Lit mags reel from grant losses; Authors Guild files suit; "The Submission Industrial Complex"; new Rumpus owners; new Ploughshares EiC; new Jewish mag; new mag for women; and more
I really believe literary magazines should offer emerging writers more opportunities to receive feedback from their editors—not just reserve that attention for celebrity contributors or top MFA students.
Recently, I received a note saying one of my stories was ‘close’ to being accepted, which was encouraging, but it left me wishing for more specific feedback about what they’re looking for…I know I—and a lot of us ‘little poets’—would truly value that kind of insight. It would go a long way. Yeah, I would definitely pay them for that feedback.
When we started Thrice I dedicated myself to giving more detailed feedback to writers who submitted to our magazine. It came from my own experiences as a writer. I felt the same as you.
But all it got me was threatening emails, a running stream of arguments and justifications, negative feedback, and - apparently - lifelong enemies who have dedicated themselves to dogging my own work.
No thanks. As a former editor all I can say is giving feedback to writers is a hell hole you are about to jump in to.
Take the form rejection and fucking move on Harry.
Well RW, that’s your unique experience as an editor.
I highly doubt people paying for feedback from professional editors at the top literary magazines are treated the way you were. I mean, I could be wrong—but I find it hard to imagine the editor of The Paris Review getting cursed out after sending $500 worth of constructive notes. Though hey, if those stories exist, I’d love to read them in The Drama Review. LOL.
Also, I wouldn’t exactly call the note I received a ‘rejection,’ considering most writers are ignored. That said—your take is pretty bleak. Plenty of editors, even at underfunded literary journals have the ability to offer thoughtful, respectful feedback without it turning into a personal war zone.
And let’s not pretend every editor is some underpaid saint working out of a dimly lit broom closet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with editors at literary magazines charging for feedback—transparency and professionalism matter. But let’s not frame it like it’s a tragic act of self-sacrifice. Most writers who pay for critique are expecting insight, not contempt or guarantees.
At the end of the day, good editing takes more than a red pen. It takes a little humility—and maybe a thicker skin if the occasional f-bomb that sends you into exile. Though your fear of being cursed at is funny, and valid at the same time.
Though, if some of these diva writers are as bad as you say, RW, some editors might need to learn how to handle diva writers—ones who hate feedback, curse them out, and bankroll the literary journal. Lol. Gotta embrace the challenge of new adversaries… though epic rivalries like that are probably best left to fiction rather than real life.
Well Harry, when you give up your benighted role of the poor innocent submitter and actually become an editor, maybe we can have a discussion. Until then, believe what you want. Maybe I was just telling lies about my experience. Who ya gonna believe.
Okay, poor but not innocent submitter. Lol. Though you have experience as an editor, I doubt you hold the universal truth about the submission process being so abusive. Poor New Yorker editors, and poor Paris Review staff—they must have the most awful divas ever. Lol. But some of these literary journals really do need to figure out how to fund their magazines, bad attitudes and all. Lol.
If you are expecting erudite appreciations of your hopeful missives as the editors of The NYker and the Paris Review pass on your work, there is nothing more I need to say that can possibly help you.
And if you are one of those hopeless libertarians who think that if a small litmag can't support itself on its own it should cease to exist, you're even less worth wasting time on than I thought.
Hello Harry, I just had a scholarship [free] critique of my poetry chapbook ms by an editor with Black Lawrence Press. It appears that they have a variety of editors for various genres and that these vary on a regular basis. This editor made some comments and suggestions that I found useful, as well as some that made me think that an individual poem was totally misunderstood or undervalued. Overall, I was satisfied by this critique.
That sounds like a really valuable experience! Finding the critique both useful and thought-provoking, including moments of disagreement, can be beneficial. It is also encouraging to hear that Black Lawrence Press offers that kind of editorial diversity across genres. Sounds like a productive step forward for your chapbook! Congrats. As writers, it can be tough because we gotta work with editors who decide if our stories make the cut for publishing. Getting feedback is a tricky fine line. I can relate to your frustration of being misunderstood or undervalued. Thanks for sharing 😊
Recently, I also got a decline email from The Prose Poem [ekphrastic call] through Duosoma, in which the editor gave three points in no particular order, explaining the reasons many poems were not chosen. At least that way I have a rubric list on which to self-assess my submission. This has led me to think of a possible improvement I should make, even though it requires redoing the hybrid to change the text sandwiched between the artwork, which will require me to work up the energy to do this. So, I'm pondering further, so I make all changes at the same time! Good luck with your efforts.
