Thursday 19 December 2019

Should editors be poets?

One of the most important and prestigious magazines around, Poetry London, are looking for a new editor. Out of curiosity, I had a quick look at their job description and noticed the following requirement...

"An established reputation as a poet, with at least a first collection already published or under contract".

Is it essential for editors to be poets themselves? What do you think?

4 comments:

  1. Don't think it's relevant. I suppose they just want an indication of commitment. Editors aren't always poets. You need to prove yourself as a discerning reader too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maria,

      Thanks for commenting!

      Yes, I agree 100%. Some of the best editors aren't poets, of course, but they'd have to prove themselves in different ways.

      Delete
  2. This is an interesting question Matthew. I guess being published gives an editor credibility, although I think an academic in the field of contemporary poetry would have similar authority. It must be an incredibly tough job reading so much, at speed, and doing so with discernment - I’m not sure being a poet guarantees that kind of skill. Maybe there should be an Emerging Editors scheme like the Ledbury Emerging Critics to provide training and encourage under-represented groups.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting, Chris. Yes, I was very interested to notice this requirement. Charles Monteith, perhaps the best known poetry editor in the U.K. in the second half of the 20th century, wasn't a poet, of course, but maybe he's an exception.

      Delete