What the Editors Say

Brief discussion of how editors react to poetry submissions, and how to improve one's poems through reading current poetry in magazines and books.

Poetry is a conversation among writers. Those who don't pick up a lit mag whenever they're in a library or bookstore don't know what the conversation's about.

I always hear from editors as they comb through their in-boxes, "wow, X is skilled enough, but they just don't read much contemporary poetry." The submitter will receive a rejection slip and never understand why.

They're like that guy at the bar who's not listening to the chatter around him. When he talks it's always out of turn, doesn't make sense or doesn't matter.

This all sounds occult, I guess, like poetry's a closed society of hidden handshakes and nods. Hmm. Well, that interpretation's far too sinister.

Simply put, editors can tell if you're part of the poetic conversation around you, or if you're nose-down on the bar. So if it's been a while since you checked out a book or magazine, go down and get yourself a stack. It will only do your poetry, and your submissions, good.