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Sara Burant's avatar

As an older poet/translator/writer who has never quite learned to befriend, much less embrace, the submission process, I welcome this generous reflection, and hope we can collectively embrace a word like wellspring & its positive connotations. Many thanks.

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Nancy Chadwick, Writer's avatar

I'm wholeheartedly with you on this one! As a writer, I'm not compelled to dig into a "slush" of anything. It's messy, disorganized, hopeless, unmotivating to retrieve and renew. "Wellspring" is a happy word for me!

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Dennis James Sweeney's avatar

Thanks so much Nancy! I feel like the word we use should make us feel good as writers, so I'm glad it does for you :)

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

I love the idea of a submissions wellspring. I opted out of using slush pile a few years back because it’s so demoralizing. Those of us who are writers and editors can decide to call it something better, because we know what submitting feels like. We don’t have to buy into that tiered system with a negative phrase for what is essentially an act of hope. Wellspring is generative and nourishing.

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Dennis James Sweeney's avatar

Totally with you! I like framing it as an act of hope—from both sides. That leap is never guaranteed but in a way that's why it's magic.

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