Thanks for sharing. Editorial notes can be challenging but useful, especially with insights like the rubric list. It sounds like you are taking the feedback in stride and using it constructively, which is honestly the best mindset. Reworking a hybrid piece, especially one with a visual part, takes a lot of energy, so it makes total sense to give yourself time to think it through and make all the changes in one go. I hope the revision process treats you kindly when you are ready to dive in. And thanks for the good luck wishes—right back at you!
I’ve found Black Lawrence Press editorial comments helpful in the past, and I respect their professional expertise. Of course, all writers should remember their work is their own and editorial critiques are always subjective.
This is such a valuable resource, Becky. I made a note of a number of different possible outlets for my writing off the back of this. Thanks for all that you do.
I'm not sure if this the place to ask, but do you happen to know if the Dear O Deer Literary Journal is now defunct? Its Issue 5 was supposed to come out on May 9 but it didn't and still hasn't. My interest is obvious because a poem of mine was due to appear in it. I've used their internal message arrangements to ask the editors directly but have had no response.
As someone who requests many fee waivers, I can report that I receive a waiver about 50% of the time (for regular submissions; waivers for contests are less frequent). I rarely receive an emailed “No,” however; about half of the litmags I contact for a waiver make no reply. Notably, one litmag that provides a special email just for waiver requests was one that didn't reply.
I have no problem with government money being withdrawn. There are hundreds if not thousands of literary magazines with very small audiences made up mostly of the writers who submit to them. Should U.S. taxpayers have to support this artsy little endeavor that almost none of them are interested in? I don’t think so. If at the end of the day half of all existing lit mags die off, and there are only a couple hundred left, that is still more than enough.
Love Ben Davis's comment on writing by Africans: "We’ve seen the best of this in action: a while back, we compiled a list of African magazines. Not a single one charged submission fees. Many of them were built from scratch by volunteers and writers who simply wanted to see their communities represented."
However I find Kate Boyette's comment that she's starting the Revisionist because "I’ve found the publishing industry not only daunting, but unrepresentative of women and female voices. It’s missing stories that speak to motherhood, women, our specific struggles" puzzling. A simple web search would provide lists of literally hundreds of such outlets, including this one. https://wordmothers.com/resources/womens-literary-journals-magazines-publications/
Again, many thanks, Becky. You and "Lit Mag News" are living above the 'grim.' And
that is a big achievement these days.
Love Becky Tuch's Lit Mag News. Great stuff, love to see it in my inbox. Thank you!
I really believe literary magazines should offer emerging writers more opportunities to receive feedback from their editors—not just reserve that attention for celebrity contributors or top MFA students.
Recently, I received a note saying one of my stories was ‘close’ to being accepted, which was encouraging, but it left me wishing for more specific feedback about what they’re looking for…I know I—and a lot of us ‘little poets’—would truly value that kind of insight. It would go a long way. Yeah, I would definitely pay them for that feedback.
When we started Thrice I dedicated myself to giving more detailed feedback to writers who submitted to our magazine. It came from my own experiences as a writer. I felt the same as you.
But all it got me was threatening emails, a running stream of arguments and justifications, negative feedback, and - apparently - lifelong enemies who have dedicated themselves to dogging my own work.
No thanks. As a former editor all I can say is giving feedback to writers is a hell hole you are about to jump in to.
Take the form rejection and fucking move on Harry.
Well RW, that’s your unique experience as an editor.
I highly doubt people paying for feedback from professional editors at the top literary magazines are treated the way you were. I mean, I could be wrong—but I find it hard to imagine the editor of The Paris Review getting cursed out after sending $500 worth of constructive notes. Though hey, if those stories exist, I’d love to read them in The Drama Review. LOL.
Also, I wouldn’t exactly call the note I received a ‘rejection,’ considering most writers are ignored. That said—your take is pretty bleak. Plenty of editors, even at underfunded literary journals have the ability to offer thoughtful, respectful feedback without it turning into a personal war zone.
And let’s not pretend every editor is some underpaid saint working out of a dimly lit broom closet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with editors at literary magazines charging for feedback—transparency and professionalism matter. But let’s not frame it like it’s a tragic act of self-sacrifice. Most writers who pay for critique are expecting insight, not contempt or guarantees.
At the end of the day, good editing takes more than a red pen. It takes a little humility—and maybe a thicker skin if the occasional f-bomb that sends you into exile. Though your fear of being cursed at is funny, and valid at the same time.
Though, if some of these diva writers are as bad as you say, RW, some editors might need to learn how to handle diva writers—ones who hate feedback, curse them out, and bankroll the literary journal. Lol. Gotta embrace the challenge of new adversaries… though epic rivalries like that are probably best left to fiction rather than real life.
Well Harry, when you give up your benighted role of the poor innocent submitter and actually become an editor, maybe we can have a discussion. Until then, believe what you want. Maybe I was just telling lies about my experience. Who ya gonna believe.
