A new high quality, UK-based, poetry and prose magazine is in the offing which will go by the name of “PROLE”. Although the editors insist “it’s the reader who comes first,” somebody has to write the thing & the magazine is willing to pay! Yes! Money!!

The two editors behind PROLE (Brett & Phil, poetry & prose respectively) are based in the North (Wales & England, perhaps respectively) and seek accessible literature of high quality. They want submissions that are “intelligent, engaging and impact the reader in a variety of ways. We want to appeal to a wide audience and reconnect a broad readership with excellent examples of poetry and short prose. Anything that sniffs of literary elitism is highly unlikely to make it through the editorial process.” What they don't want is anything obscure, self-referencing or elitist.

There are some specific no-nos. “Fan fiction” they consider lacks originality & ambition and is proscribed (As Scotty always said, “They canny take any more, Cap'n.”), while poetry inspired by Patience Strong is “discouraged.” (I'm assuming poets will understand why.) The blog on their web site www.prolebooks.co.uk says they a already receiving healthy quantities of submissions but mention 'creative non-fiction' as being something they would like more of.

A generous limit of 7,500 words for prose has been set to allow for longer works but the implication is that such great length will have to be matched by great quality. Poetry collections are encouraged (up to 5 poems) but with a 60 line limit per poem if more than 3 poems are submitted.

Asking what lies behind the choice of name Prole, the reply was “Prole was chosen after many evenings of discussion and many drinks. At this point, I’d rather let the name speak for itself.” Perhaps this is the shortened version of 'proletariat' reinforcing its non-elitist credentials. Perhaps not.

The web site has a blog intended for reader & writer feedback. So if you cannot cope with negative comment & the odd bit of “flaming” (as they used to call it) that's bound to occasionally sneak past the moderator – if so, PROLE may not be for you.

The payments mentioned above are laid out on the submission page of their website www.prolebooks.co.uk using a formula basically as follows. Half the profits from the first 4 months after publication will be divvied out between the contributors and paid via PayPal. Each published piece of prose is worth 3 shares & each poem 1 share. If this formula fails to pay at least £1 to all contributors then nothing will be paid. (Too right, comrade!) However, piles of money are surely not the prime incentive for contributors.

The plan is for PROLE #1 to be published in the summer. I am sure we will all wish Brett & Phil the best of luck in this enterprise (That's right, Scotty. The Enterprise!). Of course what they'll actually need will be contributors and, importantly, purchasers of the magazine. Lots of them. So, come on. Watch their website & order yourself a copy. And one for your mum, too.