Q: How do some editors consider writers' identities when evaluating submissions?
"...one of many factors in deciding on a work."
Welcome to our weekend conversation!
A question came from a reader. M. writes:
From the [Lit Mag] Guidelines:
“We do not read blind,... This enables us to publish authors from diverse backgrounds.”
What? Does that mean that they investigate their submissions to find out the backgrounds of authors and select submissions accordingly?
Or am I misinterpreting them?
Would love to see your thoughts and ideas about this.
M.’s questions have a long and complicated answer. I’ve left out the magazine’s name so as not to focus on them exclusively. Let’s break all this down.
First, the complete guidelines at this journal state: “We do not read blind. This enables us to publish authors from diverse backgrounds, and we strive to uplift marginalized and underrepresented voices.”
What are “marginalized and underrepresented voices”? Interestingly, this magazine does not say.