Brain Harvest (market discussion/criticisms)

[icenine]

Brain Harvest looked like a good market, until I saw all the criticism of the fiction on site. Although today I noticed the comments section has been removed, so I may think again about submitting to this one. Thanks for the tip.

[Gray Rose]

Icenine, can you point to the criticism?

I have to admit Brain Harvest's guidelines made the wrong impression on me; I wouldn't submit there. But then again I am weird.

[icenine]

That's my point. They removed the criticism swiftly. Things looked to be getting a bit heated. I had fun reading all the stuff people were writing about the two stories that Brain Harvest posted, but it put me off submitting for fear of becoming victim to the same. Apparently people took an instant dislike to the fiction BH posted. The first story posted on March 1st took quite a bashing. Then they posted another one on March 3rd, by one of the editors, and that took a real pasting as well. Anyway, BH removed one of the stories, and the comments section as well, leaving just the first story posted on March 1st and none of the comments. A wise move some might say.

[Izz]

Icenine, can you point to the criticism?

I have to admit Brain Harvest's guidelines made the wrong impression on me; I wouldn't submit there. But then again I am weird.Heh - the criticism of the story was the funniest part, actually. I think it was a combination of people who might've been rejected and took it personally, and the usual internet trolls who always mysteriously appear at pileups. You kinda have to expect that sort of thing with anything that advertises itself as different. Persecution is par for the territory (yeah, i know that's a strong and not entirely accurate in this context term, but y'know what i mean).

Honestly, though, i've decided i'm not sure Brain Harvest is quite as interstitial as they make out. That first story (i never got to see the second) coupled with their guidelines has me thinking they're more after stuff that feels 'cool' and 'now' rather than anything that seriously experiments/breaks boundaries between genres.

But, i really should wait and see, right? I probably shouldn't make judgements after one story :)

[icenine]

Heh - the criticism of the story was the funniest part, actually. I think it was a combination of people who might've been rejected and took it personally, and the usual internet trolls who always mysteriously appear at pileups. You kinda have to expect that sort of thing with anything that advertises itself as different. Persecution is par for the territory (yeah, i know that's a strong and not entirely accurate in this context term, but y'know what i mean).

Honestly, though, i've decided i'm not sure Brain Harvest is quite as interstitial as they make out. That first story (i never got to see the second) coupled with their guidelines has me thinking they're more after stuff that feels 'cool' and 'now' rather than anything that seriously experiments/breaks boundaries between genres.

But, i really should wait and see, right? I probably shouldn't make judgements after one story :)


Wait no longer. I checked back on the site today, and it seems they are continuing the trend of publishing their mates from the Clarion Writer's Workshop. On that basis, I'll give this one a miss. :)

[Izz]

Wait no longer. I checked back on the site today, and it seems they are continuing the trend of publishing their mates from the Clarion Writer's Workshop. On that basis, I'll give this one a miss. :)Um, i don't think that's a good basis for avoiding a magazine. Usually people who've been through Clarion are very good writers - and are chosen for that workshop on that very basis - and deserve any publishing credits they get.

My concern was more that they might be going for stories that were 'cool' rather than interstitial. I think the story that they've posted now fits the interstitial tag more than the first one did, so that's good. Personally, i think it's a nicely constructed story, too. :) (not that my opinion on story construction means all that much :rolleyes:)

[icenine]

Well, we'll see if the trend continues. :)

[icenine]

Had a look today, and yes the trend is continuing.

Seems the original critics of the site were on to them from the start. Reassuring to know that there are lots of readers out there who can also see that the Emperor is naked.

[Shweta]

Since the discussion of Brain Harvest is getting rather long and deraily, I've split it out of the Markets (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132924) thread.

Apologies for the confusion in the process; I'm still not totally here, and got the start of the discussion wrong at first. Icenine, that seems to have dumped a title on one of your posts -- apologies in particular for that.

[Polenth]

Had a look today, and yes the trend is continuing.

On the other side, it might be that they asked authors they knew to write the first few stories, to tide them over till they had something through the slush.

[badducky]

I should mention that I was reading good stuff that I liked on the site, especially the Mamatas piece. I submitted something, and was accepted.

When people start a magazine, they reach out to good writers they know to add depth to their early slush pile. It's part of how you get a project like this off the ground when your slush pile is thin and full of things that aren't right for your publication (because, for instance, no one konws what your publication is without any issues out there...).

It's perfectly normal. Ever notice how Coyote Wild had lots of writer's Mac knew in the early issues? It's true of a great many startups that the editor(s) will reach out to writers they know produce the kind of stuff desired for the fledgling mag.

It's not nepotism. It's putting your publication schedule together when your slush pile has limited depth, and no one knows what your 'zine's voice is, yet.

Sometimes it worries me, the number of haters on the internet who rush to judgement...

Edit To Add: Oh, and I'm not a Clarion Graduate, nor do I know the editors in any way, shape, or form.

[Izz]

Well said, badducky :)

[Shweta]

I should mention that I was reading good stuff that I liked on the site, especially the Mamatas piece. I submitted something, and was accepted.
<snip>

Agree with Iz on the "well said".
And also, congrats :)

[Keyan]

Yes, I think it's a matter of the thing finding its voice.

If it's any consolation, I am a Clarion grad and had three pieces rejected so far (with requests to send more - a compliment to my productivity, if not to its results).

(Congrats, Badducky)

I'm all for new markets. If someone is willing to take on the expense of putting up an ezine, and willing to put in the hours slushing, they have my respect. I once thought of starting an online mag (so I could read the kind of stuff I like that's not published elsewhere) - and then I thought about the slushing and chickened out.

[icenine]

Well so now it looks as if they're accepting non-clarion writers, so you all have me to thank. :)

[MumblingSage]

Thank you, icenine :D