leigh ann

let’s talk about fairness (question mark) in the publishing industry. i’m not here to make a judgment or anything but rather to talk through my thought process on certain matters.

let’s look at the facts:

• i’ve been submitting to journals and publishers
• i’ve been reviewing a lot of submission guidelines
• simultaneous submissions are not allowed with a lot of submissions
• i’ve had some submissions sit around for months to a year
• a number of publications disallow pieces posted to personal websites

with protocol having being established my questions are as follows:

• is it fair to keep writers away from other publishing opportunities by not allowing them to submit their writing elsewhere or to your publication by not allowing simultaneous submissions
• how long is too long to wait on a response (especially if it has a no simultaneous submission clause)
• if personal blogs disqualify you from publication, then why are they not considered ‘published’ for all other intents and purposes

i’m not sure if there’s a right or wrong answer to any of these questions. what i do know is that there are a few people that would shake their head if i showed them moist or senses upon sense and said that i’m ‘published’. even i might.

but is that just antiquated? am i just caught up in the laws that tell me one method is better than the other? have i drank the koolaid that’ll keep me down and out and struggling? do i lack the self-confidence and conviction to hold up my middle finger to myself and everybody else and say, yes i am published fuck you?

again questions no answers.

part of it is, we seem to be at the mercy of others – intentional or not. others with complex lives and thoughts we could never have the hope of comprehending. there’s nothing inherently malicious about the way this works (i hope not). it’s just frustrating and tiresome and i worry about making a misstep regarding something i care so deeply about.

the truth of the matter is, i don’t know what the next step or how to take it and i’m so concerned about it being the right step that it just freezes me in my spot.

if anybody ever comes across this post in the void of the internet, what are your thoughts?