October 27th, 2009 / 6:15 pm
Mean & Snippets

Writer M.J. Nicholls complains about magazines who don’t accept everything “good” that comes their way.  He’s finished with magazines like decomP and elimae because they send form rejections. With regard to PANK he says:

I DON’T SEE WHY the site publishes LESS than it RECIEVES. Surely the basic rules of SUPPLY and DEMAND apply here? If a slue of challenging and interesting work is offered – publish it. Give the reader a CHOICE. Stop setting your own agenda and being so FUCKING FUSSY.

I shall… leave it at that.


158 Comments

  1. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      “top setting your own agenda and being so FUCKING FUSSY.”

      …er, stop being an editor? what the fuck?

  2. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      “top setting your own agenda and being so FUCKING FUSSY.”

      …er, stop being an editor? what the fuck?

  3. Matthew Simmons

      And one day that little boy grew up to be: Karl Wenclas.

  4. Matthew Simmons

      And one day that little boy grew up to be: Karl Wenclas.

  5. Matt K

      Ha!

  6. Roxane Gay

      I know. So damn picky, making choices instead of opting for a free-for-all approach.

  7. Matt K

      Ha!

  8. Roxane Gay

      I know. So damn picky, making choices instead of opting for a free-for-all approach.

  9. james yeh

      lol

      good “king” wenclas once described something i wrote as “written from the point-of-view of bourgeois people who see a city and many of its dwellers– even affluent cities (not a Detroit) from the outside.”

  10. james yeh

      lol

      good “king” wenclas once described something i wrote as “written from the point-of-view of bourgeois people who see a city and many of its dwellers– even affluent cities (not a Detroit) from the outside.”

  11. Trey

      Yes, when will you and the rest of the PANK staff come to your collective senses and start publishing more than you receive? How can you be so blind?

  12. Trey

      Yes, when will you and the rest of the PANK staff come to your collective senses and start publishing more than you receive? How can you be so blind?

  13. james yeh

      maybe this person deserves to it (i couldn’t bear looking at his website) but am i the only one who feels like this is just *too* easy? like if some really racist person says something ugly in a public place and you’re just like, “wow,” and everyone else around them is also just like, “wow,” and everybody avoids them, or says something back to them, or laughs about them, and for a moment, you’re just like, “jesus, you must be so lonely.”

      of course, then you realize that person is an ass and deserves it.

  14. james yeh

      maybe this person deserves to it (i couldn’t bear looking at his website) but am i the only one who feels like this is just *too* easy? like if some really racist person says something ugly in a public place and you’re just like, “wow,” and everyone else around them is also just like, “wow,” and everybody avoids them, or says something back to them, or laughs about them, and for a moment, you’re just like, “jesus, you must be so lonely.”

      of course, then you realize that person is an ass and deserves it.

  15. Clapper

      You’re very kind to label him “Writer,” I suspect.

      If he doesn’t like it, I recommend he start his own publication.

  16. Rebekah Silverman

      What nonsense.

      I tried to think of a humorous analogy involving a dumpster which I would sift through, but I couldn’t make it work.

  17. Clapper

      You’re very kind to label him “Writer,” I suspect.

      If he doesn’t like it, I recommend he start his own publication.

  18. Rebekah Silverman

      What nonsense.

      I tried to think of a humorous analogy involving a dumpster which I would sift through, but I couldn’t make it work.

  19. Roxane Gay

      I had to read that post twice to make sure I a. understood the point he was trying to make and b. that it wasn’t satire.

      I’m still flabbergasted.

  20. Roxane Gay

      I had to read that post twice to make sure I a. understood the point he was trying to make and b. that it wasn’t satire.

      I’m still flabbergasted.

  21. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      Exactly! Damned PANK! You people have yet to publish me (I have yet to submit anything, but that seems beside the point)

  22. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      Exactly! Damned PANK! You people have yet to publish me (I have yet to submit anything, but that seems beside the point)

  23. reynard

      i once had a dream that i killed king wenceslas, but then i realized that i was just acting in ubu rex on broadway, and i had forgotten to put pants on! it was just like high school, except i was fat.

  24. reynard

      i once had a dream that i killed king wenceslas, but then i realized that i was just acting in ubu rex on broadway, and i had forgotten to put pants on! it was just like high school, except i was fat.

  25. Lincoln

      The entire point of being an editor is to set an agenda. If this guy wants to filter, read some messageforum where anyone can post work.

