SLUSH PILE Meaning and
Definition
-
The term "slush pile" refers to a collection of unsolicited manuscripts or submissions that have been sent to a publishing house, literary agency, or magazine for consideration. It is a metaphorical term that originated in the publishing industry to describe the vast accumulation of unreviewed and unscreened manuscripts.
In a publishing context, the slush pile often represents the first stage of evaluating new work. Writers who are not yet established or who do not have an agent typically submit their manuscripts to publishers directly. These manuscripts are typically unrequested and can cover a range of genres and topics. As a result, the slush pile can become quite large and overwhelming for those responsible for reviewing them.
Once the submissions have been received, they are usually sorted into a designated area or electronic folder, aptly referred to as the slush pile. The manuscripts in the slush pile are typically read and evaluated by assistants or readers who are tasked with sifting through the vast collection of unsolicited work. They are responsible for reviewing submissions and identifying manuscripts that have the potential to be published or forwarded to higher levels of consideration.
The slush pile serves as a kind of ground zero for aspiring writers and the first line of defense for publishing professionals seeking fresh talent. While many submissions are often rejected due to quality or misalignment with the publisher's interests, a select few may be discovered and moved forward, eventually leading to a publishing deal or representation for the author.
Common Misspellings for SLUSH PILE
- alush pile
- zlush pile
- xlush pile
- dlush pile
- elush pile
- wlush pile
- skush pile
- spush pile
- soush pile
- slysh pile
- slhsh pile
- sljsh pile
- slish pile
- sl8sh pile
- sl7sh pile
- sluah pile
- sluzh pile
- sluxh pile
- sludh pile
- slueh pile
Etymology of SLUSH PILE
The term "slush pile" originally referred to a pile of slush or semi-liquid waste material, typically formed from rain, melting snow, or the residue left by street cleaning. In the publishing industry, the term gradually took on a different meaning.
In the early 20th century, publishing companies would often receive a large number of unsolicited manuscripts or submissions from aspiring authors. These submissions were often of varying quality and were typically sent to the lower-level employees, such as assistants or interns, to review. These employees would sort through the submissions and make recommendations on which manuscripts should receive further attention or consideration.
Over time, these piles of unsolicited manuscripts came to be referred to as "slush piles", likening the unfiltered and unpolished nature of the submissions to the messy and indistinct nature of slush.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
