June 3, 2026
Baltimore Review News:
Our free generative workshop on May 17 went well. Attendees let us know how much they enjoyed it. Yes! Since these workshops are a great opportunity to generate some raw material and work with fellow writers—and sometimes learn a few craft techniques (I attend lots of them myself)—we’ll plan on offering another Zoom workshop this summer, probably in mid-July.
We closed our Submittable doors at 11:59 p.m. on May 31 and will open them again on August 1.
Now, we’re whittling down the contest entries to a group of finalists in each category. Then we’ll send those to the final judge.
Something that I’m seeing an uncomfortable amount of in submissions lately: Lines lifted from other writers’ works, not always attributed. Or “after” poems that mention a writer’s name but not the work it’s “after.” We do want to see that. I’ve mentioned concerns to fellow editors about how much of another writer’s work is borrowed, or if the power of a poem rests in the borrowed lines, not the writer’s own words. I understand that “after” poems, like some other forms that borrow text, have been around for a very long time. But as an editor, I have to be careful not to cross any ethical lines, and I’d also like to believe that the poems we receive are pretty much entirely the result of the writers’ own creativity and hard work. I’ll step off my soapbox now. Just something to chew on.
Other summer plans: Selecting work (aside from contest submissions) for the summer issue, assembling the annual print compilation of the work published in the summer and fall 2025 and winter and spring 2026 issues, and offering another free generative workshop. That should keep us busy!
On a personal note:
Looking forward to the L+S reading at Atomic Books on June 13. Hope to see many of the locals there.
I registered for The Washington Writers’ Publishing House’s Capital Love LitFest on June 28. That should be another great day of hanging out with fellow writers. And I was invited to be a reader at a celebration of Capital Love at the Ivy Bookshop in August.
My share of decline responses lately. We all get them, right? But a recent acceptance too—my second—from Fictive Dream. Sweet!
I’ve accumulated some raw material from generative workshops. Now it’s time to see what’s worth saving and transforming into polished work. Onward!