  26. Lincoln

      The entire point of being an editor is to set an agenda. If this guy wants to filter, read some messageforum where anyone can post work.

  27. Jesse Tangen-Mills

      I like putting things LIKE THIS.

  28. Jesse Tangen-Mills

      I like putting things LIKE THIS.

  29. Lincoln

      This guy is also off in his belief that magazines are swarmed with great work and they just throw a ton out. I think most editors would agree it is a struggle to fill the issue from the slush pile. Hey, it’s mean week.

  30. Lincoln

      This guy is also off in his belief that magazines are swarmed with great work and they just throw a ton out. I think most editors would agree it is a struggle to fill the issue from the slush pile. Hey, it’s mean week.

  31. John Madera

      Nicholls’s complaints are garbage.

  32. John Madera

      Nicholls’s complaints are garbage.

  33. Charles Dodd White

      Roxane,
      Your comments on his blog were measured and precise. Mine, I fear were rather…lubricious. Well, let’s just say I’m spreading mean week around.

  34. Charles Dodd White

      Roxane,
      Your comments on his blog were measured and precise. Mine, I fear were rather…lubricious. Well, let’s just say I’m spreading mean week around.

  35. Lincoln

      This guy seems to not understand that a magazine with a 100% acceptance rate is
      a) easy to get into and thus not a “credit” that would help a young writer on their career path (as seems to be part of his concern)
      b) not going to be read by anyone, because who would read a completely unfiltered and unedited batch of mediocre writing?

      So why would you even want to publish there?

  36. Lincoln

      This guy seems to not understand that a magazine with a 100% acceptance rate is
      a) easy to get into and thus not a “credit” that would help a young writer on their career path (as seems to be part of his concern)
      b) not going to be read by anyone, because who would read a completely unfiltered and unedited batch of mediocre writing?

      So why would you even want to publish there?

  37. Roxane Gay

      That is really what baffles me. I honestly find it insane.

  38. Roxane Gay

      That is really what baffles me. I honestly find it insane.

  39. Craig Snyder

      Aside from being hilariously dumb I’m not sure there’s anything in the guy’s post worth responding to. I’m surprised Roxane and Dave took the time to respond.

      Doesn’t merit a response in my opinion.

  40. Craig Snyder

      Aside from being hilariously dumb I’m not sure there’s anything in the guy’s post worth responding to. I’m surprised Roxane and Dave took the time to respond.

      Doesn’t merit a response in my opinion.

  41. jereme

      you win roxane.

      exploiting a public forum to shame a person because they said something “mean” about you and your magazine has to be the meanest post yet.

      you get bonus points for using his real name on a forum for writers/publishers. that dude is never getting accepted again!

  42. jereme

      you win roxane.

      exploiting a public forum to shame a person because they said something “mean” about you and your magazine has to be the meanest post yet.

      you get bonus points for using his real name on a forum for writers/publishers. that dude is never getting accepted again!

  43. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      As an editor (small fry at Thirst for Fire and head honcho at Magazine of the Dead) I have to say that I don’t see enough high quality subs. If this dude has real chops, he should send me something. I don’t care who he has pissed off. It’s all about the writing.

  44. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      As an editor (small fry at Thirst for Fire and head honcho at Magazine of the Dead) I have to say that I don’t see enough high quality subs. If this dude has real chops, he should send me something. I don’t care who he has pissed off. It’s all about the writing.

  45. Mr. Wonderful

      True

  46. Mr. Wonderful

      True

  47. stu

      It is kind of fucked up to post someone’s name around. BUT, I agree with the general sentiment. I mean, I’ve been turned down by lots of places– that have subsequently put out bad stuff anyway. You either get out there and find places that are more willing to post your shit, or you go back to the drawing board (get better or find a new medium). Bitching about it isn’t going to change things.

      Not sure what a slue is.

  48. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      It’s how extensively he articulates his insanity that really sets him apart, I think.

  49. stu

      It is kind of fucked up to post someone’s name around. BUT, I agree with the general sentiment. I mean, I’ve been turned down by lots of places– that have subsequently put out bad stuff anyway. You either get out there and find places that are more willing to post your shit, or you go back to the drawing board (get better or find a new medium). Bitching about it isn’t going to change things.

      Not sure what a slue is.

  50. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      It’s how extensively he articulates his insanity that really sets him apart, I think.

