What I didn't tell you was a fellow teacher named Katie was the one who told me about the journal's call for submissions. She submitted a piece she wrote with another educator and--unbeknownst to me until a couple of days ago--is on her fourth revision.
Great news, right? They want it, and Katie and her colleague are fine-tuning it.
Well, it doesn't sound so great.
Reviewer # 1 loved their article. Reviewer # 2 hated it (they of course did not use such blunt words), so the two of them worked on completely revamping the piece. (With this publication, the reviewers/editors always work in pairs.)
They sent it back.
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| photo by pixabay |
With reviewer # 3 and #4, more revisions were asked for. They worked on it and it's been looked at by a third wave of editors. Again, more revisions are being asked for.
Currently, if she is honest, my friend said, "We're on our 20th draft." She admitted that if the piece is not accepted this time, they're through.
One of the reviewers requested more of a "how to" article. How can we teach writing? Add water and stir? Do #1, #2 and #3 and your students will be writers? Absolutely not.
They're battling with how-can-we-voice-what's-really-in-our-hearts-while-at-the-same-time-appeasing-our-editors? In their latest draft, their piece talks about the paradigm shift teachers must make (they must think of themselves as writers and see writing as a process and not a product), that there is no laundry list of steps a teacher can take.
Will the 20th time be the one that gets a yes? We'll see...
Been there, done that! I finally told the editor, "This cake is baked. I am finished." I pulled my work. Sometimes you have to walk away when there are too many cooks stirring it up. I once submitted to a lit mag. Three editors sent feedback. Two loved it, one didn't. it's all subjective. I wish your friend well on placing her essay.
ReplyDeleteLinda--"Stirring it up" is the perfect phrase... in more ways than one.
DeleteI agree with Linda. I rewrote a western to an editors tune and then in the end he didn't use it!!!! Darn, the work, the disappointment! Editors bring their own bias to the page...it can work or against us. I am hoping 20 is YOUR magic number though!!!!
ReplyDeleteClaudia--It IS frustrating. I prefer when editors are biased and love my work. ;)
DeleteYes, let's hope the twentieth time's a charm!
ReplyDeleteVal--Well, if it's not, she and her co-writer are packing it in.
DeleteWow! Too many cooks spoil the broth is right. I'm thinking I know the Katie you're mentioning. She was a friend of my son's. She is a talented writer and a lovely young lady. I hope the magazine eventually accepts her submission.
ReplyDeleteDonna--That would be a small world. We'll have to talk.
DeleteShe's only in her seventh year of teaching, so I hope the journal takes it, because otherwise, they've gone through a bunch of work with nothing to show for it... at least, not a publication to show for it.
Yes, I'm with Linda on this one, too. If you have a contract and THEN have to do a round of edits, at least you know that at some point, you WILL be paid (even if you put in so many hours of work, you end up making pennies!).
ReplyDeleteThough your friends do have something to show for their work. They've learned a hard lesson in publishing!
Cathy--Unfortunately, I don't think this journal pays. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
DeleteYou're saying the same thing I told them. In fact, I told them they have an article about writing the article...
Too many suggestions can sometimes change the voice of a piece. Yet, the editors know what they want. Sometimes it feels like catch-22.
ReplyDeletePat
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