Six Questions for Amy Pollard, Founder/Editor, Brevity Poetry Review

Brevity Poetry Review is a blogzine that seeks to publish poems of 30 lines or less. Read the complete guidelines here.

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

AP: I started Brevity Poetry Review because I wanted to showcase poems that demonstrate less is more. Generally speaking, I think poetry nowadays has become too long and verbose. I want to bring short poems "back into style" and challenge poets to craft poems of great meaning with but few words.

SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?

AP:

1. Brevity - the poem must be 30 lines or less

2. Creativity - unconventional use of language, words that grab me

3. Interpretive value - needs to offer interpretations and convey some message to readers

SQF: What common mistakes do you encounter that turn you off to a submission?

AP:

1. The poem is predictable (common word associations, cliche phrases)

2. The poem is abstract for no reason other than looking cool (indents, punctuation, etc.)

3. The poem offers no interpretations or, conversely, one very obvious interpretation

4. The poem has a flat title (think "remember" or "smile")

SQF: Do you provide comments when you reject a submission?

AP:No. If comments are requested, I will do my best to respond.

SQF: Based on your experience as an editor, what have you learned about writing?

AP: The verbs which a poet chooses are vital. A poem that relies on variations of "to be" usually carries less meaning as a whole than a poem rich in transitive present tense verbs which carry meaning in themselves.

SQF: What one question on this topic do ySix Questions for Jeremiah Walton, Editor, Nostrovia! Poetry

ou wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

AP: What should poets NOT do in terms of formatting and presentation?

1. Forget to send a cover letter
2. Send a cover letter that is long, desperate and anxiety-filled
3. Forget to send a bio
4. Send a bio that tells where poet was born, every job held and every unheard-of publication in which the poet has appeared
5. Send ten poems instead of three
6. Send an attachment
7. Reply to a form rejection with "You made me cry" (I've received this, believe it or not)
8. Use slang or otherwise informal language like "Hey there!" in the email

Thank you, Amy. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.

NEXT POST: 3/5--Six Questions for Jeremiah Walton, Editor, Nostrovia! Poetry