  51. stu
  52. stu
  53. Roxane Gay

      Jereme, he didn’t say anything mean about me or the magazine for which I work and even if he did that would not mean much to me. He actually said something really nice. I know this writer and I’m not shaming anyone. I was commenting on the whole baffling tone of his public blog post which was on the Internet which means it’s open for commentary. Also, he uses his real name on his website so again… I fail to see your point. Maybe if you had actually read the post in question you would have paused before commenting. Finally, editors aren’t going to not accept this guy’s writing because of an HTML Giant post. You vastly overestimate my reach or importance.

  54. Roxane Gay

      Jereme, he didn’t say anything mean about me or the magazine for which I work and even if he did that would not mean much to me. He actually said something really nice. I know this writer and I’m not shaming anyone. I was commenting on the whole baffling tone of his public blog post which was on the Internet which means it’s open for commentary. Also, he uses his real name on his website so again… I fail to see your point. Maybe if you had actually read the post in question you would have paused before commenting. Finally, editors aren’t going to not accept this guy’s writing because of an HTML Giant post. You vastly overestimate my reach or importance.

  55. stu

      Good point. He named you, anyway.

  56. stu

      Good point. He named you, anyway.

  57. brandi
  58. brandi
  59. Justin Taylor

      Why would you identify this person as a writer?

  60. Justin Taylor

      Why would you identify this person as a writer?

  61. barry

      why would you not?

      becaue there are people like yourself who think they write better than him so somehow his creative efforts as a human being don’t count.

  62. barry

      why would you not?

      becaue there are people like yourself who think they write better than him so somehow his creative efforts as a human being don’t count.

  63. Sean

      Wow! How did I miss this?

      If elimae did not give you a personal (what is personal?–that is creepy to want one) response, your work (different than you) most likely sucks. What happened to the art of reading rejections? Dude, write for ten years and submit later. Learn the world before you conquer it, OK? Jesus. Wow.

  64. Sean

      Wow! How did I miss this?

      If elimae did not give you a personal (what is personal?–that is creepy to want one) response, your work (different than you) most likely sucks. What happened to the art of reading rejections? Dude, write for ten years and submit later. Learn the world before you conquer it, OK? Jesus. Wow.

  65. Sean

      BTW, I love all the apologies during Mean Week. This is, without a doubt, more a sociological experiment than anything. People should blog about that aspect. It is very captivating. There is a new book about how we lie all day long, but I forget the title. Maybe it is the New Yorker’s new bitch, Gladwell?

      Mr. Faulty Sloppy Logic guy. He’s like a slogan: sounds awesome at first! Examine it, and it makes no fucking sense.

      Can’t wait for his poems to appear. The NYorker has all-time the most suck-ass poems of any magazine I have ever read. Now that Updike is gone they are trying to make Gladwell into Updike. Suck.

      (Full disclosure. I have Nyorker subscription. Weird.Should I auction it now?)

  66. Sean

      BTW, I love all the apologies during Mean Week. This is, without a doubt, more a sociological experiment than anything. People should blog about that aspect. It is very captivating. There is a new book about how we lie all day long, but I forget the title. Maybe it is the New Yorker’s new bitch, Gladwell?

      Mr. Faulty Sloppy Logic guy. He’s like a slogan: sounds awesome at first! Examine it, and it makes no fucking sense.

      Can’t wait for his poems to appear. The NYorker has all-time the most suck-ass poems of any magazine I have ever read. Now that Updike is gone they are trying to make Gladwell into Updike. Suck.

      (Full disclosure. I have Nyorker subscription. Weird.Should I auction it now?)

  67. Sean

      A form rejection is a message! Then you get to the next level, the next, and then, wow, you publish your first story/poem/thing.

      Why don’t people get the obvious.

      Sorry to post so much during Mean Week. I have this case of red wine. I mean I kind of have a responsibility to wade through it.

      My head throbs like three languages.

  68. Sean

      A form rejection is a message! Then you get to the next level, the next, and then, wow, you publish your first story/poem/thing.

      Why don’t people get the obvious.

      Sorry to post so much during Mean Week. I have this case of red wine. I mean I kind of have a responsibility to wade through it.

      My head throbs like three languages.

  69. Ryan Call

      ive been waiting all day for sean to comment

  70. Ryan Call

      ive been waiting all day for sean to comment

  71. Sean

      Wait. I just read dude’s post (should have done that first, I hear you). Come on. This is like picking grasshoppers for bait at dawn, they are all frozen from night and stiff and can’t fly and shit. Come on. Back off this guy. He’s an idiot. And you know what? Sometimes idiots bloom into real people. It’s too easy. Poor post and it caught me up and I went all small-engine fishing boat on his ass. That was wrong.

