A True Story from the Editing Room

I was reviewing the latest batch of submissions to Cliterature in preparation of the fall issue, NAMING. One in particular has stayed with me several days later and not for a good reason. Before finishing the second page of a short story, I had found three spelling errors that Spellcheck would even have caught. After the third, I sighed, closed the window, and marked rejection in my notes.

If a writer does not do me the courtesy of reading over his or her own work for simple spelling errors before sending it to me for publishing consideration, I withdraw the courtesy of reading the same work.

Some will understand this. Other will call me a bitch. Just make sure to Spellcheck the letter of complaint.