EnglishLiterature

English Literature Jobs for AY 2008-2009
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Related: Postdocs in the Humanities (2008)

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Post school names and deadlines. Add materials requests, interview requests, and campus visit requests as they happen. Add any other pertinent information that you might know about the status of a given search.

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Subfields
New Page: Individual "Stats" (Interviews, Campus Visits, etc.)

Generalist and Open

Medieval

Early Modern/Renaissance

Restoration and 18th Century British

Romanticism and Victorian

Modern and Contemporary British

British Open

Early and 19th Century American

20th and 21st Century American

African American

Other Ethnic American

American Open

Anglophone and World Literature, Postcolonial

Canadian Literature

American South

Literary Theory

Drama

Irish Literature

Children's Literature

Environmental Literature

Comparative Literature

Rhetoric & Composition

General Job Search Questions and Discussion
Comp Lit is listed in the foreign languages section: http://wikihost.org/wikis/academe/wiki/comp_lit_2007-2008. To the person who added this link: while I appreciate that you added a link to the foreign languages section, NOT ALL JOBS in Comp. Lit. are in foreign language depts. I DO NOT APPRECIATE that you deleted all of the questions and other information that people had written on the page that was here previously! PLEASE DO NOT DELETE OTHER PEOPLE'S STUFF ON THE WIKI!!! I have to second the previous poster's irritation. WTF??! (pardon the use of foreign language...) I have to agree. That was really obnoxious. I'm on the market in English and Comp Lit, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. (3) I found the now-lost discussion useful, and I'm sorry it's gone.

AY 2007-2008 Jobs: english_literature Someone deleted last year's page. Is there any way to bring it back? As discussed on the wikis/academe home page, you can google the former URL and retrieve a cached version of the page (it is still there; I just checked), and then simply paste that into a recreated page. This is not my field, so I don't enough vested interest in the issue to do it myself, but if having an archival record of the page is meaningful enough to some of you guys, I would suggest that you retrieve it now before it is erased from google's cache (the old comp. lit. page, for instance, is no longer accessible by this means). I got the cached url and brought it back, so it's back now, although without original formatting. WTF is up with people deleting pages??? I found last year's wiki really helpful as an estimate of when certain schools started calling for MLA interviews. Even old info is useful.

Questions about the Search Process:
A little friendly advice: If you have a spam filter, check it regularly. I found 2 separate job search-related e-mails in there. They were rejections and my spam filter was apparently trying to protect my crumbling ego, but still...

Q: This is for any search committee members out there. What's the rough proportion among your MLA interviewees between candidates still in graduate school, candidates in post-docs or visiting positions, and candidates who already have tenure-track jobs from which they're trying to move? I'm trying to figure out how typical our choices have ended up being. We're a public R1. Of our eight interviewees, four are still in graduate school, two have visiting positions, and two already have tenure-track jobs. I'd be very interested to hear other s.c. members' thoughts on this question. Thanks for posting this query and providing this info. A: Public R1: 6 ABD, 1 TT, 3 VAP. -so, if you're adjunct, you're screwed?

Q: Is anyone interested in creating a space on this site to discuss some of the logistical issues (pro and con) about applying on-line? (I think there are potentially some ideological issues here as well). There has been a significant jump in the number of departments using such software this year. Does anyone know if MLA is surveying departments/applicants about what's useful / what's a headache? The only innovation I've seen that seems thoroughly wrongheaded is requiring candidates to ask their own recommenders to upload each recommendation electronically (I know we're language folks, but I think your average 5th grader can do the math on this one). Thanks!

A: I had a school ask, as a required online question, what my religious affiliation was. Nice. Was it a religious school? So I guess it's legal if you're a religious school. Cause it get it, if so. I saw one listing that wanted MISSOURI SYNOD Lutherans only. Which I am. But not willing to move to that place. Pfffhht! Too much snow.

It was a formerly religious school that cut its ties to the Baptist church a few years ago.

Q: It seems pretty clear based on the stats page that having a Ph.D. in hand does not make a difference. The candidates with the greatest number of interviews lined up appear to be ABD.