      This guy is just new and dumb to writing.

      Back off him.

      Dude, I just saw a clutched cup of beer! Will now drink it.

  72. Sean

      Wait. I just read dude’s post (should have done that first, I hear you). Come on. This is like picking grasshoppers for bait at dawn, they are all frozen from night and stiff and can’t fly and shit. Come on. Back off this guy. He’s an idiot. And you know what? Sometimes idiots bloom into real people. It’s too easy. Poor post and it caught me up and I went all small-engine fishing boat on his ass. That was wrong.

      This guy is just new and dumb to writing.

      Back off him.

      Dude, I just saw a clutched cup of beer! Will now drink it.

  73. stu

      Did you try to read his stories? Couldn’t get past the first paragraph.

  74. stu

      Did you try to read his stories? Couldn’t get past the first paragraph.

  75. Roxane Gay

      He’s not really… new.

  76. Roxane Gay

      He’s not really… new.

  77. Ryan

      I like it when HTMLGiant defends its “boys.”

      Bros before hos.

  78. Ryan

      I like it when HTMLGiant defends its “boys.”

      Bros before hos.

  79. ce.

      I love two things about this post:

      1) The first thought when I read it was, “I don’t think this guy understands the principle of supply and demand.”

      2) When I read the actual post and subsequent comments, he actually says in a comment, “the recessional dip means these companies need to bring down the prices. Though I’m no economist.”

  80. ce.

      I love two things about this post:

      1) The first thought when I read it was, “I don’t think this guy understands the principle of supply and demand.”

      2) When I read the actual post and subsequent comments, he actually says in a comment, “the recessional dip means these companies need to bring down the prices. Though I’m no economist.”

  81. Ryan

      “The recessional dip in your tonsils needs to ring down your pants” makes more sense.

  82. Ryan

      “The recessional dip in your tonsils needs to ring down your pants” makes more sense.

  83. Ben Spivey

      I agree.

  84. Ben Spivey

      I agree.

  85. Justin Taylor

      Because he misspelled “slough,” for one thing. I think of “writer” not as a superlative to be granted or withheld at the whim of some elite class, but rather as a descriptive term which applies to people who demonstrate some threshold level of competence as regards the act of writing. Based on the evidence of this writing sample, it is clear that this person lacks such competence.

  86. Justin Taylor

      Because he misspelled “slough,” for one thing. I think of “writer” not as a superlative to be granted or withheld at the whim of some elite class, but rather as a descriptive term which applies to people who demonstrate some threshold level of competence as regards the act of writing. Based on the evidence of this writing sample, it is clear that this person lacks such competence.

  87. barry

      ohhh. thanks for the clarification. i thought “writer” referred to someone who writes. i didn’t know they also had to meet someone’s superficial standard about what they think a writer is or should be.

      certainly you aren’t basing your opinion of his writing on a blog rant? or an incorrect spelling? that would eliminate over half of htmlgiant contributors from being writers.

  88. barry

      ohhh. thanks for the clarification. i thought “writer” referred to someone who writes. i didn’t know they also had to meet someone’s superficial standard about what they think a writer is or should be.

      certainly you aren’t basing your opinion of his writing on a blog rant? or an incorrect spelling? that would eliminate over half of htmlgiant contributors from being writers.

  89. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      young though.

  90. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      young though.

  91. Ross Brighton

      umm…. Ubu Roi maybe?

  92. Ross Brighton

      umm…. Ubu Roi maybe?

  93. barry

      example, from blake’s blog:

      “Trying hard to typeon this tiny keyboard, I have real faat fingers
      Parisis is fucking expensive, man. You get one shot with a waiter then it’s blppppppppp

      Spent mostof todayy walking around with DC and Ken, we met at the glass pyramid then went drank a lot of coffee, ate, mre coffee. DC is the kindest person. So wonderful to be around. He showed usthe Beat hotel wherethose dudes wrote, and the streetwhere Perec and Artaud both lived. Much wondrous conversation andrelaxing. A wonderful afternoon.

      Later We went to a contemporary museum with lots of crazies in it, some Louise Bourgeois meat sculptures andlots of weirding/ I liked the video of the room with the neon bulbs falling out 1by1 until the room was dark.

      We thought about tryng to fnd where Deleuze threw himself out the windowbut nahh.

      Ken crashed early, our sleep is megafcukked. I walked in the streets after dark for a good while drank a mojito, felt good came here, now gonna flp thru this new Werner Herzog Conquest of the Useless I got, I think tomorrow we may go to Nice, nice.

