Debbie Yee pits Zyzzyva editor Howard Junker against Three Penny Review editor Wendy Lesser in a funny blog entry re:rejections. Check it out. She also left a comment linking to the above rejection letter by Howard Junker. (Thank you, Debbie.)So? Should Howard get a GAK? Or is he trying a wee bit too hard? (Click the letter for a version that's easier to read.) I'm taking votes for the next week or so and will announce results whenever I feel like it. Like, maybe in 2-4 months. On a tiny cream-colored slip of paper. With Debbie Yee's heartfelt regrets.
7 comments:
The aptly named Howard Junker should get a GAG, not a GAK.
Onward indeed.
He should've stopped after the first paragraph.
Translation:
"In my humble opinion, your work stinks... but that's really cool! See, stinking isn't so bad. After all, I stink sometimes, too. In fact, I stink right now. So never fear, my smelly, rejected friend."
Blech.
Bring out the pancakes to go with this syrupy sweet (not to mention rather disingenuous) note.
Oh Howard. One can only imagine what you were like in elementary school. I think I stole your potato chips. I think I beat you up on the bus and you thanked me.
I have to recuse myself from any award-giving in this category, since I generally think Junker is a pretty cool old dude and I like the idea that ZYZZYVA puts out literary evidence that the left coast is something more than beat poets or Didion or otherwise screenplays. Also, after being rejected, I joined the corporate (not editorial) board of ZYZZYVA (a nonprofit 501c3 organization), which, per conflicts policy that I am in complete agreement with, guarantees that I will not be published there. Rejections bite regardless of content, but a big thumbs up to those editors who actually respond promptly so that you are not wondering for months on end what is it exactly they are considering, or whether they are just waiting for something better to show up.
Okay, Debbie. We're sorry to lose you as our sponsoring rejected writer. I appreciate your appreciation of Howard's speed in rejecting people...it is good to know ASAP. But let me just remind us that the vote is not on speed, but on quality. Should nice-guy Howard Junker get a GAK!? Would you feel warm and fuzzy if you got his rejection note? Check out the 1 letter under the category of "nice" for comparison,Rosemary Ahearn's letter, which did win a GAK! Should Junker dethrone Ahearn? That's the question.
Nope. No GAK. He gets consideration for effort, which counts for something, but no apple.
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