Literary Journals

Most literary journals say they're going to get back to you within 4 months. Some give themselves a little bigger of a window - 4 to 6 months, they say, with that six looming pretty ominously (half a year! What?) Now I know that literary journals are understaffed, underpaid, and near drowning in beige manila envelopes, and on the whole, in a platonic ideal sense, I pay them a great deal of respect. They are holding up the small people, the beginners, the short story world, and that deserves our admiration. Some of the journals, though, do far better in responding promptly than others. For instance, what prompted this post was receiving a rejection slip from Zoetrope - the journal started by Francis Ford Coppola - a high level journal, well respected. I received it yesterday, January 9th. Only trouble is, I sent the short story to them January 5th. That's right, 2006. So they're coming in with a reply at just a couple days over a year. I had emailed them twice during the year, both times at which they told me my story had been logged into the system on March 3rd (two months just to get logged in?) and that the editors were experiencing a backlog. A backlog might be the right term for an eight-month delay. When you take over a year to reply, that's more like an impasse.

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.

Comments

[jadepark]

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.

[The Dolphin Smiles]

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

[Carolyn]

Submit to Hot Metal Bridge! We're new from Pittsburgh. We won't let your grandma kick before getting back to you.

[Stephen Eric Berry]

To All Writers Interested in Submitting Work to Indiana Review:

Just recently I received a rejection notice from this magazine a full ONE YEAR following my submission of a piece of fiction.

I offer this warning to anyone who is considering submitting work to this magazine: nevermind about fonts, just think about whether or not you want to subject yourself to this level of disrespect; just give that a little thought before you lick your envelope and send them your work.

Shame on you, Indiana Review.

Stephen Eric Berry
Ann Arbor, MI

[P. David VanPelt]

I appreciate this information. Am new to this writer's world and still trying to crack the nut.I'll share a view:

Sometimes, the whole idea of publishing seems like a numbskulled, harebrained, frustrating, befuddling proposition. But, I look at it this way:there are far worse things I could be expending time and effort on. And one day, some way, something I have written will strike a chord, fire a neuron, or nudge a ventricle.Sometime after that, I shall become a published writer!