      I ant type on this little board ne more, oh. Oont”

      let’s all read this one blog post and judge him as a human being and decide whether or not he’s a “writer” based on this.

  94. barry

      example, from blake’s blog:

      “Trying hard to typeon this tiny keyboard, I have real faat fingers
      Parisis is fucking expensive, man. You get one shot with a waiter then it’s blppppppppp

      Spent mostof todayy walking around with DC and Ken, we met at the glass pyramid then went drank a lot of coffee, ate, mre coffee. DC is the kindest person. So wonderful to be around. He showed usthe Beat hotel wherethose dudes wrote, and the streetwhere Perec and Artaud both lived. Much wondrous conversation andrelaxing. A wonderful afternoon.

      Later We went to a contemporary museum with lots of crazies in it, some Louise Bourgeois meat sculptures andlots of weirding/ I liked the video of the room with the neon bulbs falling out 1by1 until the room was dark.

      We thought about tryng to fnd where Deleuze threw himself out the windowbut nahh.

      Ken crashed early, our sleep is megafcukked. I walked in the streets after dark for a good while drank a mojito, felt good came here, now gonna flp thru this new Werner Herzog Conquest of the Useless I got, I think tomorrow we may go to Nice, nice.

      I ant type on this little board ne more, oh. Oont”

      let’s all read this one blog post and judge him as a human being and decide whether or not he’s a “writer” based on this.

  95. Ross Brighton

      I got published on my first sub, so fuck you

  96. Ross Brighton

      I got published on my first sub, so fuck you

  97. Ross Brighton

      and reads like poetry

  98. Ross Brighton

      and reads like poetry

  99. Aaron

      dude’s a dickbrain — this is not my mean week phrasing. dickbrain!

  100. Aaron

      dude’s a dickbrain — this is not my mean week phrasing. dickbrain!

  101. matthewsavoca

      i think he raises an interesting point in a round-about way, being that i know there must be some literature out there that i would love but probably won’t ever get to read because there aren’t any editors anywhere that know what i want to read because even i don’t know until i start reading something and then either finish reading it or quit before i’m done and if other people are doing this filtration for me, it’s not going to turn out well sometimes, but i guess i can live with that because it’s okay if things don’t turn out perfectly, life is still okay

      i guess everyone should just be an editor but how could that work? anyway, i don’t feel such a difference between reading and writing. so that when people decide what sentences i get to read it’s almost like they are very directly deciding what sentences i get to write, and that does annoy me a little but everything’s okay

  102. matthewsavoca

      i think he raises an interesting point in a round-about way, being that i know there must be some literature out there that i would love but probably won’t ever get to read because there aren’t any editors anywhere that know what i want to read because even i don’t know until i start reading something and then either finish reading it or quit before i’m done and if other people are doing this filtration for me, it’s not going to turn out well sometimes, but i guess i can live with that because it’s okay if things don’t turn out perfectly, life is still okay

      i guess everyone should just be an editor but how could that work? anyway, i don’t feel such a difference between reading and writing. so that when people decide what sentences i get to read it’s almost like they are very directly deciding what sentences i get to write, and that does annoy me a little but everything’s okay

  103. Vaughan Simons

      What a ridiculous and childish post. Using uppercase at irregular INTERVALS only makes it seem more so. Suggesting that literary magazines publish everything they receive is an utterly moronic idea. “Hey, I’ve got a shopping list here – publish it!” (Oh wait, I just remembered – ‘lists’ are in, judging by the number of ‘list’-type fictions I have read by notable MFA graduates. Oh well.)

      So he’s an idiot. We’re mostly all agreed.

      Except.

      I can’t help but admire his nerve. He’s got fucked off after what he sees as one too many unjustified rejections, and he’s blogged about it in a fit of apoplectic rage. Far too many of us, I suspect (and that includes me), prefer to sit quietly and mumble our complaints to ourselves or our closest allies when we get another rejection. “They don’t understand me! They’ve published [insert name here] and not ME! And my story is a hundred times better!” And if you deny ever having done that, you’re a good for nothing liar.

