The Spoon River Poetry Review: Update

UPDATE:

The Spoon River Poetry Review contest page is up to date, announcing the winners of the 2006 and 2007 winners and the deadline for the 2008 contest.

Bruce Guernsey, the new editor, has completed Volume XXXII, Numbers 1 and 2 (contest issue with the 2007 winners). In the contest issue (which he sent to me), Mr. Guernsey explains the contest process--definitely a positive step.

;=)

I wish more contest directors would consider opening up to their subscribers and contest entrants, thus being more transparent.

If you entered the 2007 contest, you should have received your contest issue by now; if not, just get in touch with Mr. Guernsey. He has been very pleasant in his dealings with Post Foetry and seems to want to do the right things for his readers.

Best,

Jennifer

New Letters Writing Awards Guidelines: Mixed Review

The announcement for this year's New Letters contest arrived in my mailbox today. I haven't entered a fee-based writing contest in years, so I'm surprised that I continue receiving these mailings.

Still, I took a look at the journal's online guidelines and discovered that, for the most part, they are friendly toward writers.

Thumbs up:

--"Current students and employees of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and current volunteer members of the New Letters and BkMk Press staffs, are not eligible."

--An entrant receives something in return for his/her fee: "Entry fee [$15.00] includes the cost of a one-year subscription, renewal, or gift subscription to New Letters, shipped to any address within the United States. (Subscriptions mailed outside the U.S. require a $12 postal surcharge [This is a fair charge, given the expensive nature of sending magazines overseas])."

--Simultaneous submissions allowed--fantastic!

--One entry: up to six poems may be submitted--very generous.

--One fiction/prose entry: up to 8,000 words--again, very generous.

--The guidelines are clear on submission expectations and deadlines.

--The First Prize is generous.

Thumbs down:

--Not naming the final judge in advance. I don't buy into the argument that judges will be "harassed" by toadying writers. There is an email delete button for a reason. What happens if the entrant knows the judge and the judge recognizes the entrant's submission (blind or no blind)? In that case, would the entrant's submission be disqualified? If so, would the entrant receive a refund of fees (minus the subscription fee)? In this case, it seems unfair to not offer a refund, given that the entrant has no idea who's doing the final judging. Also, such secrecy almost guarantees that such information will leak out anyway and/or rumors would circulate.

--"Friends of the screeners/judge ineligible" not specified (related to the non-transparency of the above "thumbs down").

--Not clear if there is Second or Third Prize: "Judges have the option to select work for second runner-up and honorable mentions" is a bit nebulous.

--No statement regarding what would occur if a First Prize isn't awarded at all. If this happens, would entrants receive a refund?

___________________


We have posted some Ideal Guidelines for both entrants and contest administrators to consider.

By posting a "thumbs down" section for a contest, we are not addressing the issue of honesty or dishonesty; we are simply noting that some red flags exist and that entrants should email the administrator of the contest for further questions.

If you are comfortable with the contest guidelines, by all means enter.

What is your past experience with this contest? Feel free to post your comments in this thread.

Best,

Jennifer

Response From Former Editor of The Spoon River Poetry Review

A response from former Editor Lucia Getsi:

Hi there,

I am no longer the editor, having retired from that position after twenty years, but I am happy to answer. The fall issue, in a twice per year journal that has never been late in 25 years, has been published in December for the past 17 years. It is sent NFP mail, so it is usually mid December or even January before it gets to those on the mailing list, approximately 1200. I have seen the galleys--the winners are right in there, just like always. Does this contestant know that fall extends through the winter solstice on Dec. 21?

We have never, nor will we ever, announce the judges before the contest is judged and announced. You cannot imagine how judges are hounded if some people know who they are in advance, and most writers will not even consider judging a contest if their names are announced in advance. We try for blind judging, and keeping identities secret helps.

We've never had a complaint about our rules, after which many other journal contests have modeled their own. They are clear enough so that had I gotten such an email, I may have ignored it, but I doubt that our Publication Director did, as she answers everything. Many times, emails from those not in the computer address book are routinely routed to Junk Mail, and sometimes some slip into Junk even when they are.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lucia Getsi
20 year Editor,
The Spoon River Poetry Review
University Distinguished Professor Emerita,
English and Comparative Literature
Illinois State University

_________________________

Thank you for your quick response.

