The following guidelines should be of assistance in deciding whether you feel acumen would be interested in your work.

POETRY:

All poetry is read carefully. Any poem that may possibly have a chance of publication is shortlisted and from this shortlist the final poems for the magazine are chosen. All other poems are returned within one to six weeks . Any unused shortlist poems are returned as soon as possible. Due to high postage costs, however, poems which are not shortlisted, but which have accompanied a shortlisted poem, will be held along with that poem so that the s.a.e. can be used for the final decision. I receive around 10,000- 15,000 poems a year; and can only publish a hundred and fifty at the most; so the chances of rejection are high. But then this applies to most magazines.

When reading poetry I look for a poem that says something which is not trivial, not obvious, doesn't use outworn images or diction, and which works at many levels simultaneously.

I don't accept e-mail submissions, but will send rejections, acceptances, proofs and other communications via email overseas to dispense with IRCs and other international postage.

ARTICLES / FEATURES:

acumen is always on the look out for new and unusual articles etc. However, the magazine likes quality writing in its prose. It will consider articles on poetry and poetry-related subjects (eg. criticism, use of language, poetry from past-masters re-evaluated, etc.) , the main criteria being they are relevant, well-written, interesting and readable (ie. with a minimum of jargon throughout the text). Length can vary from 1,500 words up to 3,500 words.

GENERAL:

All submissions should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope of a suitable size for return of work, or for any answer required. Please put your name and address on each separate sheet; shortlisted poems especially can get separated from the return envelope, and though editors try to be efficient and check this, we are only human and errors do occur. I have several anonymous poems awaiting collection by their authors .....