I realize this is lengthy but I published it in its entirety for a number of reasons:
i - to show that some editors really do take the time to tell poets that aren't yet published, there's hope
ii - to show that there are some fine contests out there and that the publications might be in print and/or might just be online
iii - to show that you don't have to enter contests if it really goes against your grain; submissions work for many publishers just as well
There are many other reasons but those are the top three, other than the fact I feel so darn lucky to have this particular letter addressed to me ... thank you Tim. You are one of the good guys.Oh, and for you really impatient ones? I've highlighted the most salient points ... go directly there ...
Dear S.E.,
Burying the lead here, so don’t forget to scroll down...
Have you ever wondered how many great writers there are that you’ve never heard of, either due to bad luck or the author’s disinterest in publishing? Emily Dickinson told her sister to burn her papers, and if Lavinia had followed through, Dickinson ’s place in the literary canon might be similar to that of D.P. Kristolo’s now.
“DPK” has only released a handful of poems to the world, via postings to online forums, and all of them are outstanding. Little is known about the author—even the gender is a guess. But none of that matters to the “Pixel Poets,” a group of online poetry workshoppers who let the writing stand alone. Colin Ward introduces us to several in his essay, “Pixel Poets: A Meritocracy,” where he argues that the quality of work in the online poetry community is far superior to what’s found in print. You might not agree with all of his points, but there’s no arguing about the strength of the poems he shares, including DPK’s modern classic “Beans.”
Of course Ward’s essay is just part of this spring’s e-issue. I also interviewed Susan McMaster about her anthology of Canadian poets, Pith & Wry—this summer’s issue of Rattle (at press now, available June 1st) features a Tribute to Canadian Poets, so I used the opportunity to get her take on the expansive Canadian poetry scene. As Vice President of the League of Canadian Poets, she was a great person to ask. So if you’re curious about what’s going on up north, or just wondering how an anthology editor comes to be, give it a read. As part of the feature, we’ve included a half-dozen poems from Pith & Wry that are worth the price of admission on their own.
Also in Rattle e.10: we announce the winner of the 2011 Neil Postman Award for Metaphor; Dan Waber introduces the installation poetry of Ward Tietz; Maryann Corbett reviews another pixel poet, M.A. Griffiths’ posthumous Grasshopper; and we preview some of the poems that are forthcoming in Rattle #35.
The spring e-issue is a 36-page PDF, available for free download on our website, or directly at this link:
www.rattle.com/eissues/eIssue10.pdf (1.2 MB) If that doesn’t work, just go to www.rattle.comand click the banner at the top of the page.
But that’s not the only reason I’m writing now. I also wanted to announce a big change to the Rattle Poetry Prize competition, which has just opened up for 2011. We’re now giving $100 and publication to 15 finalists...5 more than in the past. But even better, rather than choose a winner ourselves, we’re going to let you decide: After picking and printing the 15 finalists in our usual blind review, subscribers and entrants are going to be able to vote on who they think deserves the $5,000 prize. I always wonder who you’d pick—now we get to find out. For more information, go to www.rattle.com/rpp/rpp.htm Enter by May 15th and your included subscription will start with the summer issue.
Finally, since many of our subscribers are poets themselves, this is always a useful time in our production cycle to announce upcoming calls for submissions, and let you know what we’ll be looking for in the coming year. I’ll list that information below.
Have you ever wondered how many great writers there are that you’ve never heard of, either due to bad luck or the author’s disinterest in publishing? Emily Dickinson told her sister to burn her papers, and if Lavinia had followed through, Dickinson ’s place in the literary canon might be similar to that of D.P. Kristolo’s now.
“DPK” has only released a handful of poems to the world, via postings to online forums, and all of them are outstanding. Little is known about the author—even the gender is a guess. But none of that matters to the “Pixel Poets,” a group of online poetry workshoppers who let the writing stand alone. Colin Ward introduces us to several in his essay, “Pixel Poets: A Meritocracy,” where he argues that the quality of work in the online poetry community is far superior to what’s found in print. You might not agree with all of his points, but there’s no arguing about the strength of the poems he shares, including DPK’s modern classic “Beans.”