A: I think it's important not to make assessments of the field based on "wiki math." Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the wiki, but there's nothing representative about this sample. A: Yes, remember the wiki skews young.

(Original questioner): A good point. Thanks for that important reminder. Furthermore, I'm sure my job market paranoia is contributing to the degeneration of my already weak mathematical skill. =)

Hey, I got a 13% On the GRE in math. Which means like 97% if the test takers were better at math than me. (Waits for English majors to get the joke.)

A: Some search committees do begin, sorry to say, with the "have PhD in hand" stack of applications, absolutely.

A: My institution, although they say ABDs are considered, throws the applications in the trash immediately if there are no significant publications.

Q: OK - I had my MLA interview. How long does it take for a SC to get back to you regarding a visit or longer interview (as my first choice wishes to conduct)? Thanks. This is stressful.

A: Well, that's what I'm wondering... sadly, I have one colleague who has already heard from two places. But, I know schools that said explicitly they would not contact until 1/15 or after, so, it varies.

A. It varies ... widely. Some SCs make calls before they leave MLA. Some dither around for weeks or even longer. If they didn't give you a time frame at the interview (usually they do), I don't think there's anything wrong with writing politely and deferentially to ask the SC chair about that. Ditto if you're, say, almost a week past the end of whatever time frame they gave you.

Has Anyone Heard From....?
'''Q: So, any word on Campus Visits, people? (1/1)'''

A: Surely! A few in fact.

Q: Anybody heard anything from U Rochester about the early American position?

Q: Is there a postdoc wiki? A: Yes, http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Humanities_postdocs_2007-2008

Q: What is the proper etiquette after MLA? Email to Chair? Or to entire Committee? And how long till we hear about Campus visit?

Q: Has anyone heard from Illinois State concerning their English Ed. hire (MLA or otherwise)?

Q: Waiting to hear from Arizona State U., Florida International U., U of Mass-Dartmouth and U. of Southern Miss ! Anyone? Anyone? *MLA interview scheduled by phone: 12/21 ** 12/21 for which school?? Sorry! For U-Mass. Dartmouth. U of S. Miss also had an MLA interview scheduled a few weeks ago 1/1.

Q: Has anyone heard from Yale about their "two or more assistant professors" in brit/am anglophone search? Have they scheduled interviews? THere have been WS requests, but so far no interviews registered on the wiki. Two MLA interviews reported on the Medieval page on 12/21

Q: Has anyone heard from Villanova about their assistant professor position in World or Comparative Literature in the Department of Humanities? A: Nothing beyond letter of ack. dated 13 November. A: This is late, but MLA interview scheduled by phone in November

Q: Has anyone heard anything from Georgetown about Culture & Politics position? Ditto this - it is posted on the film and media studies site but no news. The due date was mid-October so I imagine no news is bad news? A: Bringing short-listed candidates to campus (12/20)

Q: Has anyone heard anything from USC Ethnic American position?

Q: Has anyone heard anything from Rochester Tech about their lit and science job? Thanks! A: Yes - MLA Interview Scheduled last week.

Q: Has anyone heard from Georgia Tech re: Asst Prof of Humanities position? A: I had a writing sample request 11/30 but I haven't heard anything since.

Q: Has anyone out there heard from Swarthmore re: the History of the Novel position? And, if so, what is your period? A: No, not even an acknowledgment. A: This was posted under Romanticism and Victorian: "12/12: snail mail rejection" '''Q: ' Has Swarthmore made their calls yet?

Q: Am I the only person who applied for the Generalist position at Arcadia University?

A: Yes. Yes, you are. Corrolary to Q&A on Arcadia: Where IS Arcadia? Too wine soaked to google it. But laughing at implication. I'm sure you're NOT the only person to apply. Just the only WIKI person.

Q: Has anyone had additional material requests from Harvard (Expository Writing Preceptor position) or Duke (Writing Program Fellows)?

