Good day! I've been doing a very fine job lurking quietly on this board for awhile now. I felt I should read what I could before I jumped in (a fine attitude until you full comprehend how much stuff there is on these boards). However, I had a question that I've otherwise failed to find information on. Thought this might be a good place to bring it up.
First readers.
I've heard them mentioned by various editors and writers. They are (as my understanding goes) the ones who get the first run at the stories that roll in on a regular basis and form perilous stacks with little stickers that say "to be read," or what we might also refer to as the slush pile. They read the general submissions, pass along decent ones to the editor...and that's where my knowledge stops.
Considering the things people say about the level of quality of 95% of unsolicited submissions (pure crap, drawn in crayon, The Bible retitled with a new author name, etc.) but I have to admit, I love the sound of that job. I just don't know that much about it.
What qualifications does one need to work as a first reader? How does one get a job as a first reader? Is it even a full and seperate job, or just one that's done by other members of the staff when there's time.
I think it would be a magnificant job, and I'd jumped all over it in a second. I just have absolutely no idea which direction to jump, or what it looks like and how I'm to jump it.
This board is full of smart people, writers, editors, and even some who are all three at once so any information you can give me would be very appreciated.
Thanks!
Pete
(who might make a second post somewhere, you just see if I don't.)
First readers.
I've heard them mentioned by various editors and writers. They are (as my understanding goes) the ones who get the first run at the stories that roll in on a regular basis and form perilous stacks with little stickers that say "to be read," or what we might also refer to as the slush pile. They read the general submissions, pass along decent ones to the editor...and that's where my knowledge stops.
Considering the things people say about the level of quality of 95% of unsolicited submissions (pure crap, drawn in crayon, The Bible retitled with a new author name, etc.) but I have to admit, I love the sound of that job. I just don't know that much about it.
What qualifications does one need to work as a first reader? How does one get a job as a first reader? Is it even a full and seperate job, or just one that's done by other members of the staff when there's time.
I think it would be a magnificant job, and I'd jumped all over it in a second. I just have absolutely no idea which direction to jump, or what it looks like and how I'm to jump it.
This board is full of smart people, writers, editors, and even some who are all three at once so any information you can give me would be very appreciated.
Thanks!
Pete
(who might make a second post somewhere, you just see if I don't.)