Comments for Kelly Davio

Comment on Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Using Submishmash (From this Editor’s Perspective, That Is) by Kelly Davio

Kelly Davio — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:00:13 +0000

Sarah, I find that so interesting that there are publications who want you to resubmit the whole group of work. Thinking about it from the publisher’s angle, I cannot see any upside to that arrangement. Usually by the time someone withdraws work from me, I’ve made some progress through the submission already. Making someone jump to the back of the queue would mean I’d have to start all over again (not to mention lose all the notes and comments I’d made on a submission). It seems just as bad for the publisher as the writer.

But perhaps this is why some journals have year-long wait times. (Personally, I think that if publishers can’t clear the decks or at least have them mostly cleared in three months, they’re most likely using some pretty clunky, redundant process.)

Comment on Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Using Submishmash (From this Editor’s Perspective, That Is) by SarahJ

SarahJ — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:39:15 +0000

I find withdrawing a poem from a bundle via Submishmash tricky, too. Some publications give clear instructions – usually 1) send an email withdrawing the poem, or 2) withdraw whole submission and re-submit. Although I prefer the former, any advice is helpful. In the latter case, I spent a whole year withdrawing and re-submitting poems to the same publication because of a poem being accepted elsewhere. If the publication is dealing with submissions as they come in, that meant I went back to the bottom of the pile every time. I finally gave up. I understand some publications need time to read and come to a decision, but making the poet withdraw wholesale and return to the end of the line almost forces her to make exclusive rather than simultaneous submissions. Anyway, just my rant. Otherwise I like the tidiness of Submishmash.

Comment on Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Using Submishmash (From this Editor’s Perspective, That Is) by Kelly Davio

Kelly Davio — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:27:43 +0000

Glad to be of help! And if there’s something I’ve not covered here that you’d like to know about, ask away…

Comment on Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Using Submishmash (From this Editor’s Perspective, That Is) by Stephanie Barbe Hammer

Stephanie Barbe Hammer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:35:57 +0000

Thanks, Kelly — this is incredibly helpful.

Comment on What I’m Reading: The Marriage Plot (also known as Jonathan Franzen’s Plot, or I Don’t Want to Read This Plot Anymore) by Kelly Davio

Kelly Davio — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:17:40 +0000

The backstory! Ugh, the backstory. It felt like having a conversation with that one friend who always gives far too much information and loses the thread of the conversation.

Comment on What I’m Reading: The Marriage Plot (also known as Jonathan Franzen’s Plot, or I Don’t Want to Read This Plot Anymore) by Joe Ponepinto

Joe Ponepinto — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:55:25 +0000

I started reading “Plot” a couple of weeks ago and had to stop. As good as I thought “Middlesex” was, that’s how bad “Marriage Plot” is. So, so much backstory. Like reading the author’s notes. Is this what comes with success–an overconfidence that allows an author to believe he hardly has to try, that every scribble is a gem? Or was “Middlesex” the fluke?

Comment on What I’m Reading: Mary Johnson’s An Unquenchable Thirst by Kelly Davio

Kelly Davio — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:14:36 +0000

Joe, I do hope you’ll read it–it’s really a remarkable story. It had me up until 2:00 am one morning because I couldn’t put it down! Who would’ve thought?

Comment on What I’m Reading: Mary Johnson’s An Unquenchable Thirst by Joe Ponepinto

Joe Ponepinto — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:11:25 +0000

Oxford? That’s it. I can’t talk to you anymore.

As for the book, I have a copy and have been avoiding reading it. Now you make me want to.

Comment on Let’s Talk About Books by Joe Ponepinto

Joe Ponepinto — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:02:54 +0000

I like the direction you’re taking the blog, Kelly. Looking forward to hearing about the books and authors you like.

Comment on Everybody’s Doing It (Making “Top” Lists for 2011, that is) by Kelly Davio

Kelly Davio — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:48:56 +0000

I’ve been hearing great things about the Doug Rice book–I think I need to pick it up!

The Daily News list of overrated books is definitely interesting. I agree with the inclusion of the John Hodgeman book. JH could have called it a day after The Areas of My Expertise, which was funny in roughly the same way a child putting fries up his nose is funny (which is to say, funny for about 30 seconds).