      Here’s another truth: I would rather read this guy’s stream of ill-tempered bile, railing against the acceptance rates of literary magazines, than yet another litmag scenester / respected indie writer / HTMLGIANT commenter (oh yes, you too) publishing blog posts in which they first tell us how many acceptances they’ve had since their last entry, and then go on to woefully reflect on the number of rejections. Those kind of writer-blogs bring me out in a rash and get me projectile vomiting against the wall. In a choice between “Rejections since last post: 4. Omnipotent Godolphin said no, which was disappointing as I felt my story about suicide terrorist parrots was right up their alley. And I can’t help but be upset with my rejection from Effervescent Cactus, despite the fact they sent me such a decent and helpful rejection. Sigh. Woe is me, woe is me.” Just a stream of awful writer-pity. And, loosely translated, it equates to MJ Nicholls’s “You’re all bastards! Bastards, you hear?! Why don’t you friggin’ well recognise my innate genius and publish me, you fuckers!” I know which I’d rather plough through.

      [Come to think of it, since it’s Mean Week, there should really be a post here about obsequious, fawning blog posts by lit mag scenesters, you know … I am available at a very reasonable price (i.e. nothing))

  104. Vaughan Simons

      What a ridiculous and childish post. Using uppercase at irregular INTERVALS only makes it seem more so. Suggesting that literary magazines publish everything they receive is an utterly moronic idea. “Hey, I’ve got a shopping list here – publish it!” (Oh wait, I just remembered – ‘lists’ are in, judging by the number of ‘list’-type fictions I have read by notable MFA graduates. Oh well.)

      So he’s an idiot. We’re mostly all agreed.

      Except.

      I can’t help but admire his nerve. He’s got fucked off after what he sees as one too many unjustified rejections, and he’s blogged about it in a fit of apoplectic rage. Far too many of us, I suspect (and that includes me), prefer to sit quietly and mumble our complaints to ourselves or our closest allies when we get another rejection. “They don’t understand me! They’ve published [insert name here] and not ME! And my story is a hundred times better!” And if you deny ever having done that, you’re a good for nothing liar.

      Here’s another truth: I would rather read this guy’s stream of ill-tempered bile, railing against the acceptance rates of literary magazines, than yet another litmag scenester / respected indie writer / HTMLGIANT commenter (oh yes, you too) publishing blog posts in which they first tell us how many acceptances they’ve had since their last entry, and then go on to woefully reflect on the number of rejections. Those kind of writer-blogs bring me out in a rash and get me projectile vomiting against the wall. In a choice between “Rejections since last post: 4. Omnipotent Godolphin said no, which was disappointing as I felt my story about suicide terrorist parrots was right up their alley. And I can’t help but be upset with my rejection from Effervescent Cactus, despite the fact they sent me such a decent and helpful rejection. Sigh. Woe is me, woe is me.” Just a stream of awful writer-pity. And, loosely translated, it equates to MJ Nicholls’s “You’re all bastards! Bastards, you hear?! Why don’t you friggin’ well recognise my innate genius and publish me, you fuckers!” I know which I’d rather plough through.

      [Come to think of it, since it’s Mean Week, there should really be a post here about obsequious, fawning blog posts by lit mag scenesters, you know … I am available at a very reasonable price (i.e. nothing))

  105. Sean

      Rock it Vaughan.

  106. Sean

      Rock it Vaughan.

  107. Brad Green

      He probably meant slew, not slough. A whole slew of folks and so forth. Perhaps we’re looking at different sentences.

  108. Brad Green

      He probably meant slew, not slough. A whole slew of folks and so forth. Perhaps we’re looking at different sentences.

  109. Matt Cozart
  110. Matt Cozart
  111. Lincoln

      Wow this guys follow-up was even more absurd than his original rant.

      Basically he thinks every magazine should easily be able to find a gigantic team of readers to thoughtfully respond to every submission that comes in.

  112. Lincoln

      Wow this guys follow-up was even more absurd than his original rant.

      Basically he thinks every magazine should easily be able to find a gigantic team of readers to thoughtfully respond to every submission that comes in.

  113. Lincoln

      That doesn’t really have anything specific to do with editing a lit mag though, does it?

      There are lots of movies you or I may love that will never be produced or if produced never get wide distribution, there are is music we might love that will never get a record deal, etc. etc.

      No one has infinite time to listen to all possible music, read all possible work or read every possible film idea.

  114. Lincoln

      That doesn’t really have anything specific to do with editing a lit mag though, does it?

      There are lots of movies you or I may love that will never be produced or if produced never get wide distribution, there are is music we might love that will never get a record deal, etc. etc.

      No one has infinite time to listen to all possible music, read all possible work or read every possible film idea.

  115. Nathan Tyree

      not quite

  116. Nathan Tyree

      not quite

  117. mike

      yeah this is what is more mind-blowing to me: What? You don’t have enough time? Surely there must be more people willing to read!

