Passing of Lewis Lapham; Massachusetts Review Editor steps down; Guernica Editor has opinions; small presses recovering; plagiarists gonna plagiarize; lots of work opptys; markets & more
The opinion piece about Joanna Chen’s (brilliant) piece was more than head-scratching. It was double-speak up to Orwellian standards. Joanna’s piece was poetic, thoughtful, and humanizing. It’s the latter that prompted a threatened mass resignation from the Guernica staff. I recommend everyone to read her essay — even if just for its literary value, weaving poetry translations (Joanna is a well known translator) with a well wrought picture of some of the human complications of the war—from the perspective of a life long peace-maker. https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/03/18/from-the-edges-of-a-broken-world/
Becky, I've had a submission out at The Southhampton Review since the beginning of March, which isn't so long these days, I suppose. However, what bothers me is more general: when magazines go Bueller on us, they NEVER refund submission fees. I'm not saying it merits a class action suit against Submittable, but what happens to that money? Does Submittable have a bank account somewhere with unclaimed fees?
This is absolutely a problem, George. The mags disappear and writers lose their money. It also sours the whole experience and adds to writers' feeling of mistrust in the whole publishing endeavor generally.
Chiming in for the Fairy Tale Review! I’d really appreciate knowing what happened, too. It’s been my dream to get into FTR, I’ve been reading their lot mag for over 10 years. I really respect Kate Bernheimer—I’ve read her work and went to her panel discussions at AWP (fairy tale is form, form is fairy tale). I hope she’s okay.
I, too, hope that Kate is o.k. But I don’t quite understand why one of the associate editors can’t post an update on twitter or via Submittable to let authors waiting for responses (I’ve been waiting for over a year) know whether or not to expect one. I also wonder why the Journals Manager at WSU Press doesn’t respond. Granted it’s summer and people might be away, but there was no out-of-office auto-response to my email, which I kind of expect from a professional office. Sigh.
Yes, that Michael Archer essay is obfuscating, not to mention missing so many points, and begging questions. And is he saying she directly asked them to take her essay down? Even that isn't clear from his tortured prose. He seems to be saying something about how certain entities' speech is always going to be "freer" than that of certain other less powerful entities. Just generally, I'd say that I don't see the problem around the essay and its retraction as being about freedom of speech so much as about the need to read a diversity of viewpoints about a very complex, and terrible, historical and political situation. In other words, the problem was more one of freedom for readers than for the writer. Also, I don't buy that her essay caused "harm." That word is getting to be in danger of being overused, and exaggeratedly used, and considering all the real harms that bedevil our world, it seems important that it not lose its meaning.
Thinking of my previous experiences in weighing in on related issues in this particular forum, I should probably add that I write all this as someone who tends to be highly sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
“Club Plum” magazine, which I’ve just learned about here (thank you) states that authors must include a link to their online presence when submitting to the magazine. It’s their way of attempting to identify plagiarists. I’m sending them something, but am not on social media. It will be interesting to see whether or not the editor believes that I’m me!
The Buellers: I’ve bleated previously here about the Fairy Tale Review. Thanks for reaching out to the editor, Becky! Twelve days ago I sent a brief, polite, email to the person listed as the Journals Manager on Wayne State U’s website, asking whether there would be an issue of the magazine this year. No response, so far. I hope you will have better luck.
This is from my experience only: Suburbia Journal and Button Eye Review are the same folks. They have (again, only in my experience) changed names of the "magazines", changed graphics, websites, etc. for several years. One can pay the fee and submit and not ever hear from them, (yet, once again, in my experience). I sent warning emails about this bunch to my writing circle 2 years ago...too many red flags.
Please, feel free to correct me or send me in the right direction, but here are all of the entities that I can surmise are the same folks, or have been (again, in my limited experience only):
I have withdrawn 3 poems from them since then, all at different times because they were accepted by different publications. I haven't sent an official query because I was worried I might be bothering them by sending another email.
Welcome back, Becky! I hadn't caught the bankruptcy news until I saw it here, so I went to see if there was any info up on website of the anthology series. Here's what I found there: "Our book business is not part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. While that business works on sorting out its financial challenges, we continue to publish our books as usual and we look forward to reading your submissions and considering them for our upcoming titles!" https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics/
For the Bueller section, I was supposed to have two poems out in Sidereal Magazine about two years ago and since then… crickets? Not a single issue since then. Anyone have any insights?
The opinion piece about Joanna Chen’s (brilliant) piece was more than head-scratching. It was double-speak up to Orwellian standards. Joanna’s piece was poetic, thoughtful, and humanizing. It’s the latter that prompted a threatened mass resignation from the Guernica staff. I recommend everyone to read her essay — even if just for its literary value, weaving poetry translations (Joanna is a well known translator) with a well wrought picture of some of the human complications of the war—from the perspective of a life long peace-maker. https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/03/18/from-the-edges-of-a-broken-world/
Re Buellers:
Becky, I've had a submission out at The Southhampton Review since the beginning of March, which isn't so long these days, I suppose. However, what bothers me is more general: when magazines go Bueller on us, they NEVER refund submission fees. I'm not saying it merits a class action suit against Submittable, but what happens to that money? Does Submittable have a bank account somewhere with unclaimed fees?