I still have some questions:

1. If the judge is kept anonymous, how does he or she know that she/he isn't awarding a prize to his/her current student, a friend, lover/spouse, or family member? (See Jorie Graham Rule)
2. Do you have a mechanism in place for avoiding this potential problem?
3. If a finalist turns out to have a personal or professional relationship with the final judge, do you disqualify him or her? If so, is that entrant's fee returned? (In other words, it would seem unfair to penalize an entrant who doesn't know the identity of the final judge before submitting).
4. I still don't see a link on your website about the 2006 winners, and our correspondent said he/she had entered the 2007 contest. Please clarify.

Best,

Jennifer Semple Siegel

Spoon River Poetry Review, Where are You????

Just when I think I'm "over it," someone reminds of why I got involved in Foetry and then Post Foetry...

Today, I received the following email from a poetry contest entrant:

I decided to e-mail you to ask about the Spoon River Poetry Review.

[Note from Bugzita: by the way, the SRPR contest rules seem waffly and incomplete, although offering a subscription in return is a step in the right direction, although it looks as though our correspondent has not been receiving his issues. In any case, the judge should be announced before entrants send in their money.]

I have received no word from that publication since I submitted poems to its annual poetry contest. I e-mailed them to find out and did not get an answer. It has been since April 15th since the deadline, meaning it is now going on eight months. Maybe that is typical of poetry contests?

I understand that things take time but since SRPR does not allow for simultaneous submissions I can't submit my poems elsewhere in the meantime. Why do they take their merry old time to get back and keep me from submitting elsewhere? It doesn't seem fair to me. Or else I should "get over it" as that may be the world of poetry - slow as glacial ice!!

I have noticed that there has been no Fall issue of SRPR in which the contest winners will be published. Winter comes and the Fall issue is nowhere to be found. None in the mail and none posted on SRPR's website. I guess I'm either impatient or a sucker. Do you have any insight into this?

Thanks for your time and indulgence.

First of all, you're not a sucker; you have done all the right things: followed the rules and waited patiently for an announcement of 2007 winners. Secondly, I think that the "no simultaneous submission" rule is complete and utter BS, which is mostly ignored, anyway. Trust me, as a former editor, I have first-hand knowledge of this.

However, if your personal ethics dictate that you follow contest rules that dictate no simultaneous submissions, then I would say that you are off the hook after six months. It's your work, after all. Who are editors to say that you must wait an eternity for their answer?

Evidently, they have yet to announce the 2006 contest winners, so, my friend, you may have a very long wait.

It troubles me that your email was ignored--if the people running this contest are taking money from entrants, then they owe their paying-customer base answers. At the very least, the editor or other representative should post a message on the website, explaining the reason for the backlog and apologizing for the delay. Otherwise, they just look like another fly-by-night outfit.

How about it, Spoon River Poetry Review?

1. Answer your customers' questions.
2. Post an explanation/apology on your website homepage.
3. SRPR editor: feel free to email a response to me, which I'll post here.

In the future, contest entrants should take care and consider contests that incorporate these guidelines.

Best,

Jennifer

Speaking of Jeffrey Levine...

I received this message in an email:

Tupelo Press is extraordinarily pleased to announce that Rhode Island Poet Laureate (1994-1999) and Guggenheim fellow C. D. Wright will be the judge for the 2007 Dorset Prize. Ms. Wright's books include Steal Away: New and Selected Poems and Cooling Time: An American Poetry Vigil.

No comment.

Search the foetry.com archives and judge for yourself.

Iowa Poetry Prize: A Warning

In case you didn't click on Alan's poster, the caption reads:

"Where everyone's a loser."

Bugzita

Winnow Press Suspending Operations Indefinitely

On its website, Winnow Press has announced that "Due to the owner's ongoing illness and family challenges, Winnow Press is indefinitely suspended."

In its announcement, the editor says the press will return any contest monies not yet refunded.

If you entered a contest at Winnow and did not receive a refund, go to the Winnow website for more details.

FoetLaureate.com: Call for Charles Simic's Resignation as Poet Laureate

After much internal debate and soul-searching, I have decided to post an ad-free web page FoetLaureate.com calling for the resignation of Charles Simic from the Poet Laureate of the United States post, and I have explained my rationale on the page.

I don't know the man personally, and I may even feel a sort of affinity toward him in that I spent a year in the former Yugoslavia (1988-1989), his native land. I wanted to be happy and thrilled when his name was announced and Nomi posted the news on this blog.

Mr. Simic may be an excellent and renowned poet; he may even be a personable soul, but I believe that our Poet Laureate should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us mere mortals. There should be no taint associated with his/her name because this person should represent all American poets and the best of American poetry.

