Take Your Pushcart Nom and Shove It
Posted by David Duhr in 
— This “Open Letter to Pushcart Nominated Folks” is my favorite thing on the Internet this week. And it’s oh so true. Seems as if every third submission I get at Fringe lists “Pushcart nominated” in the cover letter. If my editorial assistant were reading this, she would be smiling. In fact, I am going to email her the link now. Pardon me for a moment.
— This New York Times piece about Manny Ramirez is one of the finest bits of baseball journalism I’ve read in the past few years.
— VS Naipaul’s “Advice to Writers” includes “The beginner should avoid using adjectives, except those of colour, size and number.” I like that.
— Our pal Becky at The Review Review published this excellent piece, “What Editors Want,” written by Lynne Barrett, founder of Gulf Stream. If you have any questions about any part of the submission process, bookmark this article. Among my favorite passages is this: “Oh no, another story with the character waking up hung-over and getting a phone call.” I’ve griped about this before, and will continue to until this scourge ends. Which it never will.
— Ever hear of a “newspaper landlord?” You have now.
— Colson Whitehead has willpower when it comes to wasting time on the Internet.
— Lorrie Moore isn’t the biggest fan of memoir.
That’s it, I guess. Not the most fascinating Friday Links post ever, but it should get you through the weekend. If it doesn’t, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.
Interesting, I’d never really looking into this award. Good to know!
I’m busted!! I’d already sort of done the math (ANY mag can nominate up to SIX pieces per year), but i put my little old nomination on my CV anyway. Should’ve taken it off when a colleague said he’d gotten four or six or something nominations last year.
I’d put it on my CV, Jose, for sure. My problem is when it’s featured in a cover letter. “I’m [Name], and you should read this submission because a story of mine was nominated for a Pushcart.” It just doesn’t carry much weight.
Thankfully, a Pushcart nom is not your only accolade.