews for publications/blogs (other than my own).

I write or share writing-related content regularly on my own blog or website.

I contribute writing-related content to industry publications/blogs.

I run or volunteer with a literary magazine or other similar organization.

I'm active on GoodReads.

I've purchased a book in the past 12 months from a writer I know in person or online.

I have a writing-related podcast.

I'm a self-published author.

I'm a traditionally published author.

I have at least one paid subscription to a literary magazine.

I teach online or in-person writing classes (on my own or for a community group).

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Thinking of online and print literary magazines in general, and not Hippocampus specifically, what's one thing you wish you'd see more of, less of, or done better.

I'd like to see more of:

I'd like to see less of:

Lit mags could do better at:

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* 14. If you regularly submit creative nonfiction work, where do you look for calls for submissions? We're always looking for new directories, publications, magazines, and newsletters to reach out to. Share up to three.

Source 1

Source 2

Source 3

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* 15. Our tagline is "Memorable Creative Nonfiction." If there is a story that particularly resonated with you, made an impact on you, or that you just can't forget? Even if you can't remember it by name or author, please describe it below.

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* 16. I am in my:

Teens/Tweens

20s

30s

40s

50s

60s

70s

80s

Prefer not to say

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Anything else you'd like to share that might help us give our readers and contributors the best experience possible?

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.