Some words from Brian Geiger, editor of Vita Brevis, on finding true love–or at least a good match–for your poems.
by Brian Geiger
If you’re here, you may have read this (or something like it, elsewhere):
We appreciate your submission. However, we’ve decided that your work isn’t a good fit for Vita Brevis, and we won’t be publishing it. But don’t be dissuaded–very few of our poets have been published on their first try! Read over some of our work, make sure your submission meets our exact guidelines, and then choose a new batch that you deem relevant. We make these decisions based on theme- and style-based criteria, so don’t take it personally! Thanks so much for your contribution! We hope to hear from you again.
We’re rooting for you,
The Vita Brevis Team
That’s a rejection email. Chances are, your first submission to Vita Brevis earned you one of these. If that’s the case, you’re in a pool of about 75%. Or maybe I only accepted one poem of the five you sent in for…
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Hmmm, I just wrote a comment over there. Yes, we need to match up with someone (or a literary magazine/publisher) who “likes” us and perhaps publishes writings like ours. But then again, a marriage with two very similar people can be a boring relationship….
😉
Thanks for sharing this article, Merril. Although I don’t write poetry, I am familiar with rejection. I’ve never taken it personally, but it does inspire me to keep trying until I finally get it right.
You’re welcome, Jill. It is hard to take rejection, but it’s good that it inspires you to keep trying.
I’m going over to read the rest of the post but felt that, as far as rejection letters go, this one is pretty inspiring in itself, no? I mean, no one wants to be rejected but if you have to be, this sure is less cold…
I’ve actually received some very nice rejection letters recently. 🙂
Not sure if I should like that comment or not! But hey, you are putting your stuff out there… a proper marriage shall be found eventually 😉
Yeah–I probably need to submit more. . .
Something will stick… 😉
🙂
OMG! I cannot believe I just read this from a “writer”: “Typically, poets resort to this if their low on time or energy, if their stuck in their ways, or if they don’t recognize that there’s another approach available.
THEIR? Not once, but twice? Sheesh…
The importance of proofreading!
Indeed! And not relying on spell-check 😉
Sometimes us “writers” get cocky and forget to proofread! Thanks for pointing this out, Dale! 🙂 Hope you found it useful regardless
Sorry… I shouldn’t have been so rude. That Grammar B*tch inside of me 😉
I found it most interesting and seriously, as far as rejection letters go, yours are quite lovely. Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to submit something of mine – not poetry because I suck, but something…
I’m glad you think so–rejection letters can have pretty nasty long-term effects on new poets. I tried to find some balance between finality and warmth.
And no worries here–believe me, I understand! As far as submissions go, you ought to give it a shot. I accept poetry-themed prose as well, if that’s more up your alley!
They surely can. I think you have achieved it.
🙂 Let’s just say I have only recently been attempting, thanks to people like Merril. I don’t think I have the natural ability for this type of writing, though!
Interesting comments and article! That is quite a kind and encouraging rejection letter as rejections go.
Yes, it is.
I don’t get rejection letters, just ignored.
You’re making me laugh today with your comments, Marian! 🙂
😢
I didn’t mean that you’re being ignored–just the wry tone. I’m waiting for your book. That won’t be ignored!
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