Check out this story about a woman who finally had her book taken only to be treated terribly.
Bernadette Geyer riffed on the above post to say that poetry presses should not use celebrity judges.
That brings up a good question for poetry presses. Have they tested whether they receive more (or better) entrants with a celebrity judge? I don’t think the judge was ever a factor for me. In fact, it probably had the opposite result of causing me NOT to enter certain contests. We all know certain judges pick their students. We all know certain judges pick students of their friends and vice versa. When there’s no judge and the press decides, we all get to learn what that editor likes and the kind of books that work for that press.
When a celebrity judge enters the mix, we as readers (and contest entrants) don’t have much of a clue about what that judge will pick. This is why I also prefer magazines that have the same editor over time. I spend time getting to know magazines. If the editors change a lot, then I don’t have a clue as to what they might want for their magazine. Then, it seems like a waste of my time and the magazine’s time to submit since I don’t have any idea if my work is anywhere close to their aesthetic vision for what makes a poem.
What do you think?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, just wow. Words do not suffice how unbelievably horrifying Brown’s story was. I can’t believe presses would do such a thing. And then, the same should have been said of poetry.com, a spam poetry website that many amateur poets STILL fall into. Tsk, tsk.
I thank you for posting an entry about this since it validates my wariness about submitting anything for publication. I value my work just as much as Brown and any other serious poet out there. It’s sad that they can treat a poet this badly by putting a poet’s dignity and integrity in the line like that.
I think judging should be fair no matter what. I agree with you on the fact if the editors change all the time, and it would definitely be a waste of time for any poet to consider submitting. As for celebrity judges, I’m kinda wary of that too. I mean, it seems like there are always some strings attached, you know? Judges–that’s why they’re called “judges” in the first place. Poets who want to submit assume that they are submitting to those judges who will DO the judging, not to celebrity judges who are only there for like a couple of contests. It doesn’t provide the stability as a poet would hope for when everything else blows up in the end. Geyer made plenty of good points about having other uses to use the finances instead of spending it all on celebrity judges.
And here I’m assuming that celebrity judges are the qualified judges who know about poetry like Mary Oliver, Ai, etc.. And let’s not get into celebrity judges who are so unfit and barely know an inkling of what poetry is!! I’m definitely going to have a riff on that! But in all cases, it’s best to not have a celebrity judge if all possible. That way, all poets will be treated and judged fairly, not having to feel a little “ego boost” just because they were selected by a celebrity judge.
Poetry isn’t about trying to boost egos or just publishing a book just because you can show that you published something and put it on a CV/resume; it’s about serious poets who do want to share something meaningful to the poetry world and beyond, and publishing a book can make that happen.
P.S. Also, poetry is about healing, saving lives, and a fine and noble way to document the human experiences and our history for future generations to read.
As Geyer mentioned, if it comes down to only a few noble presses to publish something worthwhile and at least treat poets with respect, then so be it. But we should continue to spread the story to anyone who would listen that the publication world is full of sharks, and even the most experienced poet may fall into traps.
Maybe someday I hope to publish a book, but sometimes, I write poetry for my own pain and pleasure, for healing and for catharsis.