A1: Yes, I received an additional materials request from Harvard by email on Nov 21. (2) MLA and campus interviews were scheduled. A2: Rejection letter from Duke by snail mail, rec. 12/3 and 12/7

A3: See under Humanities Postdoc 2007-2008 page. Anyone heard from writing programs of Stanford, Michigan, or Washington?

Q: Has anyone heard from Western Illinois about the Americanist position (subfield open, but the ad listed several particularly desirable subfields)? -MLA interview scheduled by phone yesterday, 12/17

Has anyone heard from Pratt Institute about the Americanist job?

A: "institutional complexities" pushed their screening to mid-February at the earliest (12/21)

Q: Has anyone heard from Belmont University about the 20th c. American lit job? (12/30)

Q: And has anyone heard from University of North Carolina--Pembroke regarding the Generalist position? (12/30)

Questions about MLA
Q. Are MLA interviews usually scheduled for the first 3 days of the conference, ie Thurs, Fri, Sat? Do sc's schedule Sunday interviews? Thx. A: Yes, schools may schedule interviews on Sunday. One of mine did. Thank you! A: It's much more common, though, for schools to interview on the middle two days, i.e. Friday and Saturday this year. Some might schedule interviews on Sunday, especially in the first part of the day; but it's less common. And I haven't yet had or heard of any interviews scheduled for the very first day. Usually, the search committee members are just arriving that night themselves. A: Actually, I've had two schools request interviews on the first day. A: I've had interviews on all four days. In my experience, schools that are actually in the city where MLA is sometimes use the first afternoon or the last morning since their interviewers don't have to travel and so are more flexible. A: I got two interviews on day one last year.

Q: OK, I have zero MLA interviews and I'm starting to think about canceling my flight and hotel reservation ... how long should I wait to bail? This weekend? (12/12)

A: Same here. sigh...I checked the MLA hotel reservations and you can cancel 72 hours before your arrival by directly calling the hotel. As for the flight, you can cancel 24 hours before the flight to get a voucher/credit to fly on that airline.

It seems that there is almost a freeze in any interview updates since last weekend -at least in my field. I've crossed out all the schools that either already requested materials or scheduled interviews and still have about a dozen to hear from.

I have zero MLA interviews this year,too and it is killing me. I have my Ph.D. now. It seems I did better last year as an ABD. At least I had interviews! DITTO! (So frustrating... Maybe we should hand back those diplomas.) A: In years past, I've received calls for interviews as late as Christmas Eve (more than once). If you're on the B list, and one of their A list interviewees cancels for whatever reason, you could even get a call after the conference has started. I wouldn't give up. A: It seems early to throw in the towel since, at least in years past, this week has been the big week for calling. For what it's worth, I'd wait until this time next week before making the decision, as agonizing as that is. Fingers crossed and, remember, decisions about interviews have everything to do with the dynamics of the institution, department, and search committee and much less to do with the candidate her or himself. A: Yes, hold off on throwing in the towel. Remember that lots of hiring committees will call their consensus obvious top picks for interviews early in December, and then wait until the very end of term to have the meeting where they hash out the rest of the lineup. Then by the time they've actually interviewed they've forgotten who was where on those preliminary lists. I would not cancel until 5 PM 12/21 at the earliest.

A: The previous post is absolutely right. I have received interview calls right up until Christmas Day. A: I got an email the day after Christmas last year to schedule an interview for the MLA. Luckily, I already had other interviews scheduled so my travel plans were already set. I would wait as long as you can to cancel the hotel/plane (the very last hour). You don't lose much by waiting and you have so much to gain. Besides, you probably already spent a lot of money on applications/registration, ect. I scheduled 6 MLA interviews the week before the MLA. I had 8 total so you could say I had quite a few last minute interviews. Don't lose hope!

A: I am on a Search Committee and because of the pressure of finals and assorted grading we have only recently got together to drawn up our interview list. I'm sure many SCs are only just now surfacing from the end of semester and most of you will get calls and emails over the next week. Good Luck!

New Question 12/16  I (stupidly) only gave my home phone number on my applications. If it's possible to still receive calls for an interview up until the conference itself, I won't be home to receive the calls... I've also heard that one never contacts a search committee... suggestions?

