In this edition of Inside the Den, we’re pleased to highlight Ja’Koby Powell, who reads both nonfiction and poetry for Black Fox. Since joining the team, Ja’Koby has brought a thoughtful, attentive presence to the queue—one grounded in a deep appreciation for language that moves and voices that linger. His dual perspective across genres gives him a wide lens on craft, while his instincts remain focused on impact and originality.
Black Fox Literary Magazine: How did you become a reader for Black Fox?
Ja’Koby Powell: I really enjoyed being on the team that created my university’s literary journal, so after graduating I started looking for opportunities to stay connected to the literary world. This led to me coming across Black Fox’s application for readers and fortunately, I was accepted.
BFLM: You read both nonfiction and poetry for us. What draws you into a submission right away—whether it’s an essay or a poem?
JP: Whether it’s a poem or essay, I like a submission that can captivate me within the first few lines. Vivid imagery, beautiful language, just something at the beginning of the submission that captures me and makes me want to see where it goes from there.
BFLM: What kinds of themes, subjects, or voices are you most drawn to in nonfiction? And does that differ from what you look for in poetry?
JP: I’m drawn to pieces with a strong voice in both poetry and nonfiction. I’m intrigued by a variety of subjects and themes, but if it has an impactful, compelling voice that is clear to me from the beginning, then I’m really drawn in.
BFLM: What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to reading submissions?
JP: My biggest pet peeve would have to be clichéness. If it’s a submission that I feel like I’ve read countless times before, it immediately turns me away.
BFLM: What elevates a piece from good to great for you—whether it’s a poem or a work of nonfiction?
JP: I think a great piece is one that leaves me feeling an emotion, whether it be happy, sad, shocked, long after I read it. Pieces that I can think about later on that really left a mark. There’s been a few that have been like that since I’ve been reading submissions here.
BFLM: Has reading submissions changed the way you read or write in your own work?
JP: Reading submissions has definitely changed how I view my work. I think about how I view the submissions I read, especially the ones I give a thumbs down to, and apply that to the way I look at my own work to see if it’s something I would downvote if I was a reader.
BFLM: What’s a line (from a poem or essay) you love and think about often?
JP: One line I think about is from the ending of the poem “won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton. It’s “come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed.”
BFLM: If your personality were a literary form—essay, lyric poem, epic, flash nonfiction, etc.—what would it be and why?
JP: I think I’d go with a haiku. I don’t like to talk much so when I do, I prefer to keep things short but meaningful.
BFLM: Many thanks, Ja’Koby, for the clarity and care you bring to both our nonfiction and poetry queues. Your thoughtful, measured approach reminds us that powerful writing doesn’t have to be loud to leave a lasting mark.
Stay tuned for more staff spotlights in upcoming editions of Inside the Den—because every page begins with a reader.
Ja’Koby Powell is a poet and writer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Louisiana State University with an English degree and a concentration in creative writing. When he’s not writing, Ja’Koby enjoys reading, listening to music, spending time with loved ones, and seeking inspiration for future works.
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