Contest submission: poetry/fiction prize & book award from Able Muse
 

I'm wondering: are translations eligible?

Hi Kevin,

No, not for these contests. Maybe, that could be something to look into in the future.

Cheers,
...Alex

Questions
 

Alex, can you describe the screening process for the contests? Who is doing the screening? For the book prize, up to how many mss. will be sent to the judges? Have you foetry-proofed the methodologies?

Also, are these basically form-only contests? What method will be used for publication (print runs of how many or will it be POD?) and what rights will be acquired?

I thought I read somewhere that the editors of AbleMuse would be doing the screening but now I can't locate where I read that at so I could be wrong. I also got the impression that while the final judging would be blind that the screening would not be.

Kate, as Laura rightly indicated, the editors or Able Muse will do the initial screening. Also, all styles are welcome for the book and the write prize contests (i.e. metrical/formal, non-metrical/free-verse as indicated on the contests' details pages at Able Muse Press) -- and the judge, Andrew Hudgins, has been made aware and welcomes it. The final judges will receive 5 to 10 anonymized finalists depending on the number of entries and the quality of the submissions as determined by the screening editors. Also, the judges will be strictly instructed to disqualify any finalist work they recognize, and we'll refund that contestant's entry fee. Print run method adopted again will depend on the number of entries received. Having said that, no matter what, the finalist book enjoy first-rate production and be will be available through Able Muse Press, and, also distributed at popular book channels worldwide including Amazon and Barnes and Nobles online.

Although we'd like to make an intermediate announcement about who's at the finalist stage, we can't as that might adversely affect the anonymous process. Yes, we'll definitely do everything to ensure as much transparency and fairness as possible, and be as far removed from foetry and their ilk as procedurally possible!

I'll review the contests' detail pages again and add any of the above clarifications missing now.

Cheers,
...Alex

Alex, since the only editor actually listed at the link labeled "masthead" is yourself, I still have questions.

We've been told in other contexts that Tim Murphy is poetry editor, and it appears (since she's doing the interviews) that Sharon Passmore is art editor. But in order for potential submitters to know whether a given poem will be recognized so that a manuscript would end up excluded, it would really help to have a list of all the editors.

Maryann, in the masthead of our current issue, all the current editors are listed. See http://www.ablemuse.com/v9/masthead . If there are more questions, feel free to ask!

Cheers,
...Alex

On this page http://www.ablemuse.com/v9/masthead it lists Alex as Editor, Tim Murphy as Associate Poetry Editor, Thaisa Frank as Fiction Editor with Assistant Fiction Editors listed asTim Love and John Riley. The Non-Fiction Editor is Gregory Dowling.

I am presuming that Tim Murphy will certainly be one of the pre-blind judges along with Alex and, possibly, all or some of the others?

Sorry, crossposted with Alex

Thanks, Alex; thanks, Lo.

That's right, Lo -- Thanks! Also, the page was missing our latest Assistant Fiction Editor, Janice D. Soderling. It's just been updated.

Cheers,
...Alex

bump, etc.
 

1. *bump* reminder to submit for one or both of the contest detailed at Able Muse Press.
   
2. Also, we're still accepting regular submission for the inaugural issue of Able Muse, print edition, but not for much longer -- that issue is scheduled for release, Winter 2010. Submissions received after another week or so will not make it to the inaugural issue (but will be considered for subsequent issues). Submit here.
   
3. Finally, subscribe now to the Able Muse, print edition -- if you haven't already done so -- at Able Muse Press.
4. Finally finally, if you haven't already done so, get your copy of Able Muse Anthology here.

Cheers,
...Alex

Not really about the contest, Alex, but I'm impressed at your level of activity of late.

Thanks, Quincy!

I am not the poetry editor of Able Muse. Alex is. I am his associate editor. My role is strictly limited to choosing and interviewing the featured and spotlight poets. I swore as a kid that I would never be an editor, but when Alex asks, what's a man to do? When Alex says "Jump," I ask "How high?"

I am going to serve as judge for our Mother of All Bakeoffs, the sonnet affair next May. And although I have screened most of these, I'm not going to use a screener. So there will be no anonymity involved, and no favoritism. The truth is, most of us have highly recognizable voices, so what's the point? I can tell a Michael Cantor from a Maryann Corbett or Cathy Chandler sonnet.

I think the merit of this contest is bringing in Rachel or Andrew to judge. They don't know us. So anonymity is pretty assured.

Alex -


is it coz of a current bout of flu that I've gone fuzzyheaded
or perhaps
being so overloaded with Jewish festivals this month that I can no longer identify clear dates....

but nonethless I ask the obvious: I cant find (1) deadlines for either the contest entries,
OR (2) the regular issue entries,
OR (3) whether the same material can be entered in both.
especially since you say, above, on the 29th 'another week or so'. When does 'so' end?

thanks - s/

Hi Seree,

Glad you're feeling better enough to return to the Sphere.

• Deadline for the Write Prize (for poetry and/or fiction): February 15, 2011 - full details at http://www.ablemusepress.com/ablemuse-write-prize
  
• Deadline for the Book Prize (for poetry manuscripts): March 31, 2011 - full details at http://www.ablemusepress.com/ablemuse-book-award
  
• Deadline for the regular submission to Able Muse - None (submissions read year-round, except that to make it in the inaugural print edition, I'll only consider everything received up to end-of-day -- i.e. midnight PST-- of this coming Friday, October 8). Submission details at: http://www.ablemuse.com/submit
  
• And, I haven't considered the possibility of the same material getting submitted for more than one of these events, but thinking about it now, I don't see why not. So, yes, simultaneous submission to the above events is OK.

Hope that reduces the confusion.

Cheers,
...Alex