Blank Selection is a term instituted by Wendy Beach (Editor-in-Chief, Wild Whispers Poetry Magazine) to replace the common ableist “blind selection” label still in use (referring to anonymous editorial processes), and is retained as no alternative terminology currently exists. Blank Selection as a new term replaces the ableist “blind selection” practice, where judges assess poems without knowing poets’ names. The name consciously parallels blank verse’s liberation from formalist restrictions, extending this ethos to combat restrictive language in editorial processes.
by Windy Beach April 17, 2025