Comments on: A Response to “I Can’t Enumerate . . .” http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/ A National Blog of Literature & Discussion Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:12:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ringing of the Bells » Timothy Green http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2448 Ringing of the Bells » Timothy Green Wed, 28 May 2008 19:57:08 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2448 [...] whose own submissions might be at the brunt end of the jokes for all they know, take offense. Genoways apologizes, and the list is redacted. Howard Junker is appalled. Outrage and hilarity [...] [...] whose own submissions might be at the brunt end of the jokes for all they know, take offense. Genoways apologizes, and the list is redacted. Howard Junker is appalled. Outrage and hilarity [...]

]]> By: A war of words at the bottom of the alphabet « Ad Nauseam http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2427 A war of words at the bottom of the alphabet « Ad Nauseam Thu, 22 May 2008 20:30:15 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2427 [...] May 5: Ted Genoways apologizes [...] [...] May 5: Ted Genoways apologizes [...]

]]> By: Oh, Barf-o « BlogLily http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2405 Oh, Barf-o « BlogLily Thu, 15 May 2008 00:12:20 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2405 [...] that far, though, because people were still mad at him, so pretty soon, an editor at the VQR posted his own response. It’s a deliciously weird non-apology — the kind of thing that starts off apologizing [...] [...] that far, though, because people were still mad at him, so pretty soon, an editor at the VQR posted his own response. It’s a deliciously weird non-apology — the kind of thing that starts off apologizing [...]

]]> By: a way to reject? « Writing Under a Pseudonym http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2403 a way to reject? « Writing Under a Pseudonym Wed, 14 May 2008 18:48:26 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2403 [...] possible because the litmag is still small with NOT a kazillion submissions like Ploughshares and The Virginia Quarterly, who have provided their own (at times colorful) opinions on the matter of [...] [...] possible because the litmag is still small with NOT a kazillion submissions like Ploughshares and The Virginia Quarterly, who have provided their own (at times colorful) opinions on the matter of [...]

]]> By: clicking is more interesting than packing at pinkyspaperhaus http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2401 clicking is more interesting than packing at pinkyspaperhaus Mon, 12 May 2008 20:00:56 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2401 [...] became belatedly aware of the kerfluffle over the Virginia Quarterly Review’s (over?)sharing of their readers’ comments on their [...] [...] became belatedly aware of the kerfluffle over the Virginia Quarterly Review’s (over?)sharing of their readers’ comments on their [...]

]]> By: Little Fury » Blog Archive » The Friday Venom http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2397 Little Fury » Blog Archive » The Friday Venom Fri, 09 May 2008 21:35:08 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2397 [...] I don’t see what all the fuss is about since 99% of VQR submitters have never seen the magazine.  Hell, 99% of all submitters anywhere have never read the magazine: VQR apologizes for publishing reader comments on manuscripts [...] [...] I don’t see what all the fuss is about since 99% of VQR submitters have never seen the magazine.  Hell, 99% of all submitters anywhere have never read the magazine: VQR apologizes for publishing reader comments on manuscripts [...]

]]> By: Stan Dards http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2394 Stan Dards Fri, 09 May 2008 01:05:31 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2394 Wish I could have read the original post. That the VQR capitulated, removing the offending article, is unfortunate. Just as there are some people who cannot bake bread or play the sitar or win at Yahtzee, there are some people who CAN'T WRITE. It's true. Perhaps every human has a great novel waiting inside, most likely many novels, but it takes someone who CAN WRITE to make it happen. Don't be ashamed. Don't feel bad. Keep trying. A sense of humour will help you through the bad times. A day job will help you through the worst. Wish I could have read the original post. That the VQR capitulated, removing the offending article, is unfortunate. Just as there are some people who cannot bake bread or play the sitar or win at Yahtzee, there are some people who CAN’T WRITE. It’s true. Perhaps every human has a great novel waiting inside, most likely many novels, but it takes someone who CAN WRITE to make it happen. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t feel bad. Keep trying. A sense of humour will help you through the bad times. A day job will help you through the worst.

]]> By: Lee Rice Epstein http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2393 Lee Rice Epstein Thu, 08 May 2008 18:34:13 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2393 This is exactly why I read VQR. Ted, what a wonderful and insightful post. I heartily echo my wife's sentiment regarding a spirited and thoughtful discussion of American literature. This is exactly why I read VQR. Ted, what a wonderful and insightful post. I heartily echo my wife’s sentiment regarding a spirited and thoughtful discussion of American literature.

