Halvard Johnson wrote:
> On Jul 25, 2005, at 12:23 PM, MJ Walker wrote:
>
>> Does a poet always have to be at boiling temperature?
>
> As for me, I've never liked poets who are always writing
> at their best. Nor have I ever liked those little mags that
> insist one send only one's best work. In fact, I try to
> forget both and have succeeded with the former but not
> the latter.
Thank you, actually, for making me think about that statement. "Send
only your best work." And there we are again, enmeshed in an unwinnable
layered contest where part of the "fun" is seeing how closely your
judgment lines up with the editor's. This sounds very much like a
variation of the other game: "Read several issues at $12 a pop before
submitting." Think like the editor, win a prize? Could you imagine
including a cover note: "This is just some crap I threw together over
the last week to keep in practice. The stuff I love is out at
Ploughshares. If they reject it I'll send it to you."
Ken
--
Kenneth Wolman
Proposal Development Department
Room SW334
Sarnoff Corporation
609-734-2538
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