Mean
Glimmer Stain
Glimmer Train used to be a decent, if not rather traditional literary magazine but in recent years, they’ve really pushed the limits of credibility running contests every single month. To my mind, a contest is only meaningful if it is the exception rather than the rule. Winning one of their ubiquitous contests is like winning $2 on a $2 scratch ticket or a free small soda during McDonald’s Monopoly promotion. Their newest contest, for the Best Start to a story, quickly prompted an appropriate amount of ridicule and yet we all know people will continue to submit their stories and entry fees ($10-$20 per entry) to Glimmer Train in the fairly futile hope that it means something. At what point do we concede that Glimmer Train has become a vanity press?
Tags: Contests, Glimmer Train
#onewordoffliterarymagazines
#onewordoffliterarymagazines
if it were only a vanity press, we would probably expect to see very few of their stories receive wider acclaim. last year 10 of their stories were picked as the 100 most distinguished stories by Best American Short Stories. They also do pretty well regarding Pushcart awards. I agree that the Best Starts award is a misstep on their part and they stand out like a sore thumb regarding the frequency of their contests, but it would be hard to marginalize them with regards to story quality at this point
if it were only a vanity press, we would probably expect to see very few of their stories receive wider acclaim. last year 10 of their stories were picked as the 100 most distinguished stories by Best American Short Stories. They also do pretty well regarding Pushcart awards. I agree that the Best Starts award is a misstep on their part and they stand out like a sore thumb regarding the frequency of their contests, but it would be hard to marginalize them with regards to story quality at this point
Eh, maybe the contest frequency is silly, but I don’t see how that makes it a vanity press just because it’s a “for pay” system. I can’t name any writer friends who’ve won, and I’ve only ever been a finalist there myself (not that I’m a perfect gauge; but I’m not a horrible one either).
Eh, maybe the contest frequency is silly, but I don’t see how that makes it a vanity press just because it’s a “for pay” system. I can’t name any writer friends who’ve won, and I’ve only ever been a finalist there myself (not that I’m a perfect gauge; but I’m not a horrible one either).
Glimmer Train is boring. All press is vanity press.
Glimmer Train is boring. All press is vanity press.
Glimmer stain = fairy ejaculations?
No, because if that were true it would be a far less boring publication
Glimmer stain = fairy ejaculations?
No, because if that were true it would be a far less boring publication
Of course that may not be *strictly* about merit. You know, like how bands no one’s heard of never get a Grammy. And people who know how to write a story the Pushcart and BASS people will like are people who know how to please Glimmer Train.
Same is true for more interesting venues, of course, but they’re a lot more honest about it. They claim to like what they like, in general, and not to know WHAT IS BEST.
Of course that may not be *strictly* about merit. You know, like how bands no one’s heard of never get a Grammy. And people who know how to write a story the Pushcart and BASS people will like are people who know how to please Glimmer Train.
Same is true for more interesting venues, of course, but they’re a lot more honest about it. They claim to like what they like, in general, and not to know WHAT IS BEST.
Every Time a Fairy Gets Laid
Every Time a Fairy Gets Laid
If this were facebook, I would click “like” under this.
If this were facebook, I would click “like” under this.
someone is blowing up the htmlgiant twitter with #onewordoffliterarymagazines
http://twitter.com/htmlgiant
someone is blowing up the htmlgiant twitter with #onewordoffliterarymagazines
http://twitter.com/htmlgiant
word
/clicking like/
word
/clicking like/
Well that is true!
Well that is true!
That’s something that would be worth seeing.
That’s something that would be worth seeing.
I’d say it’s tacky and sort of depressing.
I’d say it’s tacky and sort of depressing.
It really depresses me to no end. I have no problem with contests but every single month… seems excessive. And the real reason it depresses me is because so many of the people who submit are those people who are the very worst writers. Now, they are making that choice as consenting adults but still, at the end of the day, it is a little sad.
It really depresses me to no end. I have no problem with contests but every single month… seems excessive. And the real reason it depresses me is because so many of the people who submit are those people who are the very worst writers. Now, they are making that choice as consenting adults but still, at the end of the day, it is a little sad.
It is sad, and essentially functions like a reading fee, but another part of me thinks it’s a pretty creative fundraising solution.
It is sad, and essentially functions like a reading fee, but another part of me thinks it’s a pretty creative fundraising solution.
I don’t know. Glimmer Train has never been one of my favorites, so I’m looking for a reason to hate them. They might do well with BASS and Puschart, but those selections are dubious at best to me. This seems like the next logical step for them. Yawn.
I don’t know. Glimmer Train has never been one of my favorites, so I’m looking for a reason to hate them. They might do well with BASS and Puschart, but those selections are dubious at best to me. This seems like the next logical step for them. Yawn.
Yes. Probably one out of every three submitters to FRiGG has on his or her bio that s/he was a winner or a runner-up in one of Glimmer Train’s contests. This credential no longer holds meaning.
Yes. Probably one out of every three submitters to FRiGG has on his or her bio that s/he was a winner or a runner-up in one of Glimmer Train’s contests. This credential no longer holds meaning.
They must make a fortune.
They must make a fortune.
We get that very same thing. I now consider it the same as a Puschart nomination.
We get that very same thing. I now consider it the same as a Puschart nomination.
ouch!
ouch!
You win my OBVIOUS PRIZE for attacking a lit mag.
Glimmer Train a whore???
Really?
[mean week]
You win my OBVIOUS PRIZE for attacking a lit mag.
Glimmer Train a whore???
Really?
[mean week]
I think their website still claims they don’t make enough to fund the magazine.
You guys are mean
I think their website still claims they don’t make enough to fund the magazine.
You guys are mean
Tim, if that’s the case, they’re doing something wrong.
Tim, if that’s the case, they’re doing something wrong.
I’m just wondering if this is the perceived uber-cool now: cynical, nasty, condescending, fault-finding. It must be. I should get out from under my toadstool.
What purpose did this post serve? Have you nothing better, nothing more positive to write about, than how and when Glimmer Train throws contests? I can find no other reason than sheer boredom that somebody would initiate this discussion.
I’m just wondering if this is the perceived uber-cool now: cynical, nasty, condescending, fault-finding. It must be. I should get out from under my toadstool.
What purpose did this post serve? Have you nothing better, nothing more positive to write about, than how and when Glimmer Train throws contests? I can find no other reason than sheer boredom that somebody would initiate this discussion.
I disagree with your reasoning, and I think “vanity press” just doesn’t apply to a journal that consistently has its short stories honored in anthologies and such. Given that GT gets about 40,000+ submissions each year, I imagine each contest has at least 1,000+ submissions. So, how is about a .001% chance of winning a contest, and getting paid at least $1,200 like paying $2 to win $2 for a scratch ticket?
I disagree with your reasoning, and I think “vanity press” just doesn’t apply to a journal that consistently has its short stories honored in anthologies and such. Given that GT gets about 40,000+ submissions each year, I imagine each contest has at least 1,000+ submissions. So, how is about a .001% chance of winning a contest, and getting paid at least $1,200 like paying $2 to win $2 for a scratch ticket?