Literary Journals

You would expect a journal like Zoetrope - one so exquisitely funded, I mean - to be more prompt. Or if they weren't being prompt, to hire more editors. But what I've been observing is that size, reputation, and financial backing have nothing to do with expediency in the journal world. I'll have a tiny journal like Apple Valley Review reject my short shorts in less than a week, while a heavy hitter like Columbia Journal still hasn't responded to a story I mailed out in January 2006 (and neither have they responded to email queries, and my last short story I sent them took a year and a half to receive a reply). On the other hand, Glimmer Train is practically a model for speed. Zyzzyva is another one that has been prompt, and as a plus, Howard Junker's rejection slip is the nicest I've ever read. Kenyon Review and One-Story have both been pretty quick. I've had multiple relative die while waiting to hear back from The Chattahoochee Review (and still have an outstanding story. . .) and Notre Dame Review clocked in at a snail pace of 8 months and 9 months for two separate submissions.
I am aware of all the variables that are at play (and that's why I'm not writing about any journals that I've only sent to once). There's the time of year, there is the quality of my submission (which may take longer if they are considering it), and there is the staffing snafus that leave a journal shorthanded. But the length of time to receive a reply makes barring simultaneous submissions quite a joke, and ultimately, anything over eight months makes me extremely reluctant to send any more submissions.
Labels: Literary Journals
2 Comments:
excellent post (found you via howard junker's post)--thanks for the reviews on response time. it really does amaze me how response times differ so greatly, and these days, with the whole simultaneous submissions on the rise, the ones that respond faster will likely get the worm.
Great blog. Yes, what happened with Zoetrope was disgraceful. I had a friend who had a similar experience with A Public Space, who were very enthusiastic about publishing a segment of his book and then the delay went on and then finally the editor who liked it quit(not quite clear what happened exactly) --but then A Public Space simply couldn't remember having gotten his submission in the first place. My unsolicited advice aside from keep on keeping on is to hit as many journals as possible and to never take the rejections seriously. All it takes is one yes, and most editors agree it isn't really based on quality. There's so much good writing now but so littlemoney involved that it's really like being in a contest! In the meantime just develop the writing that you really love and you will connect! Cheers, David
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