I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am thinking I may not do a big simultaneous submission this Fall.It's not because I think sim-subs are evil. I think they're necessary (and not a necessary evil, either). But I just don't feel like doing it any more, and really, I tend to publish more stuff that isn't in the BFS. Hmmm.
Anyone else not feeling simultaneous these days?
Dear Editors, if you get a packet from me, it is meant (only) for you.
PS--These tall tropical beauties brought to you by The University of Akron. Sometimes I want to curl up under them and take a nap.
9 comments:
I'm feeling the same way, Mary.
It's easier to not do the BFS--in terms of the record keeping and time.
Also, and probably the #1 reason, I'm at the point of having read so many journals I'm beginning to see where specific poems/essays truly have a shot. And I like the idea of care: I'm sharing these poems/essays only with you right now: You're that special and this submission is that special. I can focus my good energy and "acceptance" vibes more directly in one locale...
I agree with Amanda, Mary. You've got a good feel for where your work fits now, so you can submit with the kind of surgical precision befitting a doctor.
Maybe, though, you should start a BFS grab bag here wherein participants put their names in a virtual hat and draw another participant's name. Then, they pick 5 journals for the person whose name they have to send a submission.
Just thinking that picking journals for a BFS can be tedious, so maybe you can mix it up a bit. Find a few places you may not have thought of.
Apologies if this either doesn't make sense or does make sense and is a laughably terrible idea.
I guess that I still haven't found my niche. My (literary) life would certainly be that much easier if I knew where my work had the best shot - but there it is. This may indeed be entirely my fault - since I am not one well acquainted with all the established and/or new publications. Mea culpa --
Hi Mary,
I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't sim-sub because it's just too hard for me to keep it organize and I feel bad if something does get accepted and I have to write/email a press to tell them to disregard "poem X." I always feel like I'm being a bother.
I've accidentially sim-subbed to two journals both who didn't accept sim-subs and I felt anxious about it. Thankfully, the poems were rejected (how often do you hear that sentence?!) so it was no big deal.
I think it's great that more journals now allow sim-subs, but just for my own sanity, I rarely if ever, do it.
best,
Kel
I'm only getting used to sim-sub thing. So far it hasn't been a hassle. How many submissions do people normally have out at any given time?
I've never once (on purpose) sent out sim subs. For me, the idea of having some journal (remote as the possibility is, really) accept something that another journal just accepted, so that I have to withdraw it, fills me with the seven dreads. I get nauseous just thinking about it. I really, really hate the odea that a journal might actually want some poem and then I have to say no . . . I hate saying no.
That said, I also hate when some poem of mine is put in limbo for nine months at some slow journal.
I also also hate it when I find out our journal has done that to someone . . .
Off-topic a little. As I start plowing through submissions to Whiskey Island, horrified that some poems have been sitting there since last April, equally pissed that I have to buy extra return postage, and the piles are piling up, I really really don't care about sim-subs. All I want are electronic submissions!
As for my own BFS: I'll be surprised if it happens.
i was going to comment but everything I had to say has been said.
sigh.
I'm all for submitting any which way you want to do it, but I'm not doing it right now either. I think it's the weather or my mood or . . .
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