Friday, September 14, 2018

Six Questions for Charlie Taylor, Editor, Rejected Manuscripts

Rejected Manuscripts publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, novel excerpts and poetry. The maximum word count is 1,500 words. To qualify for publication, your work must have been rejected by at least one publication or contest. 

(Ceased publication)

SQF: Why did you start this magazine?

Charlie Taylor: I realized I was not the only aspiring writer with a pile of rejected stories gathering dust on my hard-drive and no idea what to do with them, so I decided to start a literary competition specifically for previously-rejected manuscripts.


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

CT: We are a democratic competition, so what I personally look for in a submission is not really relevant; I only act as the gatekeeper. As long as a submission meets the criteria outlined on our website, I will publish it. After that, it is up to the voting public to choose the winners. Three things that will definitely get you rejected by Rejected Manuscripts are: Going over 1500 words, plagiarizing, or submitting previously published works.


SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?

CT: Sloppy or nonexistent proofreading.


SQF: What do you look for in the opening paragraph(s)/stanza(s) of a submission?

CT: We publish the first 12 to 20 lines of a piece on our main posts page with a “read more” button, so if you want to grab the casual browser’s attention, you’d better make those first lines intriguing.


SQF: If Rejected Manuscripts had a theme song, what would it be and why?

CT: Second Chances by Imagine Dragons


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

CT: Why should writers consider submitting to Rejected Manuscripts?

On top of having the chance to win publication in our anthology and earn royalties, it is also a great way to put your discards to use promoting your writing to a wider audience. Plus, it’s fun!

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

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