I started reading over the guidelines for a few writing competitions and was once again annoyed by a dilemma that they provoke.
Most of the contests tell you all the wonderful stuff they can think of about the poet/writer who is judging. Then they slam you with this one.
Poets/writers are not eligible to submit a manuscript if they know the judge or the [insert name of press here] personally.
What does this mean regarding the judge? If you’re her father or sister or niece? I get that. If you’re her best friend? If you took three courses in an MFA program from her? That all makes sense.
But what if you took a workshop a zillion years ago and that workshop was a total of less than six hours and she has absolutely no idea who you are?
Does that count?
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Pear says Hi!