Episode 17: "Let's Kill the Slush Pile"
b"Instead of discussing submissions from our own slush pile, we talked about whether a \\u201cslush pile\\u201d is even the best way to find writing and writers at all! Joining us is Jim Hanas, author of the essay \\u201cLet\\u2019s Kill the Slush Pile\\u201d...\\nToday we have a very different episode; instead of discussing submissions from our own slush pile, we talk about whether a \\u201cslush pile\\u201d is even the best way to find writing and writers at all! Joining us is Jim Hanas, author of the essay \\u201cLet\\u2019s Kill the Slush Pile,\\u201d which details how open submissions really work, under what premises, and the advantages of scouting for work over open submissions. In a world where Facebook and Wordpress have made sharing writing easier than ever, does a slush pile still have the value that it once had? Are Editors who strictly pick from submissions nothing more than literary Gatekeepers? We sit down for this episode ready to defend our democratic slush pile as the obvious way to go, but Jim\\u2019s arguments left us questioning our own methods (unless you\\u2019re Jason).\\n \\nJim Hanas is certainly not a new face to the publishing world. Currently, he works for HarperCollins as the Senior Director of Audience Development and Insight but he\\u2019s done it all, from freelance writer, to professor, to editor. He no longer submits to the slush and is trying to conquer the full-length novel. Look for his collection of short stories titled Why They Cried: a surreal look into the strange and beautiful present in everyday life.\\nWe here at PBQ aren\\u2019t slashing our slush pile any time soon, but Jim leaves us contemplating the function of the slush pile and with an uncertainty of its future in the ever-changing world of publishing.\\nWhat do you think? Do you agree with Jim? What are your experiences with slush piles?\\nDon't forget to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes!\\nLet us know on our Facebook event page or tweet us@PaintedBrideQ.\\nThank you for listening and read on!\\n\\xa0\\nPresent at the Editorial Table:\\nJim Hanas\\nJason Schneiderman\\nKathleen Volk Miller\\nMarion Wrenn\\nCaitlin McLaughlin\\nTim Fitts\\n\\xa0\\nProduction Engineer:\\nJoe Zang"