THUNDER
EDITOR UNPROFESSIONAL . . .
I really enjoy your magazine and have
especially enjoyed partaking in contests. Up until
lately, although one who dabbled with writing poetry
for years, I never had the nerve to try to do anything
with my work. Your magazine changed that… and
encouraged me.
However, I do have problems. I never
know where I’m at as the magazine never arrives
when expected. I enter contests, hear nothing for
many, many months, and when I do hear it is to discover
you have combined contests together. Is this fair
to contestants? Cutting down their chances, etc.…?
Also, as I’d not had a magazine since last
summer, I began to question whether the magazine
was still in existence. Now one comes along with
contests with deadlines that, unless you have work
on hand (and then the work is not usually typed,
ready for submission), one can barely meet. Some
of the subscribers in the east likely would not get
their magazines until after the specified deadlines.
Your magazine is such a good one for
us writers so please don’t ruin it with unprofessional
practices.
By Ms. Buddy Ham
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
[EDITOR’s response:
We try our best to meet the high standards expected
of us, but have set the bar higher than we are
capable of jumping. Occasionally, we manage to
publish four issues in a year, but more often
than not we publish three issues. Subscribers
get what they pay for, as subscriptions are sold
per issue, not by year. As for grouping contests
together and that practice being unfair to subscribers – that’s
not true. What happens is, subscribers get to
enter a greater number of poems in the delayed
contest, perhaps increasing chances of winning.
Subscribers still enter four poetry contests
AND receive four issues of TbT. The only time
this isn’t true for contests is when there
are so few entries at press time that I can’t
even make up a top ten or 12 winner’s list!]
BOOSTING
CAREERS . . .
I enjoyed reading this issue of The
Year’s Best Fiction…
To think that you may be responsible
for boosting the career of an aspiring writer has
to give you a warm feeling. I hope one day to see
someone mention your name when they receive a prize
for best fiction or whatever.
By William Polsky
Dorval, Quebec, Canada
[EDITOR’s response:
You’re right! It really makes my day when
I see writers who have done well in TbT achieve
higher accomplishments elsewhere – like
Surrey writer Margaret Deefholts. She is known
to TbT readers and just won Storyteller magazine’s
Great Canadian Story Contest! Her story, Be-longing,
was the unanimous winner chosen from hundreds
of entries from across Canada. Margaret is an
excellent writer and we’re happy to have
provided some small encouragement along the way.
Congratulations, Margaret!]
BETTER
AND BETTER…
I just had to write and say, wow, what
an excellent read! TbT just gets better and better!
Too bad you had to hold-over the contest until your next issue. But, I
think, the lack of response could be due to the fact that, like myself,
some subscribers are reluctant to submit because, when they considered
the quality of the work done by contributing writers and the size of the
prize money, they believe TbT must be inundated with entries. However,
now that you have set the record straight, perhaps you will see an increase
in submissions. I, for one, having learned that my small efforts might
stand a chance, was inspired to put fingers to plastic and compose my entry
for your next fiction contest.
My only gripe with TbT is the long
wait between issues, but it is a small price to pay
for such an excellent magazine. Once again, Larry,
think you for keeping TbT in print, and for the superb
work done by you and your staff.
By Pat Wooding
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
[EDITOR’s response:
I’ve decided to look for some help to meet
these deadlines. Surrey residents who want to
learn more about publishing a magazine are welcome
to apply for the new volunteer position of assistant
editor. Applicant must submit written resume
listing experience, expectations and time limitations
to: Tickled by Thunder, 7385 - 129 St., Surrey,
B.C., V3W 7B8.]
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