This is absolutely a problem, George. The mags disappear and writers lose their money. It also sours the whole experience and adds to writers' feeling of mistrust in the whole publishing endeavor generally.
I have a story with them since September 2923.
I submitted to Suburbia two years (!) ago and heard nothing. I wouldn't mind, but I paid $19 to enter a competition. Feeling a tad ripped-off.
I'm sorry to hear that, Mark. You were ripped off!
Chiming in for the Fairy Tale Review! I’d really appreciate knowing what happened, too. It’s been my dream to get into FTR, I’ve been reading their lot mag for over 10 years. I really respect Kate Bernheimer—I’ve read her work and went to her panel discussions at AWP (fairy tale is form, form is fairy tale). I hope she’s okay.
I, too, hope that Kate is o.k. But I don’t quite understand why one of the associate editors can’t post an update on twitter or via Submittable to let authors waiting for responses (I’ve been waiting for over a year) know whether or not to expect one. I also wonder why the Journals Manager at WSU Press doesn’t respond. Granted it’s summer and people might be away, but there was no out-of-office auto-response to my email, which I kind of expect from a professional office. Sigh.
Yes, that Michael Archer essay is obfuscating, not to mention missing so many points, and begging questions. And is he saying she directly asked them to take her essay down? Even that isn't clear from his tortured prose. He seems to be saying something about how certain entities' speech is always going to be "freer" than that of certain other less powerful entities. Just generally, I'd say that I don't see the problem around the essay and its retraction as being about freedom of speech so much as about the need to read a diversity of viewpoints about a very complex, and terrible, historical and political situation. In other words, the problem was more one of freedom for readers than for the writer. Also, I don't buy that her essay caused "harm." That word is getting to be in danger of being overused, and exaggeratedly used, and considering all the real harms that bedevil our world, it seems important that it not lose its meaning.
Thinking of my previous experiences in weighing in on related issues in this particular forum, I should probably add that I write all this as someone who tends to be highly sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
“Club Plum” magazine, which I’ve just learned about here (thank you) states that authors must include a link to their online presence when submitting to the magazine. It’s their way of attempting to identify plagiarists. I’m sending them something, but am not on social media. It will be interesting to see whether or not the editor believes that I’m me!
The Buellers: I’ve bleated previously here about the Fairy Tale Review. Thanks for reaching out to the editor, Becky! Twelve days ago I sent a brief, polite, email to the person listed as the Journals Manager on Wayne State U’s website, asking whether there would be an issue of the magazine this year. No response, so far. I hope you will have better luck.
Anyone know of outlets that take Pastiche, or serious sociopolitical stories?
Has anyone heard from Open Minds Quarterly? Has this one been mentioned before as a Bueller?
And this bloke's an editor?
Lots of great info here, thank you Becky!
This is from my experience only: Suburbia Journal and Button Eye Review are the same folks. They have (again, only in my experience) changed names of the "magazines", changed graphics, websites, etc. for several years. One can pay the fee and submit and not ever hear from them, (yet, once again, in my experience). I sent warning emails about this bunch to my writing circle 2 years ago...too many red flags.
Please, feel free to correct me or send me in the right direction, but here are all of the entities that I can surmise are the same folks, or have been (again, in my limited experience only):
Ember Chasm
Suburbia Journal
Bottoneye Review
Landing Page
Tatterhood Review
Holy cow!
Yeah...
RE: Buellers - Has anyone heard from Figure 1? https://thefigureone.com/
I submitted to them in August 2023 and haven't heard back. It's also still marked only as Received in Submittable.
That's bad, Caitlin. I'm guessing that you've tried emailing the editors?
I have withdrawn 3 poems from them since then, all at different times because they were accepted by different publications. I haven't sent an official query because I was worried I might be bothering them by sending another email.
If they are reasonable people, they really shouldn't object to a courteous enquiry after a year's wait.
Welcome back, Becky! I hadn't caught the bankruptcy news until I saw it here, so I went to see if there was any info up on website of the anthology series. Here's what I found there: "Our book business is not part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. While that business works on sorting out its financial challenges, we continue to publish our books as usual and we look forward to reading your submissions and considering them for our upcoming titles!" https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics/
Ah, that's great information. Thank you for researching & sharing!
For the Bueller section, I was supposed to have two poems out in Sidereal Magazine about two years ago and since then… crickets? Not a single issue since then. Anyone have any insights?
Hi Dina. On Duotrope, Sidereal Magazine is listed as "believed to be defunct" since Oct 2022. I hope you can find a new home for your poems!
Thank you so much! 🙏🏼