We have enough lousy politicians giving our country a bad name, so why not aim for a Poet Laureate with impeccable credentials?

With regret and sorrow,

Bugzita

IOWA (U. of) at it Again ??

The bad news is that the University of Iowa Poetry Prize has not changed its tune.

Visit Alan's website (Blue Hole) for more information. If you (our small group of readers) have any personal experience or opinion, please email Bugzita (Jennifer) or myself. Or simply comment on this brief entry.

Yes, defend this program, if you wish. Their website is pleasant yet reveals little.

Thank you, Sandra Simonds for your blog entry earlier. http://ssandrasimonds.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-just-had-miscarriage-so-i-dont-feel.html

A New Watch List: Suspected and Known Cheaters

On the left sidebar, there is a new list (without links) of suspected and known contest cheaters; IMHO, this is a list that should not exist.

I developed this list from the Foetry Contests archive; I looked at each thread to make sure that that the contest warrants being on the watch list.

If your organization appears on this list and you would like it to be removed, email me a compelling reason why your contest should be removed from our watch list. I reserve the right to publish any and all email responses as posts, so keep that in mind as you select the exact right wording for your email.

Conversely, "Honest Contest Guidelines" appear below it, with nothing listed yet; I would like to see this list filled in, but I'm not optimistic. If you feel that your contest should appear on this list with a link to your guidelines, email me, and include your detailed guidelines, contest winners and their professional affiliations, and contest finalists and their professional affiliations for the last 10 years (or when the contest came into existence). I reserve the right to publish any and all email responses as posts, so keep that in mind as you select the exact right wording for your email.

One of us will research your information and then make a decision as to whether your guidelines and actions pass the stink test.

I have a feeling I'm going to be a very lonely blogger with not a whole lot to do on this blog.

Jennifer

Charles Simic is our new Foet Laureate?

According to Bluehole, we need to take a closer look at our new Poet Laureate Charles Simic as a Foet Laureate.

Bluehole makes a compelling argument in his August 4, 2007, blog entry.

Is it any wonder that ordinary folks eschew the literary arts? First, one is inflicted with obscure and puzzling poems that only insiders understand and then these foets cheat to get those really lousy poems published.

Post Foetry will continue to lobby against fee-based literary contests. Unless the playing field (in terms of judging) is leveled, then, quite simply, paying to enter a contest is worse than playing the lottery.

Starting immediately, Post Foetry will remove all links to literary magazine contests; we will make a list of magazines to avoid (without links), and we will develop a link list to litmags that offer good guidelines and are known to play fairly.

I suspect that will be a very short list, indeed.

Jennifer

Sawtooth Revisted: The Intrigue Ccontinues . . .

Buried in the comment section...

Spirit of Mallie said...

1. St. Mary's is unofficially affiliated with Sawtooth: Brenda Hillman and Graham Foust both teach there. The former "judged" a Sawtooth prize and the later "won" one. Three St. Mary's people. What ARE the chances?

2. Rusty will be publishing Bin Ramke's new book.

3. Hillman and Gander edit the California poetry series.

4. Gander is married to Wright.

5. And the list continues . . .

Thanks, Spirit of Mallie.

Bugz

2007 Sawtooth Poetry Prize competition, and the winner is...

Thanks to "anonymous," I looked up the winner of the 2007 Sawtooth Poetry Prize:

Ahsahta Press is delighted to announce the winner of its sixth annual Sawtooth Poetry Prize competition: Rusty Morrison of Richmond, California, whose manuscript the true keeps calm biding its story was selected by Peter Gizzi. She will receive the $1,500 prize in addition to the publication of her book by Ahsahta Press in January 2008. Read the rest here...

C.D. Wright will judge the 2008 contest.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Rusty Morrison and her husband Ken Keegan are founders of Omnidawn Publishing: a publication founded "to create books that are most closely aligned with each author's vision, and to provide an interactive and rewarding publishing experience for poets and writers."

"She was the winner of the 10th Annual Colorado Prize for Poetry (2004) judged by Forrest Gander for her poetry collection, Whethering, published by Center for Literary Publishing and distributed by the University Press of Colorado. She is also the winner of the 2006 Cecil Hemley Memorial Award and co-winner of the 2003 Robert H. Winner Memorial Award, both from the Poetry Society of America. She also co-edits the poetry journal 26, which is affiliated with the Saint Mary's MFA program."

