The Shine Journal

The Shine Journal has been online since January 2007. It is a home for  some of the best, most exceptional flash f iction,  non-fiction, poetry, art and photography in the world!   Welcome!

My friends,

I am delighted, pleased and grateful to be able to share the judge's remarks and selections with you.  On July 1 the actual winners will be published. For now-please enjoy Adrian Potter,  a most excellent poet in his own right, as he expresses his thoughts about the over 200 poems he read and from which he selected. Thank you Adrian.

Love,

Pamela

Judge's Overall comments

The poetry world, in my opinion, has grown distant from the masses – a bunch of intellectual wordsmiths placing clever phrases together in a complex manner, with only the desire to impress others.  Yet the poems in this contest were different – they were soulful testaments to the human condition.  Nearly every poem stood on its own as a wonderful piece of art.  The works were so diverse:  I read some that would make a tenured English professor nod with approval and others that could bring down the house at an open mic night.  Most were so spirited and authentic that I couldn’t help but to hypothesize that they might be a reflection of the dismal state much of society is in.  Within these poems I felt the grit of reality, yet also sensed undertones of inspiration and hope.

Judging this contest was humbling.  After  all, I’m a poet who is still developing my voice, just like many of the writers who entered their work.  So what makes my opinion important?  To those poets whose work I selected – I admire the talent you displayed, the message you shared, and the way you delivered it.  And to those who didn’t place in the contest, take heart – I had a tremendously challenging time deciding between the works that were submitted.  The piece you sent in is a valid, creative vision you want to share with the world.  Know that I read and appreciated your ideas, and sincerely hope you find a venue for it, so that the person who needs to hear your message can receive it. --- Adrian Potter

I receive some terrific submissions throughout the year but one thing still concerns me. Often submissions arrive and the creatives clearly have not bothered to read "The Shine Journal" and/or the guidelines. How do I know this? Here is the shortlist:  Submissions come...

...as attachments to email. (I do not open unsolicited attachments)

...indented paragraphs

...double spaced (I do not have the time to reformat your work)

... addressed to "Dear Editor" or "Dear Editors" (I have a name and I am only one person for now.)

...in other than word or rtf  (I am not advanced enough to open other formats yet.)

...exceeding the word count (1000 words or fewer is clearly stated.)

...without the motivation for the work (A requirement from DAY ONE.) 

...as part of an email (fails to have all the information I need) 

...contain profanity  (not acceptable)

and on and on I could go but I won't.

The submission guidelines are there for a reason and those who do not follow them  risk their work being deleted without my ever seeing it. Work which is submitted via the submissions page arrives in my mailbox with all the information I need. Whether or not you have submitted your work/ or have been previously published at Shine, do not submit without reading the journal and following the guidelines because I will probably know and will be rather insulted that you have taken liberties with my time. AND your work will be deleted. Period.