yes, it's true. i'm a total reject, and here's the evidence. partly for my own records, partly for your amusement.
Arc [july 15, 2003]:
interesting that the folks at arc justify their lack of critique due to the "voluntary nature of their editorial board". though i couldn't quite make out who signed the rejection.
click on the image for a larger version.
work submitted: (from a book of poems i'm calling eastside)
Prism International [june 20, 2003]:
this rejection letter from prism was at least touched by a human hand. thanks marguerite!
no feedback provided, but at least i know it wasn't just a giant robot rejecting me.
work submitted: (from a book of poems i'm calling eastside)
Capilano Review [may 21, 2003]:
they're very efficient and to the point: sorry, mate, not a fucking chance. please inflict this shit on someone else.
my only concern is that i'm not entirely convinced a living editor (or human) actually touched my submission. i think the cap review has a giant robot that deals with submissions. they are fed into a big computer that has "good poetry" algorithms to recognize cap review quality material. the rest are stuffed in s.a.s.e.s by the giant robot and this pleasant, but impersonal, note is attached.
work submitted: (from a book of poems i'm calling eastside)
Canadian Literature [may 7, 2003]:
Dear james hörner,
Thank you for the poems you recently sent us for consideration. We receive over a thousand submissions a year from which we can publish only 35 to 40 poems. I regret that we are unable to accept any of the poems you submitted.
Iain Higgins
Associate Editor (Poetry)
work submitted: (from a book of poems i'm calling eastside)