Excluded: Biased Toward Bias
10th Piece Rejected (To Competitions and Publications Outside Vocal) and some thoughts.
Preamble: As many of you probably know, I've been working on trying to get published and entering various competitions outside Vocal for sometime now. This next piece, is my 10th overall rejection, that includes competitions and submission calls with literary publications. I've been encouraged, inspired and spurred along to try by the two Stephens. Stephen A Roddewig and Stephen Kramer Avitabile.
This poem was for a submission call through Winning Writers In April 2025, that requested poems that made creative use of the words that the Trump administration has banned from government websites and research papers. There was no prize money, just the chance to be published in digital anthology entitled Live and Let DEI Anthology Rules.
Excluded: Biased Toward Bias
Do you advocate on behalf of community diversity?
Are you biased for diverse backgrounds and groups?
Have you been seen fostering inclusivity with aplomb?
Outraged that historically females were excluded?
Well, now excluded and females are both excluded
-
If you're looking to enhance the diversity — don't
The concept and act of enhancing the diversity,
Promoting diversity, offering a sense of belonging,
and being culturally responsive — are all excluded
-
There are no biases toward Black and Latinx, females,
BIPOC and your cultural heritage, cultural differences —
don't matter anymore. There are no biases towards
discrimination; your ethnicity is outdated — and excluded
-
Marginalized minorities, political prejudice — excluded
Polarization and political privileges — also excluded
Status doesn't matter. Neither does racial justice.
Systemic racism and sociocultural stereotypes — excluded
-
So while the government can't be seen to defend the rights
of its people, it also can't be seen to defend itself.
Full circle, becoming biased toward biases —
even this form of activism — as activism is also excluded.
*
Thanks for reading!
Although I'm disappointed my poem didn't get picked, even for a free publication and certain bragging rights, I'm still proud of my efforts. And 10th rejection feels like a milestone that had to be reached.
I still have a number of pieces in submission calls and competitions which I still need to find out about.
It's not going to stop me from keeping on. I shall continue to put forward pieces to Vocal generally and for challenges (official and unofficial) and will also continue to work on getting published or winning something outside of Vocal too.
Here are other things:
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Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
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Comments (15)
Well, now. I had no idea you were entering competitions. I can't remember the last time I entered something outside of Vocal, although it probably hasn't been that long. I don't do the "battles" and such, though I do occasionally check in on Winning Writers to see what's happening. I'm happily submitting one new article per month for publication in an online fishing and hunting magazine and still picking up an occasional piece on the freelancing sites. I'm slowly ramping up on Vocal again, and that's enough to keep me busy until moving plans fall into place. Best of luck "on the outside", my friend! Have fun with it!
Good on you and good to hear Paul. Keep at it. The ‘fun’ should always be in the journey I think, not a final destination. Hi paul, I am very much on the down low on vocal. Trying to get my Heath and life in order. I hope you and the fam are all good.
Awesome, Paul! Keep persevering, the world needs your poems in it <3
Ten rejections means ten that you've put forward Paul, and like so many others have said, it's a numbers game. See if you can get to fifty! It'll happen mate:)
Resilience is key! Every rejection represents a faith in yourself to try. And every attempt is another chance to grow. Worst thing you can do is eliminate yourself from the go (unless, of course, you truly do not have something for the theme or requirements of the publisher). Actually just had a major story publication today that I still can't quite believe a publisher as big and well known said yes to me. And it might sound bad to say, but I submitted with absolutely no belief they would say yes because they have to receive so many submissions. But I still submitted on that tiny chance, and here we are.
I do like the way that prompt feels like a "screw you" to Trump administration (banning those words is insanity). But a great poem, Paul. Fantastic, even. Sorry this was the tenth rejection. We're all rooting for you, and we're all waiting for the post that says you've done it and won! I'm also impressed you're able to find all these competitions, lol.
Such an interesting challenge prompt and you did an excellent job with it, Paul! Keep on keeping on! Rejection sucks but it is not indicative of your talent or the value of your pieces!
Great piece! Sorry about the rejection. All comes in time sir
Sir Paul, please know that I'm always here rooting for you and keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🏼🤞🏼✨️❤️
It can be disheartening getting rejected so many times. I'm glad you're going to keep trying though!
Congratulations on the milestone? Nicely composed, just the same.
rejection must suck but it's a great piece
Rejection is crappy. Just got in a wicked press publication. Was impressed by how they laid it out and stuff...Don't know if they're any use to you but here is link to their last sub. call: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLQ3oTthfxE/ Also love the poem especially the idea of diversity expansion exclusion. Also good luck with the other subs!
This is a great piece 👏👏👏. From what I read, most publications have an acceptance rate of 3% or less, and many have a rate of 1% or less. I send out mountains to get back one, yes. It is all about persistence and sending the right pieces to the right journals.
Great poem! Rejections suck but it is what it is. I've been submitting places for twelve years and haven't gotten in any published chapbooks or anthologies. Eh, the writing improves anyway. The publication is just the cherry on top. There's so much luck and personal opinion involved in getting picked. You write evocatively and you write well, that's what matters!