A: I don't think it would be inappropriate to email the s.c. chair and give an alternative phone number. That said, if you can possibly retrieve voice mail/answering machine messages remotely, you should still check every couple of days from wherever you are during the holidays...

A2: I wouldn't be too concerned about it either as long as you have access to internet when you travel away from home. I listed my cell phone number but when I missed a call from from a search committee chair, the sc chair immediately emailed me to schedule an interview. If they really want to interview you, they will manage to contact you through other channels.

A3: Also, on my home answering machine, I record an outgoing message saying I will be out of town but that callers can reach me on my cell (and then - very important! - give the cell number).

Response: Ah, these answers are all so reasonable! Crikey, what has this process done to my brain? Thanks.

Q: Do search committees ever look at sites like www.ratemyprofessor.com when narrowing their pool of applicants?

-- That is a good questions. I am not on a search committee, so I can't give an answer, but I would be interested to know! I know that I in fact look at some of the committee member ratings once I know their names! ---I want to know how many people have a chili pepper on ratemyprofessor.com. I don't. I told my students this semester if I didn't get one before grades were posted they were all getting "f's". Is that wrong of me? ---Clearly, you are evil. Since I currently have 10 chili peppers, I don't have to resort to such malicious threats. ---I know search committee members who look at those ratings as well as any MySpace of Facebook pages that candidates may have. Anything to get a larger picture of the candidate. ---I hate to break this news to you, but anyone, absolutely anyone, can post on ratemyprofessor.com, including one's friends, one's enemies, and oneself. People on search committees know this; no one places any stock whatsoever on what's said on that stupid website. ---That said, I must add that I was _profoundly_ depressed to read an article in the Chronicle (I think) that quoted an *administrator* (cripes) who said that he does read such sites _and_ that in his experience, he finds the comments reasonably accurate. At that moment, being a professional pet-sitter seemed like potentially a really great career move. ---Well, just goes to show you there are fools everywhere, I guess! If you're really worried about it, go ahead and enter some positive stuff about yourself on ratemyprof (oh, and set your myspace/facebook to private). ---Just don't put anything negative about anyone else...Last year, there was an article in the Chronicle about a tenured gent in Canada who was actually fired because he posted scathing remarks about a hostile colleague on ratemyprof (pretending to be a student). He made the postings from his office computer, and the suspicious colleague checked the IP address! --- I'm on a search committee and it never occurred to me to look at ratemyprofessor. Perhaps once we invite candidates to campus I might. In my case the chair of the search committee is a older and may not even know about that site. I think SC's want to know how you are as a teacher but that site is not reliable source of any kind of information at all.

Discussion of the move to scratchpad:
P1: I moved all the old pages here but couldn't retain all the style. I hope moving the page here will make it easier to retrieve the pages incase the malicious deleter returns back.

P2: Whoever you are: MOVE THE PAGES BACK! This is completely unacceptable. The new pages are virtually unreadable. YOU are now the malicious deleter. If you wanted to back the pages up, you could have duplicated the content. Remember the wiki rule: DON'T DELETE CONTENT! Yes, I am flaming.

P3: P2, Settle down, and just make it legible yourself--it isn't hard with a little formatting work (I did the 19th century page). Better than losing everything because of crazy deleting monster over in Indiana or Illinois or wherever they are. On that note, the start page is gone, AGAIN, and with it most fields. Thanks to P1 for creating the scratchpad--hopefully this will help foil said monster.

It's an annoying time to have to change. Visually chaotic.

P4: Is there any reason that you're choosing IN or IL as the location of the deleter, P3?

A: Someone on the main wiki tracked down their IP address and general location.

P5: This is working just fine--several of us are cleaning up the pages. We should just be thankful our search wasn't deleted, as most of the others were. With MLA less than two weeks away, the last thing we need is to lose our wiki.

