Editorial by Rebecca Bennett
500 words, ~2 minutes reading time
Issue 11 (Summer 2026)
Community is always at the core of Heartlines. We ask for stories and poetry with time-tested relationships, ones that have strengthened or fractured through all the petty grievances and mundane joys that life has to offer. Even if it's a community of two or a whole village, everyone needs a support system. We publish those types of works but we also want that to be emblematic of our core values. We want a positive, cooperative publishing experience. One with transparent edit notes and deadlines, so our authors know what to expect and feel comfortable talking through any issues. When you're building a community, it's easy to forget that support systems work both ways. Sometimes we're the ones who need extra grace and reassurance.
July was a rough month for our staff. It's private, but each of us had something that threw plans completely askew. Beyond our own troubles, Heartlines was one of many magazines who published an author suspected of using AI-generation. If you haven't heard all the details, you can find them all on our Statement on AI. We were already tired, working on multiple deadlines, and trying our best. It's hard to promote joy when all you feel is dread.
There was a lot of kindness online, more than I expected. I girded myself for recriminations, loss of trust, and general disdain. Instead, we received public and private messages of support. If we didn't respond directly, please know that those kind words meant the world to us.
Did you know that each summer issue releases on my birthday? People laugh when I tell them, asking why I chose to do extra work during that day. Technically, all the work is done the day before. We're no stranger to late night uploads and last-minute editorials (who me?). There's no stress when the Issue finally releases, it's like taking a deep breath and relaxing your shoulder after a long day. It's the feeling of sitting round a table with your friends, talking about what you liked most.
We don't publish to theme, instead a theme tends to grow around the stories and poems. Issue 11 focuses on acceptance: whether it's the changes in your family, the loss of your past, or that the future is more unexpected than you planned for it to be. Acceptance isn't a defeat, it doesn't have to be quiet or soft. Sometimes acceptance is clawed. As you travel through this issue, we hope you feel the weight of the characters and their choices; whether it's as simple as getting ready for school, caring for a loved one, or keeping a secret.
This summer find your support system and strengthen it with kindness.
