January 26, 2004 - Submit to me!

Then there are those I'm not quite sure about. I think I might be interested. In awhile, I go back and reread it. If I'm still not sure about it, that's when I send it back with a note saying that it was almost there, perhaps with some suggestions for improvement and a request to send more submissions my way.

Then there are the special cases. For example, there are always one or two people who, for one reason or another, don't include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for a reply.

When they have an e-mail address, I e-mail them a rejection (because that's typically what it is in such instances). If they don't, I send them a post card with a quick reply and a reminder to always include a SASE. I realize I'm a bit of a pushover, but I feel as if everyone deserves a reply.

Then there's the people who request comments, so I sit down with those and write something up.

And then there are the truly unique situations. For example, there was a submission from a Texas prison inmate. It was well-written but more suited for a horror magazine, so I sent him a list of possible magazines to send it.

In addition, a teacher of a California English high school class, apparently bilingual, who had mailed me a number of submissions in two separate envelopes. Even though I rejected all of them, I wrote comments on each one and included a letter for the teacher, commending him for inspiring creativity among his students and encouraging him to send more submissions.

And that was it, for the mailed submissions, at least. I still have a few in my e-mail inbox to sift through.

Here are a few of my pet peeves regarding submissions, which I'm sure are shared by other editors as well.

Editor's Pet Peeves

I could probably come up with a few more, but there are still those e-mailed submissions to go through, so I think I'll leave that for another time. Unless, of course, the submissions I review make me think of more pet peeves. Hopefully not. I actually prefer to send acceptance notices than rejections.

Musings an Online Journal of Sorts By Alyce Wilson
January 26, 2004 - Submit to Me!
	There will be more soon enough, but for now I've gone through the entire pile of Wild Violet submissions and either accepted or rejected every one. Some were easy choices. I mean, some things you read and immediately know either that you want to publish it or you don't.
Then there are those I'm not quite sure about. I think I might be interested. In awhile, I go back and reread it. If I'm still not sure about it, that's when I send it back with a note saying that it was almost there, perhaps with some suggestions for improvement and a request to send more submissions my way. Then there are the special cases. For example, there are always one or two people who, for one reason or another, don't include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for a reply. When they have an e-mail address, I e-mail them a rejection (because that's typically what it is in such instances). If they don't, I send them a post card with a quick reply and a reminder to always include a SASE. I realize I'm a bit of a pushover, but I feel as if everyone deserves a reply. Then there's the people who request comments, so I sit down with those and write something up. And then there are the truly unique situations. For example, there was a submission from a Texas prison inmate. It was well-written but more suited for a horror magazine, so I sent him a list of possible magazines to send it. In addition, a teacher of a California English high school class, apparently bilingual, who had mailed me a number of submissions in two separate envelopes. Even though I rejected all of them, I wrote comments on each one and included a letter for the teacher, commending him for inspiring creativity among his students and encouraging him to send more submissions. And that was it, for the mailed submissions, at least. I still have a few in my e-mail inbox to sift through. Here are a few of my pet peeves regarding submissions, which I'm sure are shared by other editors as well. Editor's Pet Peeves Submissions which do not include a SASE (with appropriate postage) for a reply and/or the return of manuscripts. You do want a reply, don't you? Cover letters which begin "Dear Sirs." I am a woman. The art editor is a woman. There is no "sir" here, dear. If in doubt, use "Dear Sir or Madam." E-mailed submissions which are clearly being mailed to several other magazines simultaneously, as evidenced from the "To: " line. Even editors who accept simultaneous submissions will regard this as sloppy and rude. E-mailed submissions which consist merely of a link to a personal portfolio site, where poems or writing samples are posted. Again, this is sloppy. Editors cannot be expected to wade through all of your work in order to find what might work. Submissions of inappropriate material which demonstrate the writer has not even bothered to check out the magazine to see what sort of work we publish. We're online only, so it costs nothing to check out a sample issue, except your time. I could probably come up with a few more, but there are still those e-mailed submissions to go through, so I think I'll leave that for another time. Unless, of course, the submissions I review make me think of more pet peeves. Hopefully not. I actually prefer to send acceptance notices than rejections.
Moral: Annoyed editors are not likely to accept your work. Copyright 2004 by Alyce Wilson Musings Index
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