Q: Could someone post some advice here about strategies to protect the anonymity of people posting updates to various pages? Some of the new design features that people have added are very helpful for locating updates, but they also make identifying the poster's location much easier (via IP addresses). Particularly since the search process will be narrowing dramatically at this point, job candidates need to be alerted to the possibility that they may be leaving a traceable electronic trail. And certainly we should not assume that all Search Committees regard this wiki resource favorably. The one basic bit of advice I know of is simply not to post from a campus computer or wireless source, as those IP addresses are all publicly available.

A: To Q: if you register an account and log-in, your IP address will not be visible to the general public, and will only be seen by Wikia staff (which follows a privacy policy). By picking letters out of a hat, you can generate a user-name that can be completely disassociated with your real identity. The account creation process only requires an account name and a password. Email and real name are optional.


 * Hi. Where did you move the wiki from? Would you prefer this to be on it's own Wikia site rather than on Scratchpad? Angela (talk) 09:41, 21 December 2007 (UTC)

Discussion of Gnu Box:
Q. Any way to get rid of the box in the middle of the page (with GNU FDL FREE DOC LICENSE) that covers some of the text?

USE "ALT S" TO SAVE EDITS WHEN THE STUPID GNU BOX BLOCKS THE SAVE BUTTON. (HOLD THEM DOWN AT THE SAME TIME).

HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF BLOCKED CONTENT. I REALLY URGE WHOMEVER MOVED THESE PAGES TO RETURN THEM TO THE ORIGINAL LOCATION. IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR YOU TO DECIDE UNILATERALLY TO MOVE THEM WITHOUT PRIOR DISCUSSION.

The discussion to move all the academic job search wiki pages to this domain has been discussed for some time on the main wiki page and many other disciplines have been moving theirs already.

Why don't I see the GNU box??

As I noted on another page, I found that switching from Internet Explorer to Netscape Navigator solved the problem for me (in Netscape, the box appears at the bottom of the page, rather than anchored to the middle). (no gnu box in the way with Firefox either.) '''The misplaced GNU box problem here at Scratchpad is restricted to versions of Internet Explorer before IE 7. Any Gecko browser (including Netscape, Firefox, Mozilla, etc.), Opera, Safari, and IE7 should all render that box as the footer it is supposed to be.'''

Discussion of the Wiki MLA Party:
This may not be the best place to post this, but: A friend of mine suggests we hold at Wiki party at the MLA. We'd pick a bar and and all meet there at, say, Friday the 28th at 10 p.m.. But you're not allowed to tell anyone (except, you know, a partner). Only Wiki people should be there. Proposed location: Billy Goat Tavern and Grill, 430 N Michigan Ave. I think it's about a 5-minute walk from the conference hotels. (Please correct me.) My friend says it's the best we'll do in that area: divey, not swarmed with yuppies. Also under Michigan Ave (the stairs are marked). http://www.billygoattavern.com/ I like this idea, and would come to this. (12)

'''-I tried to find this place and couldn't. I'm an idiot.

'''-How are we going to know who is who? is someone going to carry a sign that says "I Heart Wikis"'''

(I feel like you're my friends already, like on TV, when strangers befriend one another in a crisis. This job search is my own personal earthquake.) - Yes, I like the idea, too, but I am worried about getting drunk and meeting people face-to-face who got interviews where I didn't! Chicago Sun Headline: "Wiki Fest Turns Violent!" - Yes, but only if there is a secret Wiki handshake. Of course there is: interlocking pinkies. (It will also get you into the inner circle of my high school football team's alumni. Pretty much the same group, really.) - who isn't a wiki person (at least as a lurker)? - Wouldn't Saturday be better than Friday just in case some people might have to cram a Saturday morning interview? - Well, I (original poster about the party) suggested Friday out of self-interest, as I am leaving Saturday evening. Hey, we've all taught classes/given presentations/written papers hungover and on no sleep. We can handle it. It's what we do.

Wiki Counter (How many people use the Wiki?)

THIS WIKI HAS JUMPED THE SHARK: 4 (Is this necessary to mention until next week?)

