Six Questions for Daphne D. Maysonet, Co-Founder and Poetry Editor, The Corner Club Press

The Corner Club Press is an on-line, non-profit magazine that publishes fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. 

(Ceased publication)


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

DM: For The Corner Club Press, the aspect of primary importance in judging the quality of poetry that we receive is a sophisticated and original handling of language. Second, we look for a refined sense of observation of the poet’s internal and external world. Whether a poem is in formal or free verse, we look for works that take risks in both content and form.


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

DM: When rejecting a piece of work, we are most concerned with weeding out overused and trite imagery. We also strictly acknowledge the importance of honest sentiment as opposed to outright sentimentality. This simply means that we appreciate the thought and craft that goes into writing; however, our magazine may not be the forum for melodramatic verse. While we expect to engage in some copyediting, we also expect that our poets have basic knowledge of English grammar and punctuation. An obvious lack of this knowledge may imply that the writer does not care about the material being submitted.


SQF: What other mistakes do you encounter that turn you off to a story?

DM: Another common mistake that we often encounter in editing is the idea that any piece of work can simply be broken into lines and stanzas and be considered poetry. While we do not discourage any specific styles of writing, we believe that rhythm or how a poem sounds plays an essential role in the quality of the work.


SQF: What is it about the characters in a story that makes them pop off the page and grab hold of you?

N/A


SQF: I read a comment by one editor who said she keeps a blacklist of authors who respond to a rejection in a less than professional manner. I'm sure you know what I mean. What do you want authors to know about the stories you reject and how authors should respond? Along this same idea, do you mind if authors reply with polite questions about the comments they receive?

No answer provided.

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

No answer provided.

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

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