What is Abridged?
Abridged aims to publish and exhibit contemporary/ experimental poetry plus contemporary art. We encourage poets/artists to investigate the articulation of ‘Abridged’ themes. These themes focus on contemporary concerns in a rapidly changing society. We are offering an alternative and complete integration of poetry, art and design. We experiment continually. We also stray into the exhibition format producing contemporary, innovative and challenging work accompanied by a free publication.
Why call it Abridged?
Because we are. You are. Everyone is. It also gives us a incompleteness to aspire to. People were rather dubious in regard to the name when we first unveiled it. However it’s become quite iconic and serves its purpose as we intended. We used to believe the ‘Abridged’ world was a few steps away from reality. Now it’s inches.
Who is Abridged?
At the moment Abridged is Gregory McCartney and Susanna Galbraith and has been for quite a while. However the make-up of Abridged is quite fluid and we have worked with various personnel over the years and no doubt will continue to do so. People come and go. The light still flashes.
How and when do I submit material to Abridged?
We have a theme for each issue so it’s best to check this website, our facebook page ‘abridged’ and Twitter account (@Abridged030) as well as the usual agencies such as the Poetry Ireland website and the Visual Artists Ireland email-shot and wait for the submission call before sending us material.
Does Abridged pay a fee for successful submissions?
Sadly as we’re a free magazine we cannot pay fees though all those published receive a copy of the magazine. In terms of presentation and content we’re up there with anyone.
Why is Abridged free?
We want the maximum number of people to see it, read it and experience it. We believe this is best done using the free-publication methodology.
Why is Abridged numbered as it is rather than dated with issue number as most other publications are?
We want the Abridged to be timeless hence the lack of a date to condemn it to the archives. We ahem borrowed Factory Records system of cataloguing and added a zero to signify abridgment.
What are Abridged’s Influences?
Many and Varied. From T. S. Elliot to The Sisters of Mercy.
Why are you so ‘miserable or negative’?
We aren’t. We believe there’s enough people being ‘positive’ and ‘inspirational’ to be going on without us adding to the merriment.
Why do you have themes?
We aren’t like other poetry magazines. We don’t make it easy for you. We challenge you to think about our themes and respond to them. We make no apology for thematic issues. We could do a ‘Love’ issue and receive thousands of submissions. We won’t.
Why can’t I ever get published in it?
Keep trying. Read past issues to see the type of material we favour. We believe the current record is someone getting published in the magazine after nine years of submitting to us. We admire that tenacity. Don’t take it personally. I’m sure we’d like you if we met you. Just because you weren’t in one doesn’t mean you won’t be in the next.
How do we contact you?
At abridged@ymail.com or @abridged030 for Twitter users. Or for Facebook types, we have an Abridged page.
Abridged is supported by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The Arts Council of Ireland and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
