Editor Interviews
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Read all the editors' answers to Duotrope's interview question: Describe the ideal submission. Learn more.
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Here is a small sampling from our recent Editor Interviews. We have interviewed over 2,300 editors.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: An ideal submission follows the guidelines for submission, and the work is devoid of errors, and also fits the scope and mission of the 'zine.
A: The ideal submission cuts language down to its purest form and hits us in the gut. That's so unbelievably vague I know!
Let me explain... (or try to!)
just give us an original way of looking at something!
Our ideal submission could come in many different shapes and sizes, try not to overthink it!
A: The ideal submission is double-spaced in a custom font such as Times New Roman or Arial. The author has spent a long time editing the work so the copy is pretty clean. They have included a bio of between 250 and 500 words. They have included everything asked for in the submission guidelines.
A: The ideal submission has a strong voice and a balanced story. It may be a little open-ended. It will be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. The text will be double-spaced, paragraphs will be indented using a proper formatting tool. Pages will be numbered. There will be very few, if any, typos.
A: The ideal submission is double-spaced in a custom font such as Times New Roman or Arial. The author has spent a long time editing the work so the copy is pretty clean. They have included a bio of between 250 and 500 words. The stories conclude well and each one has a decent structure. If stories have been published before, this is clearly indicated.
A: The ideal submission has followed the guidelines. Note, they are different depending on whether you are submitting fiction or nonfiction. In the synopsis you really convince us about the woman you are featuring
.
A: The ideal submission is anonymised, of course. Beyond that, it has an innate sense of wonder that sparks adrenaline and emotional connection in the reader. It is well paced for audio production, does not hit any of our do-not-wants, and is appropriate for a YA audience.
A: A first line that grabs our attention immediately. A story that is free of grammatical errors, and ends with a bang.
A: Work that makes me and my designer (Priya) talk about for ages.
A: We look for haiku and haiga that are unpublished, original and fulfil our guidelines.
A: Strange, surreal, shocking, beautiful, and on theme (for flash).
A: The ideal submission for The Palisades Review is a concise yet powerful work of nonfiction, no longer than 1,000 words, that tells a complete and compelling story. It should captivate readers with a strong narrative arc, while offering a fresh, creative perspective on personal or universal experiences.