      This is like presupposing that everybody in the world will be able to like fully indulge in the aesthetics you are aiming for in a lit mag.

  118. mike

      yeah this is what is more mind-blowing to me: What? You don’t have enough time? Surely there must be more people willing to read!

      This is like presupposing that everybody in the world will be able to like fully indulge in the aesthetics you are aiming for in a lit mag.

  119. matthewsavoca

      you’re right.
      i guess i’m just saying that i always feel conscious of the fact that whatever i’m reading, listening to, or watching has basically been chosen for me, and i wonder about all the stuff that wasn’t chosen and if i feel the lack of those things when i’m sitting on the couch staring with my eyes unfocused at the particles in the space directly in front of my head
      it’s like how sometimes i wonder about all the people i will never know exist and then maybe i try to imagine them but they probably end up being very similar to some parts of all the people that i do know exist

  120. matthewsavoca

      you’re right.
      i guess i’m just saying that i always feel conscious of the fact that whatever i’m reading, listening to, or watching has basically been chosen for me, and i wonder about all the stuff that wasn’t chosen and if i feel the lack of those things when i’m sitting on the couch staring with my eyes unfocused at the particles in the space directly in front of my head
      it’s like how sometimes i wonder about all the people i will never know exist and then maybe i try to imagine them but they probably end up being very similar to some parts of all the people that i do know exist

  121. Roxane

      He does have nerve, indeed.

      I will say that I blog about my rejections (and not my acceptances) but it has nothing to do with being a scenester. I think its important to own rejections the same way we own acceptances. Also, speaking only for myself, I don’t think I’m misunderstood though that would be kind of funny, too.

  122. Roxane

      He does have nerve, indeed.

      I will say that I blog about my rejections (and not my acceptances) but it has nothing to do with being a scenester. I think its important to own rejections the same way we own acceptances. Also, speaking only for myself, I don’t think I’m misunderstood though that would be kind of funny, too.

  123. Michael James

      its funny that people at -sters at the end of various words. hipster, scenester, teamster.

  124. Michael James

      its funny that people at -sters at the end of various words. hipster, scenester, teamster.

  125. Clapper

      And overestimate how much editors care about whether or not they personally like a writer when considering the actual work. There are a number of people we’ve published in SLQ who, on a personal level, I can’t stand. Why? The work was good.

  126. Clapper

      And overestimate how much editors care about whether or not they personally like a writer when considering the actual work. There are a number of people we’ve published in SLQ who, on a personal level, I can’t stand. Why? The work was good.

  127. Clapper

      Isn’t what he wants already pretty much existent at Fictionaut?

  128. Clapper

      Isn’t what he wants already pretty much existent at Fictionaut?

  129. stu

      Sometimes “talent” has a difficult time marketing itself.

  130. stu

      Sometimes “talent” has a difficult time marketing itself.

  131. Roxane

      Same here.

  132. Roxane

      Same here.

  133. Roxane

      My favorite… huckster!

  134. Roxane

      My favorite… huckster!

  135. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I want to be a roxster

  136. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I want to be a roxster

  137. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I don’t agree with you, not all “woe is me” sentiments are sublimated rage. I’ve experienced numerous emotions resulting from rejections, but never anger directed at editors. Much harder on myself. I feel like you’re presuming a lot about what people think and feel.

  138. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I don’t agree with you, not all “woe is me” sentiments are sublimated rage. I’ve experienced numerous emotions resulting from rejections, but never anger directed at editors. Much harder on myself. I feel like you’re presuming a lot about what people think and feel.

  139. Ryan D

      Meta:

      I’m waiting for the Foetry.com reference to drop.

      Surely there are others who remember this fiasco.

      (I just liked the word fiasco.)

  140. Ryan D

      Meta:

      I’m waiting for the Foetry.com reference to drop.

      Surely there are others who remember this fiasco.

      (I just liked the word fiasco.)

  141. Lincoln

      Which fiasco?

  142. Lincoln

      Which fiasco?

  143. matthewsavoca

      you’re right
      and every time i look at fictionaut, i feel a sort of vague confusion that makes me go away from fictionaut pretty quickly
      i am glad that literature venues are not all like fictionaut. so there is something to be said for editorial vision afterall…..

  144. matthewsavoca

      you’re right
      and every time i look at fictionaut, i feel a sort of vague confusion that makes me go away from fictionaut pretty quickly
      i am glad that literature venues are not all like fictionaut. so there is something to be said for editorial vision afterall…..