I'm on the market:  134 I don't really understand what "jump the shark" means and wish someone would define it for me. 1       What is jumping the shark? Definition from http://www.jumptheshark.com/help.jspa A. It's a moment. A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on...it's all downhill. Some call it the climax. We call it "Jumping           the Shark." From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same. The term "jump the shark" was coined by site founder Jon Hein&apos;s college roommate of 4 years, Sean J.          Connolly, in Ann Arbor, Michigan back in 1985. This web site, book, film, and all other material surrounding shark jumping, are hereby dedicated to "the Colonel." [. . .] Jumping the shark applies not only to TV, but also music, film, even everyday life. "Did you see her boyfriend? She definitely jumped the          shark." You get the idea. 

I just want to supplement that definition by arguing that the implication of accusing something of having jumped the shark is the realization that it will never again be what it either "was," or what its previous iterations continue to be in your mind/the culture/the discourse. "Jump the Shark" is an allusion to the Happy Days episode in which the Fonz literally jumps over a shark on water skis. The episode was deemed by many to be an ill-advised attempt to attract ratings. Once a TV show "jumps the shark," it has lost all creative credibility. Cf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpraJYnbVtE I've applied to a few jobs that interest me: 33 I've applied to every job that seems plausible: 7 I'm lurking miscellaneously:      3 I'm lurking because my spouse is on the market:  15 I'm on the Wiki looking for a surrogate way to get published. I tell myself it's "significant work." (3)       I'm lurking because my spouse is on the market and since i cant ask her whats happening five times a day without causing an argument i relieve my stress by spending my time lurking here and looking at housing prices on craigslist for the 30+ places we could potentially move to and isn't it just sad? I cannot believe I am not the only feeling like this....every time I see a post I cringe!: 7 I'm compulsively checking wiki because I'm on the job market and every day about 5 times a day my very supportive spouse asks me, with hope in his eyes, if there is any news and I feel compelled, therefore, to try find out any eenswy weensy scrap of information to       satisfy his curiosity and this is just as sad as the lurkers whose spouses are on the market: 5 I have no spouse because I've dedicated my life to building a career that will yield no       employment thus forcing me back into living with my parents (1) I'm lurking because I'm on a search committee:  4 I'm lurking because my spouse is on a search committee: 0 I'm lurking because the wiki for my field is anemic:  2 I check the wiki far more often than is good for me:  59 I'm so addicted to the wiki that I troll fields not even related my own, even though my field's wiki is quite active: 11 I'm a sadist, who finds it hard to find this many masochists in one place: 2 I'm a masochist: 131 I'm a masochist who just realized the odds are against finding an academic boyfriend, too: 2 My analyst cut back my weekly number of sessions: 3 I can't remember which of these things I added myself to: 1 I'm a nonmedievalist who deeply resents the fact that there are so many medievalist positions this year: 6 I'm a medievalist who deeply resents the fact that I haven't got an interview yet despite all the medievalist positions   4 I'm a medievalist who didn't really think there were many medieval positions, because so many are in undesirable locations, but now I obsessively check the page because I should have applied for a lot more positions than I did so       I might have more interviews: 4 I'm sliding from eagerness and anxiety into resignation and then, presumably, depression. Again. 15       I'm a permanent lurker, and refuse to post anything, but I check it as often as y'all: 1 I had a lot more MLA interviews last year than I do this year: 4 I can't believe I'm on the market for the seventh freaking year (or is it 8? or 9?) (1) I look good in a swimsuit! (Well, no... but the optimism seemed a warm and comfy friend in here :)): 3       I wish the MLA held a swimsuit competition as part of the process: 4        I find it depressing that only 2 people on the wiki think they look good in a swimsuit: 3        I look good in a one-piece, with those control top panels, but according to Susan Bordo, I shouldn't care:  2        Don't tase me bro! 7        I think academic hiring is MUCH worse than tasing:  2        I have exactly as many interviews as I had last year: 2        I wish I never heard of this wiki: 10       I've done the job search more than once **without** the wiki, and am very grateful that it exists: 2         (even if you have few or no interviews right now, imagine what it would be like if you were still holding out hope for 30+ jobs; the wiki may not bring good news, but it is **much** better than no news)       I'm beginning to hate the person who told me about this wiki: 3        I experience Schadenfreude from telling other people about this wiki: 2        I am scandalized by the bathing suit jokes above, and not in a good way: 1        We all know that the MLA interview process, while seeming to judge the merits of the mind,          finds its true meaning in its perverse obverse: the beauty pageant and bathing suit contest: 2        These pretzels are making me thirsty.  4        Try some Hennigans. That's right folks. I just had three shots of Hennigans and I don't smell.          Say you got a big job interview, and you're a little nervous. Well throw back a couple shots          of Hennigans and you'll be as loose as a goose and ready to roll in no time. And because it's          odorless, why, it will be our little secret. 3       I have more interviews than I had last year!: 4 I am juicing Human Growth Hormone for the MLA to give me that "competitive advantage": 1 (It only stands to reason that MLA is more competitive than MLB...) I am using this wiki to kill time while I collect bad student composition papers: 3 ................................. while I proctor an exam: 2 I am more fun than a barrel full of monkeys: 3 Jesus told me to come to this wiki: 1 I'm drinking wine and whining while reading this wiki: 2 I'm a person who is applying to a SLAC while working there as an adjunct and really, really miserable with all the really weird vibes said application now gives me (I'm adding to this counter purely in sympathy after having been through something similar, perhaps worse, last year):  2 I have a tiny puppy sleeping on me RIGHT NOW and it's brought my stress levels right down. I highly recommend the sleeping-puppy method for stress-reduction: 1 I'm getting my haircut before MLA: 2 Huckabee in 2008: 1

