The Path to Publication

So you wrote this poem.  Or created this short story, or made a drawing, or took a picture, whatever.  You created something that makes you proud, so you decide to send it in to Tapestry.  You sent a copy of your piece to the Tapestry account at g-mail, you wheedled your Mom into signing the plagiarism form, and you turned in the sheet to Ms. Green in room 176.

End of story, right?  Some divine power decides whether or not your name shows up in the Tapestry book or your submission just idles around in the dead space of a computer until someone decides to play Eenie-Menie-Minie-Mo with it come publication time.  Actually, that’s not true.  From the time your piece makes it into room 176 to time the book is published, it slowly winds its way through the hands of your peers who make honest, legitimate decisions.  It’s kind of like those commercials that claim you will actually hear a human voice on the other end of the line; your piece is moving through multiple stages where it is always under the consideration of real-life individuals.  Namely, you!

Phase 1: Organization

Every morning, one of our Tapestry staff members logs onto the club computer and combs through the g-mail account, looking for any new submissions.  Each submission is matched with a signed plagiarism form turned into Ms. Green.  No form, no chance.  If the piece passes the test, it is either placed into a folder on one of the multiple laptops used during the meetings if it is a photograph or, if it is poetry or prose, several copies are made and placed into large folder.  The key element of this phase is that every single submission makes it through as long as it is paired with a plagiarism form and if it meets the standard levels of appropriateness.

Phase 2: Consideration

Every other Thursday, Tapestry members take their passes and gather in room 176.  Several small groups, each headed by one Tapestry senior staff member, congregate around either a laptop or a folder.  Within either vehicle, electronic or physical, several submissions are reviewed.  Each submission goes through three stages: an initial, silent vote followed by a discussion centering on the piece’s publishable qualities, and culminating in a final vote.  If the ‘yays’ have it, then your piece is on its way to the book!  However, if your submission is rejected, don’t fret!  There is an alternate path.

Phase 3: Publication

For all those submissions that survived the trial by fire, they are stored in a corner of the computer that is cracked open after the submission deadline rolls around in February.  The Tapestry senior staff considers all the pieces for a final time, ensuring that they meet the level of creativity desired in the book.  Then the fun begins.  Several members of the Tapestry team go to work on transforming the submissions from simple entries to an actual book.  Photographs serve either as an interesting backdrop for a piece of writing or stand on their own.  The name of each artist appears twice: on the table of contents in the front of the book and also where their work appears.

Alternate Phase

So your submission was given thumbs down at a meeting.  Rejection by one group of students does not equate to a total loss.  It’s not like your piece is put through the shredder or erased from the hard drive.  A senior staff member has taken it upon himself to review all rejected submissions, looking for a hopeful piece that, with some minor alterations, could be reintroduced into a meeting and possible be given the green light.  So, if you hear from Eddie, make sure you head down to 176.  You never know, a second chance might be all that you need!

If all else fails and your piece just can’t seem to make it past the vote or even if one of your submissions has already been accepted, keep submitting!  Getting into the Tapestry book is all about odds.  The greater number of pieces you have floating around in the folders on Thursday means a greater chance that the vote will be in your favor.  Just remember: Don’t quit, just submit!