]]> By: Alexis E Santi http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2392 Alexis E Santi Thu, 08 May 2008 16:10:18 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2392 The goal of the literature is that one party "hears" the other. The talent that it takes to develop that motion between two parties is difficult, challenging and takes years upon years to master. There are no "natural" writers, one cannot master the craft of writing from birth, or as a toddler who masters Bach banging on the piano or conducts a concerto barely standing. In the world of literature no such example has ever graced the earth. It takes time, hard work, drafts, friendships, a thick skin and a sprinkle of talent. We founded a little literary journal two years ago that would not shoo you away if your story didn't cut the mustard. We decided that while we were cool with lifting up and praising 2 or 3 writers a quarter but found a way to lift up and praise the other 523 writers that submitted to us every quarter. We started giving (for free) some short thoughts, about a paragraph or two about what we were thinking. We decided not to open up the mail, take your submission fee when we ran a contest and feel as if we "deserved" your money from just reading say a couple of pages of your story, an action which in the world of cons is next to only the pyramid scheme, in my humble opinion. Yes, some writers need help--and we know (the we being a trained, hard working editorial staff) reading their story 100% of the time what it could use for a revision. Again, 100% of the time our very nature and training allows us the skills to say what is wrong. You have the skills as writers and editors that work for one of the best MFA programs in the country to help their writing. At Our Stories this is "the conversation" that is lacking at every other journal. It is not helpful; it is not part of the conversation to insult developing writers. IT accomplishes nothing and is tantamount to shaking hands with the thought that is behind a racial slur that puts someone in their place. In this case your staff suggested, “don’t come back, you’re not worthy”. The half-baked justification and I quote: "accurately reflect the righteous indignation that we often feel as readers" shows a window into the mind of an editorial staff that they are angry, they are frustrated by the very people that support them, give money to their contests, read them and submit to them. Does a therapist lash out at their patient and say, "What the F' is wrong with you? You're terrible!" And, pray tell, why should the rules be different in a literary journal than the very classes in an MFA program or a BA creative writing course? Imagine the horror of such statements, in the bubble of a workshop? You decided to work at a literary journal and read stories, if you need a beer after you read twenty stories, pop open a beer but don’t lash out on a blog. Please. I think we're helpful at Our Stories to our writers, we see them come back with their stories time after time and when we pass on a story and we tell them why, or how they can improve the next draft and you know what? They thank us for their rejections and anytime someone thanks us profusely for rejecting them, well I think we're doing something right. Best, Alexis Enrico Santi Editor in Chief & Founder http://www.ourstories.us The goal of the literature is that one party “hears” the other. The talent that it takes to develop that motion between two parties is difficult, challenging and takes years upon years to master. There are no “natural” writers, one cannot master the craft of writing from birth, or as a toddler who masters Bach banging on the piano or conducts a concerto barely standing. In the world of literature no such example has ever graced the earth. It takes time, hard work, drafts, friendships, a thick skin and a sprinkle of talent.

We founded a little literary journal two years ago that would not shoo you away if your story didn’t cut the mustard. We decided that while we were cool with lifting up and praising 2 or 3 writers a quarter but found a way to lift up and praise the other 523 writers that submitted to us every quarter. We started giving (for free) some short thoughts, about a paragraph or two about what we were thinking. We decided not to open up the mail, take your submission fee when we ran a contest and feel as if we “deserved” your money from just reading say a couple of pages of your story, an action which in the world of cons is next to only the pyramid scheme, in my humble opinion.

Yes, some writers need help–and we know (the we being a trained, hard working editorial staff) reading their story 100% of the time what it could use for a revision. Again, 100% of the time our very nature and training allows us the skills to say what is wrong. You have the skills as writers and editors that work for one of the best MFA programs in the country to help their writing. At Our Stories this is “the conversation” that is lacking at every other journal.

It is not helpful; it is not part of the conversation to insult developing writers. IT accomplishes nothing and is tantamount to shaking hands with the thought that is behind a racial slur that puts someone in their place. In this case your staff suggested, “don’t come back, you’re not worthy”. The half-baked justification and I quote: “accurately reflect the righteous indignation that we often feel as readers” shows a window into the mind of an editorial staff that they are angry, they are frustrated by the very people that support them, give money to their contests, read them and submit to them. Does a therapist lash out at their patient and say, “What the F’ is wrong with you? You’re terrible!” And, pray tell, why should the rules be different in a literary journal than the very classes in an MFA program or a BA creative writing course? Imagine the horror of such statements, in the bubble of a workshop? You decided to work at a literary journal and read stories, if you need a beer after you read twenty stories, pop open a beer but don’t lash out on a blog. Please.

I think we’re helpful at Our Stories to our writers, we see them come back with their stories time after time and when we pass on a story and we tell them why, or how they can improve the next draft and you know what? They thank us for their rejections and anytime someone thanks us profusely for rejecting them, well I think we’re doing something right.

Best,

Alexis Enrico Santi
Editor in Chief & Founder
http://www.ourstories.us

]]> By: litmag blogs « Writing Under a Pseudonym http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2008/05/05/a-response-to/#comment-2389 litmag blogs « Writing Under a Pseudonym Wed, 07 May 2008 14:45:44 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=269#comment-2389 [...] And then they apologized. [...] [...] And then they apologized. [...]

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