AY 2007-2008: English Literature Starting Salaries

Discussion of academic publishing wiki
Wondering if there's a wiki for academic publishing? If so, will someone link to it here? If not, is there interest in creating one? Though I admit this job wiki drives me batty, on balance I believe it is a force for good. The sharing of information empowers us. I just received a particularly galling rejection from a Major Journal: they kept it for six months, then didn't even give me a reader's report when they rejected it. And, lest you assume my essay was awful, they said very nice things about it in their cover letter, including that they would normally publish it, and claimed that the only reason for the rejection was a backlog of already-accepted material. Ok, maybe my essay really is awful, I don't know, but shouldn't they pay me the courtesy of telling me so? If a journal rejects something quickly as simply unsuitable, then I think a brief rejection will do, but it seems unprofessional to me for a journal to keep an essay for six months and only THEN offer a brief rejection.

Of course it's their journal and they can do as they please. But I would like to know which journals treat people professionally and which don't, at least anecdotally. I understand the concerns about anonymity, but I'd think we could find a way to get the information out there without sabotaging our own careers. Anyway, I'm no wiki-expert, so is there willpower out there for this project? Something to discuss at the wiki party?


 * There is an academic publishing wiki at /academia.wikia.com. Please let me know if you need any help with adding content there, or to any other Wikia site. Angela (talk) 09:43, 21 December 2007 (UTC)


 * (Original poster) Sorry if I wasn't clear. That sort of site is not quite what I'm proposing. That site appears to be oriented toward peer review/collaboration, which is great, but what I'm looking for is a site that tracks journal response times, helpfulness, etc.

I've been waiting to hear from a journal for nine months. I inquired about the status of my article after four months. The editor said he would check on the status. Another month went by with no response so I asked again. I didn't get any response after that. I figured I'd wait until after I sent most of my job applications because I still have it as "under consideration" on my c.v. I think I'm going to just withdraw my submission and go elsewhere. It's really frustrating to have waited nine months and have no feedback whatsoever (not even a rejection) and then have to start all over again at another journal. I'm all for the wiki site on publishing because I certainly would appreciate a forum for these sort of issues. We really can't afford to wait more than nine months for decisions when it seems that (at least for some jobs) publications in the field are a requirement to even have your job applications looked at.

Six months of waiting for a response from most major journals is fairly standard, as is a fairly brief rejection. A: Just because it's standard doesn't make it right.