There are lots of poetry journals and contests that limit submissions in some way. Women only, or formal/free verse work only, or only sonnets, or only poems about nature.

I’ve come to terms with most of these. I’ve submitted work to “Mezzo Cammin” (though my submission was never acknowledged in any way, despite queries). I’m planning on sending work to “Unsplendid.” I’m not completely thrilled with the limits, but I can live with them.

But when I saw that one journal will only accept subs from people who are students, alumns, or faculty of graduate writing programs, I became immediately depressed. And my reaction probably isn’t fair.

Am I daunted just because that knocks me out of the running? I can’t say absolutely not, but I don’t think so. They weren’t a journal I was planning to submit to, and I think their policy is unusual enough that it doesn’t affect me.

What, then? Does this policy show:

1. fear: We are afraid the non-MFA writers might outcompete the MFAs. (Not likely)

2. bias: We don’t like non-MFAs.

3. cynicism/realism: We won’t end up publishing anything not written by an MFA anyway, so why waste our time?

4. promotion: Look what MFAs can do!

5. or just special attention/dedicated facilities: MFA writers wouldn’t have their own dedicated forum without us.

I’m not okay with reason 1, completely okay with reasons 4 and 5, and on the fence with reasons 2 and 3. 2, 3, and 4 are the reasons that strike me as most likely. (1 is crazy the way only I can think of and 5 is usually the reasoning for more discriminated-against groups).

So, you have your MFA. Would you submit work there?

(Also posted to Poetry Crossroads, if you’d rather participate there.)