radfrac_archive_full

Rejection notice today, not unexpected: I really only tried because they had an online submission form. Otherwise I am so unproductive, timid, lazy and cheap that I would never submit any work at all. For this same reason, I will probably go on submitting there.

They got back to me quickly and courteously, and that must be difficult given an online form. I think, however, that they must tailor the rejection message for a slightly more aggressive style of poet.

The message explained that they weren't going to be able to use "anything from this submission". This particular submission consisted of one poem, five lines long. Five of your scanty contemporary lines, too, about three or four words each, expanding a little around the waistline and tapering in again discreetly at the foot.

If they had been able to use something from the submission, what would that mean? A handful of the more vivid and concrete nouns? Just the image of his face?

I am only teasing, of course. It was a small poem, and I had my doubts about it, but other poets I know have whole manuscripts they gamely launch at publishers over and over again, and this is my version of competing.

{rf}