Finalists for the 2007 Sawtooth Poetry Prize:

Geri Lynn Baumblatt, Chicago, Illinois, Atlas of a Cul-de-sac

Oni Buchanan, Brighton, Massachusetts, Spring

Adam Clay, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Nodaway River

Joshua Corey, Ithaca, New York, Windlestrae

Donna de la Perrière, Oakland, California, Saint Erasure

Rebecca Morgan Frank, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Everyday Disaster

Anthony Hawley, Lincoln, Nebraska, Autobiography/Oughtabiography

Stephanie Heit, Frankfort, Michigan, Quiet Anatomy

Brenda Iijima, Brooklyn, New York, If Not Metamorphic (runner-up)

Alice Jones, Berkeley, California, Plunge

Jim Klein, Rutherford, New Jersey, I Didn’t Know if I Was Afoot or on Horseback

Rusty Morrison, Richmond, California, the true keeps calm biding its story (winner)

Danielle Pafunda, Shelburne, New Hampshire, Iatrogenic: Their Testimonies

Karin Randolph, Brooklyn, New York, Blitz

Richard A. Reid, Brooklyn, New York, to be hung from the ceiling by strings of varying length

Evelyn Reilly, Hillsdale, New York, Reverse Landscapes

Andrea Rexilius, Denver, Colorado, A HEM

Christopher Schmidt, Brooklyn, New York, The Next in Line

Brandon Shimoda, Missoula, Montana, O Bon

Michael Slosek, Chicago, Illinois, Artificial Origins

Ashley VanDoorn, Lawrenceville, Georgia, Devices

G.C. Waldrep, Gambier, Ohio, Archicembalo

_____________________

Semifinalists for 2007 Sawtooth Poetry Prize:

Angus Bennett, Austin, Texas, Stomachion

Jessica Bozek, Beverly, Massachusetts, The Bodyfeel Lexicon

Julie Carr, Denver, Colorado, I, Minimus

Jennifer Denrow, Saint Louis, Missouri, A Knee for a Life

Shira Dentz, Salt Lake City, Utah, Diagram of a Voice

Janet Kaplan, Brooklyn, New York, Dreamlife of a Philanthropist

Jennifer MacKenzie, Portland, Oregon, With Its Brightness

Dora Malech, Bethesda, Maryland, Say So

Sarah Mangold, Seattle, Washington, Everything About How

Malinda Markham, Tokyo, Japan, Who Came Running

Susan McCabe, Santa Monica, California, Descartes’ Nightmare

Mary Molinary, Memphis, Tennessee, Feast of Anonymous

L.J. Moore, San Francisco, California, F-STEIN

Rusty Morrison, Richmond, California, Beyond the Chainlink

Kristin Naca, Seattle, Washington, Bird Eating Bird

Christopher Rizzo, Albany, New York, 33 Days in the Month of Kid

Donna Stonecipher, Seattle, Washington, The Cosmopolitan

Allison Titus, Richmond, Virginia, Barter, Fasten

Leila Wilson, Chicago, Illinois, The Hundred Grasses

Terence Winch, Silver Spring, Maryland, Lift from Below

Lynn Xu, Brooklyn, New York, For an Expedient Return to Wilderness

_______________________

I wonder: Is Rusty Morrison's work really that good that she would win this contest and place as a semi-finalist?

I would say that she is well-connected. But I'll let you all judge for yourself.

Does Post Foetry Have a Future?

Maybe it's because it's summer, or, perhaps Al was right: it's possible Foetry has run its course. I reread the last few posts that I wrote, and I can see why readers aren't checking in and/or responding. Post Foetry isn't breaking new ground; in fact, in my opinion, we have taken a step backwards.

At least one comment suggests this fact.

I could just be cranky today; it's hot out, and I'm tired, but I'm getting the sense that writers like the status quo, even though it's a deeply flawed system. Certainly, pobiz benefits those in power, so there is little incentive for real change, unless...

The government gets involved and starts investigating some of these university and private elitist contests, which, in my opinion, are sophisticated versions of poetry.scam. I do believe that a day of reckoning is upon the horizon, but I, as a lonely dissenter, will not be the impetus for such an investigation. I have neither the money nor the ambition to sustain the ire and relentless investigation required of a whistle blower. Perhaps some government wonk will get up off his or her ass and start the ball rolling, but I'm not holding my breath. It will take a truly egregious scandal to get the attention of the right legislators. It will happen: if nothing else, pobiz powers have a bottomless capacity for self-deception--sooner or later, some narcissistic pobizer will piss off the wrong people (read: powerful).

