Able Muse Guest Editors, Spotlight Poet Contest & More

The next issue of Able Muse will feature a number of guest editors in all areas, and a contest. With that, I’m pleased to invite the submissions on behalf of the guest editors. The pertinent details follow. In all cases, the submission guidelines for Able Muse are online here [1]. The deadline for all submissions indicated below is May 1, 2009.

POETRY

1. To begin with, I have asked our Lariat Emeritus, Tim Murphy, to join me as associate poetry editor for Able Muse. We hope to publish two to three times a year. Tim will primarily run the Featured Poet and the Spotlight Poet sections for each issue.
   For the Spotlight Poet feature in the forthcoming issue, we are running a contest open to all poets with a good publication record, and beginners or discouraged from entering. The winner will be chosen by Tim and me. Based on the response we might make this an ongoing feature or a yearly event. To be considered for this feature, we invite about five previously unpublished poems. Tim will write an introduction and a short, critical appraisal and appreciation on the winner’s work. This is an exciting development which I’m sure will further revitalize Able Muse. If you wish to be considered for a spotlight spot, send five of your best unpublished poems and a curriculum vitae to the special Submissions forum set up for it here [2] on Eratoshere: this is a blind submission forum – you can post, but you won’t be able to view the contents of this forum. So, make sure you read your submission carefully before submitting because you won’t be able to see it or edit it after it’s submitted. However you need to be registered on Able Muse / Eratosphere to use this link. Registration is quick and simple. However, if you do not wish to register, you may also enter through the regular online submission form here [3], however, if you submit via the Able Muse online form or by email, be sure to clearly indicate that it is an entry for the Spotlight Poet contest. I especially want to thank Tim for jumping in and agreeing to help, and Tim and I eagerly look forward to your submissions.
2. Along with the Spotlight Poet, the existing tradition of the Featured Able Muse Poet will continue. As before, the Featured poets will be established poets with trade press publications who will submit unpublished work and be interviewed extensively and introduced by Tim. For the forthcoming and future issues, Featured Poets will be invited to appear by Tim.

FICTION

The editing responsibility for fiction in the next issue of Able Muse will be taken care of by the Guest Fiction Editor, Thaisa Frank. She has been published extensively to critical acclaim, including authoring three fiction collections. She’s no stranger to Able Muse and appears in the Millennial issue and the current Reload issue. Although Thaisa will consider all fiction submissions, and she's especially looking forward to them. I strongly encourage anyone who can to submit a story for her consideration to do so, and this applies even to those poets with that latent fiction talent they’ve been meaning to explore! We’re looking for anything from flash fiction to short fiction (about 4000 words or less.) I have also set up a special blind submission forum for fiction on Eratosphere here [4]. However you need to be registered on Able Muse / Eratosphere to use this link. Registration is quick and simple. However, if you do not wish to register, you may also enter through the regular online submission form here [3] or by email as indicated in the Able Muse submission guidelines mentioned at the start of this announcement.

NON-FICTION

Moving on non-fiction – essays and book reviews --- for the next issue of Able Muse will be edited by the Guest Non-Fiction Editor, Gregory Dowling. Gregory is no stranger on the Able Muse / Eratosphere, with a review in the current Reload issue, and the Moderator of the Musing on Mastery forum on Eratosphere. Gregory and I strongly encourage anyone who can to submit a non-fiction piece for his consideration. There’s no word limit, within reason – excellence is the only criterion! I have also set up a special blind submission forum for non-fiction on Eratosphere here [5]. However you need to be registered on Able Muse / Eratosphere to use this link. Registration is quick and simple. However, if you do not wish to register, you may also enter through the regular online submission form here [3] or by email as indicated in the Able Muse submission guidelines mentioned at the start of this announcement.


ART

Finally, we also plan to include artwork from selected individual artists in the next issue of Able Muse in the hope of showcasing the art talents of established and emerging artists. The Guest Art Editor for the next issue of Able Muse is Sharon Passmore, who is the Moderator of the Art forum on Eratosphere. Sharon and I strongly encourage anyone who can do so to submit some of their best work for her consideration. With Sharon’s lead, I’m looking forward to a flourish of art submission and something innovative for the next issue! I have also set up a special blind submission forum for art on Eratosphere here [6]. However you need to be registered on Able Muse / Eratosphere to use this link. Registration is quick and simple. However, if you do not wish to register, you may also enter through the regular online submission form here [3] or by email as indicated in the Able Muse submission guidelines mentioned at the start of this announcement.

There you have it! I’m looking forward to your submissions!

Cheers,
...Alex