Aaron Lelito: Theory into Practice with Wild Roof Journal
Aaron Lelito is the founder and Editor in Chief of Wild Roof Journal, an online art and literary publication focusing on themes related to nature & environment, including the intersection of “wild” nature and “civilized” society.
I met Aaron almost two years ago when I interned at WRJ as part of my Master of Fine Arts degree in writing. During one of our conversations about Henry David Thoreau, a literary figure who has influenced the both of us, Aaron stated: “There was that pesky transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, whose 170-year-old philosophy, nature and spiritual writing, and travel and environmental narrative could not be bound by the covers of his books. Think Walden and Civil Disobedience. “Thoreau wasn’t a nihilist,” Aaron explained. “He said a lot of critical things but ultimately wanted things to improve. Thoreau put theory into practice. That’s why Walden is a classic. Where do you get that these days? [Today], it’s all theory and ideology.”
Yes, where do you get that these days? That question has stuck with me since.
And yet Aaron has found his own unique path to this practice in form of a literary journal - a journal that is free to read to all who search.
Recently I caught up with Aaron to talk about Wild Roof Journal.
You mentioned to me in the past about your connection with Thoreau. Explain that initial awakening and where you are today because of him.
Since Thoreau’s writing threads together self-narrative, nature, ecology, social criticism, and the themes that were labeled as “transcendental” at the time, I’d say his influence is still present. I think of the catalyst or initial awakening moment as my rereading of Walden in 2014 . . . I even remember the day, June 1. On a very practical level, it motivated me to go out for walks in nature and take a close look at sights that would commonly be overlooked, such as some moss growing on an old stump. Just ordinary things you’d see once you take ten steps into the woods. That “microscopic” view of the natural world opened up a lot to me. I didn't need to globetrot to a foreign land to acquire inspiration. It was right under my feet.
Where did you get the idea, or what is it that inspired you to create the lit mag Wild Roof Journal?
There were a few sparks of inspiration that got Wild Roof Journal started. One important element was reconnecting with my love of reading. I decided to make myself a reading list, including a few authors I was interested in and a few themes I wanted to explore. I mapped out all the books, and that ended up framing my own creative pursuits, since it incorporated nature writing, contemporary fiction, consciousness, and Eastern philosophy/spirituality.
Through a bunch of experimenting and a few dead ends, I recognized that what I was drawn to most, creatively, was nature. And initially, this developed as visual expression with photography. Consequently, I learned about the lit mag world—navigating the submission process, brushing off rejection messages, and the occasional thrill of getting something published. What became most appealing during this time was connecting with other creative people and helping to support what they do.
It was a process that happened over a couple of years—exploring some leftover academic interests, getting familiar with visual art, and stepping into the submission process for publication—but there was one morning I remember where the idea of creating my own lit mag popped into my head! Being connected to people’s creative journeys has been an honor and a joy ever since. What I appreciate most about the larger literary community is the sense of interdependence that is cultivated.
Based on reader interaction, your own personal growth, etc., how has WRJ changed from its inception, and where do you see it going in the future?
We’re currently working on Issue 35 for fall, so we’ve been around for a bit now.
What’s evolved the most is gaining visibility and credibility among our literary peers. I take the unflashy elements of consistency and reliability very seriously, so when WRJ appears on “best of” lists, “recommended places to submit” compilations, or interview features like this, it is a useful reminder that this work matters to writers out there and that being one of the most well-respected online publications is a realistic endeavor. And I’m grateful for making it this far!
On that note, one example is that WRJ ranked #320 on the Fish List of literary publications. While #320 may not seem like anything to boast about, the list includes upwards of 1,800 publications!
It’s also great to see the quality of the work in our issues has continued to build. While I am impressed with some writers new to publishing (which is awesome—welcome aboard), I am also pleased to see established writers, whose work I have already encountered and am a fan of, submit for publication.
Additionally, a fun project that came about somewhat unexpectedly is a collaboration with several WRJ contributors called If We: Connections Through Creative Process, which combines handwritten notebook pages with nature photographs. Other collaborative efforts are forthcoming.
What is the takeaway you hope to accomplish with the readers of WRJ?
I love when readers (or contributors) connect with each other and find work that resonates with them. I suppose that’s something like a “facilitator” role, providing a connection between writers/artists and people who appreciate them. In that sense, my hope is that readers recognize that books, poems, artwork, etc. is not just for the “pros,” the few people that are famous for their creative output. While very few can have the sales of the big writers today, anyone can put their experience into words and share it, even if it’s shared with a single other person. You’d be surprised at how many times I have heard someone say they have all this stuff written and have never shown anyone. I totally understand the vulnerability aspect, but the takeaway here is for the small steps . . . show one person, read to a small group, get some tangible feedback, and then revise, revise, revise!
Anything else?
There is a free submission available to The Spruce Tree Journal mailing list. Use this link. It’s open until 9/20.
Past issues of Wild Roof Journal can be accessed through their website https://wildroofjournal.com/.
Disclaimer: I (Tim Loftus) volunteer as a reader at Wild Roof Journal, evaluating submitted prose fiction and nonfiction manuscripts for inclusion in the journal. I also help in developing a list of monthly submission opportunities for WRJ subscribers.