Three years ago, Al, as a private citizen, did a damn good job of ruffling feathers, but he's only one person; even if you dislike him, he stirred up the pobiz and some changes did take place, but now he has had to move on and reclaim his life before Foetry.

I note that pobiz has pretty much lapsed back into its sloppy ways and slimy contest guidelines, but here's the deal: most of you are adults, and if you choose to support these bogus contests, then who am I (or anyone else) to stop you?

For the past few days, I have been doing some serious thinking about where I want to concentrate my limited energies, and I had to admit that it isn't here.

Therefore, I will no longer be updating contest guidelines; you're on your own now. Perhaps another fofighter will take up the fight. However, I'll keep this blog open for comments and team members should anyone have anything important to say.

Post Foetry has an opportunity to become a place where important ideas are discussed, but it isn't there yet, and it may never be there.

So be it.

I'll check in a few days from now.

Bugzita

Ho-hum, Another Contest, More of the Same Old, Same Old

Yesterday, I received what I consider another piece of contest junk mail, this time from Hollis Summers Poetry Prize.

Yet another way to lose $20.00.

I don't even need to go into the full guidelines, but the following is, in my opinion, a deal killer:

The final judge for the competition will be announced when the winner is named in April [2008].

Post Foetry recommends that you avoid all literary contests that don't announce their judges in advance and don't have the Jorie Graham Rule in place (e.g., former students, current students, friends, family, etc. may not enter).

How can one know if the judges are friends, former teachers, family, or foes if one does not know who the judges are? See our ideal guidelines in our favorite link list. Please note that our ideal contest guidelines text is a dynamic document; we are still working on it.

Eventually, we'll have in place a list of contests to definitely avoid and a list that have in place ethical submission rules. The latter will have links to their websites.

Hmmmmmm....I wonder which list will be longer?

Readers, if you want to help out in this effort, please e-mail any hinky guidelines to me.

Best, Bugzita

Poets & Writers (Grants & Awards Submission Calendar)

Poets & Writers offers a submission calendar for grants and contests.

Post Foetry does not endorse contests but simply offers this link for informational purposes. I urge you to read all contest guidelines and understand them before writing that check.

Even with freebie contests, do consider whether or not your entry will be worth your time, paper, and postage.

Best,

Bugzita

Literary Contest Guideline Links

As a public service, I am slowly building a Literary Contest Guidelines Link list; I'm doing this because paying entrants ought to be well-informed about what a contest offers, in terms of entry costs, transparency, fairness, and awards.

The first place to start: Foetry's archive, where you'll find accounts of literary magazine contest misbehavior and cronyism. If these accounts don't cause you to run in the other direction, then look at the guidelines themselves. If something about the guidelines isn't clear, then you should e-mail the people in charge of the contest. If they don't answer via e-mail, forget 'em. If you are considering plunking down $20-$30 to enter a contest, you should not have to jump through the SASE hoop.

If the answers are less than satisfactory, that in itself offers important information, and you might consider moving on.

In my opinion, fee-based literary contests should offer the following information (along with the usual deadlines, $ amount of prizes, proper size of envelope, etc.):

1. Name of judges, including their institution affiliations (current and past) and credentials.

2. Explanation of the screening process; for example, how many of the manuscripts do the "big name" judges actually read? Many entrants enter contests because of a certain judge, but if the judge only reads 5% of the manuscripts, then you will have probably wasted your money. Your manuscript is likely to be screened by graduate students, faculty, and staff.

3. A judging time line and when entrants may expect to hear the results.

4. How the contest is funded (e.g., contest fee or grant driven, either private or government). Fee-driven contests can be dicey, especially if the number of entrants doesn't meet the magazine's financial expectations.

5. If a university or college contest, whether students, faculty, and/or staff from the sponsoring institution are eligible (if they are, you might want to consider looking elsewhere).

6. If, for your fee, you will receive something tangible in return, such as a book or subscription. Beware of intangible services, such as Tupelo's promise to comment on every poetry manuscript submitted to the contest. I recommend that you avoid contests that don't offer something tangible in return, other than just a reading fee.

7. If the selection of winners will be guaranteed. Only freebie contests should have the "We reserve the right not to award prizes" disclaimer.

Team members, if I have forgotten something, let me know.

Until literary contests begin policing themselves, it will be up to YOU to do your research, and when you see less than stellar guidelines, hold onto your checkbook, AND let us know about slippery guidelines (along with a link). We WILL take them to task.

Best to all,

Bugzita