Six Questions for Lark Vernon Timmons, Senior Editor, Pirene's Fountain

Pirene’s Fountain publishes all genres of poetry, with no restrictions on length, style or form; however, free verse and shorter, more varied pieces are preferred. Read the complete guidelines here.

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

LVT: Pirene's Fountain is our publisher's brainchild. The editors and publisher came to know one another on a neighboring writing community website. It was one of those "right time-right place" things. A new and creative place to hang our hats appealed to all of us, so when [Ami] approached us with her vision to start an "e-zine," we jumped aboard. We have yet to meet face to face.


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

LVT: We are generally in agreement, but each have our particular likes and dislikes. I personally look for good flow, meaning/substance, and a sort of indefinable quality that makes a poem "memorable." 

SQF: What are the top three reasons a poem is rejected, other than not fitting into your answers to the above question and why?

LVT: The primary reason for rejection is poorly crafted work. We’re also less likely to select poems which rant, rave or show clear bias. Poets who follow the guidelines send us material we are more likely to accept. The editor’s page, besides outlining the issue contents, has information about upcoming themes and prize nominations. Some issues have a broad-based theme, so when a writer submits good work that is unsuitable for the theme, we contact them about using their writing for a future issue. 

SQF: Do you provide comments for poems you reject?

LVT: Unfortunately, no. We started out thinking this was possible, but found in short order that commenting on each poem, or even each group of poems submitted by a writer, simply wasn't feasible.

SQF: Will you publish a poem an author posted on a personal blog?

LVT: We do occasionally publish work from a blog. We tend to approach publishing from a "quality not quantity" philosophy. It is not necessarily our goal to be the first to publish a piece.

SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?

LVT: What is the biggest misconception neophyte/amateur writers have about publication?

Many assume that simply because writing has made it onto the printed page or has been published online, it is quality writing; when in fact, there is much currently in print that is sorely in need of editing and revision. Good writing takes talent, hard work and tenacity. 

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

NEXT POST: 10/27--Six Questions for Rhonda Parrish, Editor, Niteblade Horror and Fantasy Magazine