  145. Ben White

      Yeah, Roxane is correct. This guy does these sorts of amusing (…is this really serious?) kind of rants all the time. It’s on a blog. She didn’t post a personal email rant or anything.

      There are douches everywhere. There are douches who write. And there are douches whose writing is published. The world turns.

  146. Ben White

      Yeah, Roxane is correct. This guy does these sorts of amusing (…is this really serious?) kind of rants all the time. It’s on a blog. She didn’t post a personal email rant or anything.

      There are douches everywhere. There are douches who write. And there are douches whose writing is published. The world turns.

  147. Ben White

      Barry is 100% correct in every way possible.

  148. Ben White

      Barry is 100% correct in every way possible.

  149. M.J. Nicholls

      Hello angry people! Thank you for the torrent of bile! You CHEERED me up!

      I can’t believe a piece of BRAINLESS late-night ranting has generated so much unnecessary talkback! You’re very silly cookie-wookies!

      Anyway, I’d like to apologise to Roxane and the other mags for using their ACTUAL names. That was SILLY. It was late, and I was somewhat wired on cough medicine and cheap Brazilian chocolates. I do, of course, love each and every online magazine INDIVIDUALLY. You’re all doing a WONDERFUL job, darlings. Mwah mwah. (No SARCASM intended).

      I didn’t intend for the piece to be read by ANYONE other than my close friends (who would understand the JOKE) but obviously, the internet works in mysterious ways. I kinda wished you had left me ALONE now. I feel bullied and buggered.

      Anyway, I LOVE you all, darlings (except the guy that called me a dickbrain). Big kisses. xxx.

      M.J.

      P.S. “Slue” is correct — it can be spelled either “slue” or “slew” (from the Gaelic sluagh) — (look at him backpedalling, pretending to be CLEVER!)

  150. M.J. Nicholls

      Hello angry people! Thank you for the torrent of bile! You CHEERED me up!

      I can’t believe a piece of BRAINLESS late-night ranting has generated so much unnecessary talkback! You’re very silly cookie-wookies!

      Anyway, I’d like to apologise to Roxane and the other mags for using their ACTUAL names. That was SILLY. It was late, and I was somewhat wired on cough medicine and cheap Brazilian chocolates. I do, of course, love each and every online magazine INDIVIDUALLY. You’re all doing a WONDERFUL job, darlings. Mwah mwah. (No SARCASM intended).

      I didn’t intend for the piece to be read by ANYONE other than my close friends (who would understand the JOKE) but obviously, the internet works in mysterious ways. I kinda wished you had left me ALONE now. I feel bullied and buggered.

      Anyway, I LOVE you all, darlings (except the guy that called me a dickbrain). Big kisses. xxx.

      M.J.

      P.S. “Slue” is correct — it can be spelled either “slue” or “slew” (from the Gaelic sluagh) — (look at him backpedalling, pretending to be CLEVER!)

  151. M.J. Nicholls

      Thanks for all your responses and apologies, by the way.

      It’s humbling to see this website isn’t merely some snotty wank-fest for self-congratulatory editors who prefer sneering on the sidelines to actually speaking with someone.

      Have a merry time here at “HTML Giant” and set your petty wolves upon someone else’s blog.

  152. M.J. Nicholls

      Thanks for all your responses and apologies, by the way.

      It’s humbling to see this website isn’t merely some snotty wank-fest for self-congratulatory editors who prefer sneering on the sidelines to actually speaking with someone.

      Have a merry time here at “HTML Giant” and set your petty wolves upon someone else’s blog.

  153. Jimmy Chen
  154. Jimmy Chen
  155. Janey Smith

      Jimmy? It’s funny, but I get this weird feeling that all you need now is a sex change and you can BE Tao Lin.

  156. Janey Smith

      Jimmy? It’s funny, but I get this weird feeling that all you need now is a sex change and you can BE Tao Lin.

  157. Teresa Houle

      Oh man! I stopped looking at his blog after the first editor flaming post he had months ago. I hoped he would learn then, but now a second one? M.J., if you want to rant with your friends, do it in a private forum. I do wish I had seen it before he deleted it though, I’m sure it was glorious.

  158. Teresa Houle

      Oh man! I stopped looking at his blog after the first editor flaming post he had months ago. I hoped he would learn then, but now a second one? M.J., if you want to rant with your friends, do it in a private forum. I do wish I had seen it before he deleted it though, I’m sure it was glorious.