True Success
I’ve been thinking about that concept a lot in terms of my writing. If I never publish a book of poems, will I look upon myself as a successful writer? Hard to say. Many writers are satisfied without entering into the publishing fray. I don't know if that's my story. All I can do is keep moving forward, and keep attempting projects that help me grow as a poet and a person.
In the meantime, here’s my poetry to-do list for the next few weeks.
This week
In the meantime, here’s my poetry to-do list for the next few weeks.
This week
- Mail out eight postcard poems. OK, I admit it. I’m backlogged. So if I promised you a postcard, don’t worry. It’s coming soon.
- Write a poem for Poetry Thursday
- Write a book review
- Choose dates for NEWS reading events for the fall
Next week
- Send out to two publishers. This is one item that appears on my list but I rarely do. I think I’m afraid of being successful.
- Write a poem for Poetry Thursday
- Send manuscript to yet another publisher
Write an article for a poetry journal for an upcoming project. More on that later.
Two weeks later
- Write a poem for Poetry Thursday
- Mail more postcard poems?
- Start revising 2007 poems. My least-favorite task on the whole list. Some people like revision--I'm not one of them.
Comments
As for publishing - you will get there. Your work is very good, very well-crafted, and strong (and that's only what I've seen on your blog!). landmammal has a nice post on titles and revision. Kate greenstreet @ kickingwind does that series of interviews of poets who've got a first book - all things helpful to the task of first book publishing. I personally have decided to let go of mine. I am onto new poems now. What a great feeling, too!
Phil's letter was just the encouragement I needed to keep going. He's just an awesome teacher.
Thanks for the kind words about my work. I like your attitude about letting go of the old poems, making a space for the new. I'm not quite ready for that yet but I'll get there, eventually.
And thanks for the info on process and publishing. Very cool.
The thought of a book is way beyond me. Just sitting in the same room with other wanna be poets...is going to take all my strength, I'm afraid!!
As for success...I always felt that publishing=success. First, short stories. Then essays. Now a book. However, with each step the stakes raise and the fall is from a greater height. There's more fear. More second-guessing. I'm 'revising' my definition of success to focus more on the actual writing I'm doing as opposed to who is presenting it to the world. The publishing stuff can be validating, but unless your head is in the right place when you get there, it can be damaging, too.