dipity. Protagonist App: A Quick Overview
sharing a bit more about the protagonist lit app and a few reminders
Hi! So I mentioned earlier we would be on the Protagonist Lit app and now officially are—please note that its only available to Apple iPhones and iOS devices currently. We just have a few poems and short flash fiction stories up and more are on the way—between 40-50. I have accompanied each poem and short story with a brand new fun and quick miniature digital collage of mine too, so its different from our online tank visually. Some works pictured below in square #1 are not fully live yet:
Some things to note again:
Still have a ways to go—I’m working on adding more writers who submitted to Dipity or were featured since it began—especially ones from our online tank, however a few pieces from each print issue 1-4, other bonus sections and our new writer Substack submissions (poems and flash fiction stories from the Q&As) will be available through Protagonist too soon (excluding full interviews for now) but I might go back to add those one day after a test on how it looks. We will continue to do our Q&As through this separate Substack publication and mailing list space too though.
Note: I switched the app to dark mode and there is an option in the upper right to increase the text reading size once you access a publication. Here is an example writer profile page in the Protagonist mobile app:
The “bookmark icon” on the right-hand side of a publication tile indicates 100% FREE to read whereas the “shopping bag” indicates subscription access required. They have three subscription tiers I believe. You’re welcome to create a FREE limited access account though.
We will have a mix of free reads and subscription required ones—typically those that appeared in any of our print series (but not all).
It is important to note editors cannot mirror or match formatting and spacing 100% identical to what is seen in print or online of course because its a mobile view which has limitations—so most works are solely left aligned just for mobile reading and will be devoid of the same exact creative or playful spacing in order to fit most device screens appropriately.
Presently I do not see some features on the backend fully live quite yet but the original publication dates have been noted/listed within it for when/if those fields become visible—those dates have been recorded to avoid confusion.
If you see your name or pen name listed under “Writers” and click on it (a linked name within the app) sometimes you do have to hit the back arrow in the upper left navigation is what I’ve seen to go back to the page you originally intended to access or view for now. The Protagonist app team is still ironing out a few things and adding more new features and I’m definitely excited to see those!
You can follow writers, heart/like publications and bookmark them—get recommendations “mixes/collections” and check out other journals and magazines gradually adding publications too.
If you see a work in search but its not displayed or linked up to your profile in the app do note it just takes some time for publications to appear and undergo review. And if there is nothing on your profile again it just takes time for publications to become fully live in the app and could be indicative that a piece is undergoing processing or adjustments still. If you see you’ve been added too, you’ll be notified by them sometime down the road to claim your profile etc. The profile claim and approval notification process I believe is changing a bit in the future though TBA (unaware of what that looks like exactly but everyone added will get an e-mail from Protagonist later on).
I’m still learning the ins and outs a bit and things are subject to change over time, but I think the app is really cool overall!
Again, Dipity Lit Mag is NOT replacing or eliminating the online tank nor adding everything, but mirroring it as much as possible. It definitely takes some time to add these in multiple locations, but is worth it I believe. This is another awesome reading platform/option for those who prefer to read a bit more on the go. Not all of our issues nor sections in full will be available on it so you can if you prefer use Cafeyn for full digital issue access or just grab our photography-based print issues still from our website or online bookstores. It’s totally up to you how you prefer to read or which space(s) you subscribe to long-term.
As you scroll or search through the app, you’ll discover some grouped themes plus more wicked awesome literary journals and magazines:
I haven’t covered all of the app’s features in this post so definitely check it out! That’s all for now—we may have a few more podcasts, writer and music Q&As released later on! I’m working on piecing together the layout for issue no. 5, our micro-chapbook guidelines and upcoming mid-to full length chapbook releases. And our reading team is still reviewing submissions throughout the year so check open categories and deadlines (some are subject to be extended).
I did share a preview of our potential issue no. 5 cover too recently out on social media, but its subject to change depending upon feedback and I will post the official one on our website much closer to October 31st—which is also the cut off for our bonus sections including music if you were contacted with a reminder.
Our Help Desk will be closed until its ready to be restructured to intake poetry feedback requests most likely after issue no. 5 so please use our contact form at the bottom of the Staff page instead or hop into our Discord channel (you’ll find it in the desktop version of the Help Desk on our website). There is also a public chat option in our Substack.
Issues 1-4 may be briefly unavailable one last time in some locations online while some end page updates occur in regards to our ISSNs this year. Also, in the near future we’ll have some site maintenance too for adding the space for micro-chapbooks. I’m still trying to code in a search bar instead of filter toggle for the chapbook site pages. In the past with updates some site publications in our online tank faced odd highlighted text and color changes so one day I’ll hopefully figure out how to fix that too—but the good news is that you’ll find most of those out on the Protagonist app without that bizarre highlighting issue.
Thanks so much for your support! ~ Jazz Marie Kaur (VFORROW)
Any other thoughts, comments, or shares?
We appreciate anyone who takes the time to comment, subscribe here, pledge support to our Substack, donates directly to help fund future community projects on our website, visits the gift shop, or buys us some pizza slices over there. Stay tuned for more Substack shares and interviews. Thanks again for your support and have awesome days ahead!
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