101 Reasons to Stop Writing

Around the world, there exists a group of dedicated men and women who have given their lives to the pursuit of literature. They are explorers, warriors of a sort, who take on the unimaginable challenge of seeking flecks of gold in a reservoir of shit the size of Australia.

They are the slush readers, the unsung heroes of the unsung publishing industry. They screen out the unpublishable, the unpalatable, the unreadable short stories and novels, in search of that one manuscript in a thousand that is original, well written, proofread, spellchecked and printed in 12 pt Courier, and which might be good enough for agents and publishers to invest time and money to release to a public who might be willing to pay to read it.

How do they do it? Why do they do it? Does the thrill of finding a that rare gem offset the eyestrain of reading dozens of submissions that are illiterate, and hundreds that are just plain dull? Is there a sense of satisfaction in championing a work that goes on to success, and does this balance the frustration of a work getting vetoed further down the line? How does this affect their enjoyment of other, published literature? What are the long-term health risks?

Here at 101 Reasons, I’m declaring April International Slushpile Awareness Month, to draw attention to the plight of this maligned group. Over the month, we’ll explore their thankless duties, and discuss what you can do to ease their suffering.

If you’ve ever been a slush reader, please let me know via email if you’d like to be interviewed about your experiences (anonymously if you wish).