Maz, perhaps the very use of the word "submission" -- with its two very different meanings: one suggesting more "to tender or offer" and the other suggesting subservience -- may on an archetypical/symbolic level foster the relationship you refer to: the high-and-mighty editor and the lowly, groveling poet.

What we are doing is sending poems for consideration. "Here are my poems," we are saying. "I hope you will find one or more of them to your liking." There is nothing subservient in consideration -- instead, what might be thought of as a simple social risk, like when you go to a party and mingle with this group and that, and find that you get on with some clusters of people and with others you do not.

I think I'm going to work at eliminating the word "submission" from cover paragraph(s) in the future, and substitute "for your consideration" and similar expressions.

Fred

NOTE: It is ironical that to get this very post to register I must click on SUBMIT.

[This message has been edited by Fred Longworth (edited April 20, 2004).]

I think we think way too much about all of this business.
If you want to submit something someplace submit it. I'm old school. To me publishing means "On Paper" something you can hold in your hand. Website Schmebsite. Let's get realistic. There's soooo much money to be made publishing poems..I wouldn't lose sleep over any of it.

Hrrrmph!!

Al