Why Can’t An Editor Just Be Honest About Rejecting My Poetry Manuscript?

Dear Orville: thank you for thinking of ECW. I apologize for sitting on your manuscript for so very long. It’s a fine book—lovely and engaging. And that part of the problem. I’ve been swamped. It’s easy to get rid of the bad and middling manuscripts. The good ones? They, unfortunately, sometimes sit in a pile and wait for me to get off my butt and make tough decisions. I get to do so very few books I force myself to be absolutely sure. Like I said, I really like your book—I’m afraid, however, I’m going to have to pass. I wish I was writing with better news.

Best always,

Michael Holmes
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ECW Press