Okay, poor but not innocent submitter. Lol. Though you have experience as an editor, I doubt you hold the universal truth about the submission process being so abusive. Poor New Yorker editors, and poor Paris Review staff—they must have the most awful divas ever. Lol. But some of these literary journals really do need to figure out how to fund their magazines, bad attitudes and all. Lol.
If you are expecting erudite appreciations of your hopeful missives as the editors of The NYker and the Paris Review pass on your work, there is nothing more I need to say that can possibly help you.
And if you are one of those hopeless libertarians who think that if a small litmag can't support itself on its own it should cease to exist, you're even less worth wasting time on than I thought.
Hello Harry, I just had a scholarship [free] critique of my poetry chapbook ms by an editor with Black Lawrence Press. It appears that they have a variety of editors for various genres and that these vary on a regular basis. This editor made some comments and suggestions that I found useful, as well as some that made me think that an individual poem was totally misunderstood or undervalued. Overall, I was satisfied by this critique.
That sounds like a really valuable experience! Finding the critique both useful and thought-provoking, including moments of disagreement, can be beneficial. It is also encouraging to hear that Black Lawrence Press offers that kind of editorial diversity across genres. Sounds like a productive step forward for your chapbook! Congrats. As writers, it can be tough because we gotta work with editors who decide if our stories make the cut for publishing. Getting feedback is a tricky fine line. I can relate to your frustration of being misunderstood or undervalued. Thanks for sharing 😊
Recently, I also got a decline email from The Prose Poem [ekphrastic call] through Duosoma, in which the editor gave three points in no particular order, explaining the reasons many poems were not chosen. At least that way I have a rubric list on which to self-assess my submission. This has led me to think of a possible improvement I should make, even though it requires redoing the hybrid to change the text sandwiched between the artwork, which will require me to work up the energy to do this. So, I'm pondering further, so I make all changes at the same time! Good luck with your efforts.
Thanks for sharing. Editorial notes can be challenging but useful, especially with insights like the rubric list. It sounds like you are taking the feedback in stride and using it constructively, which is honestly the best mindset. Reworking a hybrid piece, especially one with a visual part, takes a lot of energy, so it makes total sense to give yourself time to think it through and make all the changes in one go. I hope the revision process treats you kindly when you are ready to dive in. And thanks for the good luck wishes—right back at you!
I’ve found Black Lawrence Press editorial comments helpful in the past, and I respect their professional expertise. Of course, all writers should remember their work is their own and editorial critiques are always subjective.
This is such a valuable resource, Becky. I made a note of a number of different possible outlets for my writing off the back of this. Thanks for all that you do.
Thank you for the mention, Becky! Appreciate it :)
Thank you!
Your newsletter is one of my essential reads, Becky. Thank you.
I'm not sure if this the place to ask, but do you happen to know if the Dear O Deer Literary Journal is now defunct? Its Issue 5 was supposed to come out on May 9 but it didn't and still hasn't. My interest is obvious because a poem of mine was due to appear in it. I've used their internal message arrangements to ask the editors directly but have had no response.
As someone who requests many fee waivers, I can report that I receive a waiver about 50% of the time (for regular submissions; waivers for contests are less frequent). I rarely receive an emailed “No,” however; about half of the litmags I contact for a waiver make no reply. Notably, one litmag that provides a special email just for waiver requests was one that didn't reply.
I agree. Lit mag submission fees are a way to scam money from those who submit.
I never submit to magazines who require a fee. It's a rip off.
I have no problem with government money being withdrawn. There are hundreds if not thousands of literary magazines with very small audiences made up mostly of the writers who submit to them. Should U.S. taxpayers have to support this artsy little endeavor that almost none of them are interested in? I don’t think so. If at the end of the day half of all existing lit mags die off, and there are only a couple hundred left, that is still more than enough.
Lowell Folk Fest were notified that their grant was snatched back to give billionaires a tax break...weeks before the festival starts.
And the Emily Dickinson Museum lost over 100,000 from its operations. So sad.
Grrrrr and endless screaming (too bad this app lacks the monster and scream emojis.)
Love Ben Davis's comment on writing by Africans: "We’ve seen the best of this in action: a while back, we compiled a list of African magazines. Not a single one charged submission fees. Many of them were built from scratch by volunteers and writers who simply wanted to see their communities represented."
However I find Kate Boyette's comment that she's starting the Revisionist because "I’ve found the publishing industry not only daunting, but unrepresentative of women and female voices. It’s missing stories that speak to motherhood, women, our specific struggles" puzzling. A simple web search would provide lists of literally hundreds of such outlets, including this one. https://wordmothers.com/resources/womens-literary-journals-magazines-publications/