Guest Post: Anthologising by Jan Edwards
I have been editing magazines and anthologies for some years now, most recently for the award-winning Alchemy Press . I have also written stories for many other publications so, to paraphrase Joni Mitchell, I’ve looked at slush from both sides now . Okay, not quite the same thing, but you’ll get my drift… I was a panellist at Writing West Midlands event on ‘Getting Published’ recently, and the panel was asked why editors and anthologists seldom gave feedback on submissions. The cold hard truth is those editors simply do not have the time. If you do get feedback consider it a bonus because generally speaking is does not happen. Novelist Kate Long, whom I shared the panel with, came up with the best answer I have ever heard when she said 'It’s not their (the editor) job' . As a writer I’ve had my share of rejection slips, and always taken it as a sign that the editor received stories they preferred over mine. Whenever I receive that ‘red slip’ I suck it up and make