Of course Ward’s essay is just part of this spring’s e-issue. I also interviewed Susan McMaster about her anthology of Canadian poets, Pith & Wry—this summer’s issue of Rattle (at press now, available June 1st) features a Tribute to Canadian Poets, so I used the opportunity to get her take on the expansive Canadian poetry scene. As Vice President of the League of Canadian Poets, she was a great person to ask. So if you’re curious about what’s going on up north, or just wondering how an anthology editor comes to be, give it a read. As part of the feature, we’ve included a half-dozen poems from Pith & Wry that are worth the price of admission on their own.
Also in Rattle e.10: we announce the winner of the 2011 Neil Postman Award for Metaphor; Dan Waber introduces the installation poetry of Ward Tietz; Maryann Corbett reviews another pixel poet, M.A. Griffiths’ posthumous Grasshopper; and we preview some of the poems that are forthcoming in Rattle #35.
The spring e-issue is a 36-page PDF, available for free download on our website, or directly at this link:
www.rattle.com/eissues/eIssue10.pdf (1.2 MB) If that doesn’t work, just go to www.rattle.comand click the banner at the top of the page.
But that’s not the only reason I’m writing now. I also wanted to announce a big change to the Rattle Poetry Prize competition, which has just opened up for 2011. We’re now giving $100 and publication to 15 finalists...5 more than in the past. But even better, rather than choose a winner ourselves, we’re going to let you decide: After picking and printing the 15 finalists in our usual blind review, subscribers and entrants are going to be able to vote on who they think deserves the $5,000 prize. I always wonder who you’d pick—now we get to find out. For more information, go to www.rattle.com/rpp/rpp.htm Enter by May 15th and your included subscription will start with the summer issue.
Finally, since many of our subscribers are poets themselves, this is always a useful time in our production cycle to announce upcoming calls for submissions, and let you know what we’ll be looking for in the coming year. I’ll list that information below.
Please don’t forget that less than half of the poetry in each issue is focused on the theme—the rest is open to any style, subject, or poet. We always enjoy reading submissions, and accept them by email and hardcopy, year-round, so never hesitate to send us work. Moreover, all submissions to Rattle are automatically considered for the annual Neil Postman Award for Metaphor, which we’ve increased to $500. Visit www.rattle.com/submissions.htm for guidelines.
That’s all for now. We hope you enjoy this little electronic bonus, and thank you, always, for your support.
Best wishes,
Tim
That’s all for now. We hope you enjoy this little electronic bonus, and thank you, always, for your support.
Best wishes,
Tim
CALLS FOR SUBMISSION (for details go to: www.rattle.com/callsforsubs.htm
Issue / Theme / Reading Period
#36 - Buddhist Poets: Feb 1, 2011 – Aug 1, 2011
#37 - Poets in Law Enforcement: Aug 1, 2011 – Feb 1, 2012
#38 - Science Fiction Poetry: Feb 1, 2012 – Aug 1, 2012
#37 - Poets in Law Enforcement: Aug 1, 2011 – Feb 1, 2012
#38 - Science Fiction Poetry: Feb 1, 2012 – Aug 1, 2012
NOTE: You’re most likely receiving this email because you’ve sent us work in the past, though in a few cases we pulled email addresses of poets that were available publicly online. If you’d like to be removed from this list, just send a blank email to:remove@rattle.com But I hope you’ll allow us to keep you on our list—we only send a few emails each year, around April 1st and October 1st, to announce calls for submissions and these free online e-issues, and we never buy, sell, or trade contact information. As a non-profit with a small budget, emails are the most cost-effective way to remind a large number of poets that we exist. And because we never solicit work directly, announcing a call for submissions is crucial for maintaining our standards of content.
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