I solved a mystery this week. A magazine published a poem that I withdrew (it had been accepted elsewhere), and did so without informing me and the issue is already in print and distributed. I tracked down this information this week and this afternoon communicated with both editors. The situation is effectively resolved for me. The fact that a publication is adequately flawed to not only miss my withdrawal request, but neglect to inform me that a piece has been selected for publication speaks to the difficulty of effectively running a magazine, I suppose.
It's sometimes difficult for poets and writers to truly serve as editors for magazines, I think. Meaning no disrespect to anyone, involved or not, it takes business sense, clerical dexterity, and if possible a photographic memory to run a well-oiled magazine. Consider this the latest in my ongoing argument for each and every publication to make space on its masthead for a technical communication expert! Outsource what you do not understand.
I'm not naming either magazine here out of a desire to respect the kindnesses of both editors in helping to resolve this situation. It's not my intent to start a smear campaign. But this is what I spent one workweek of my life sorting out, so it belongs here.
