Re: I want to be a poet...but oh, the agony...
Posted by:
Elliot (192.168.128.---)
Date: October 18, 2021 03:36PM
Talia, Dawwling,
Pam is right. ‘Tis been said that writers can not - not write and painters can not - not paint. If one has to push oneself to do it, likely it is not a natural talent.
As for publishing, just trying to get published is a full time job. The problem is that agents, publishers and booksellers have 10 times the amount of work they can publish or sell. They only look for new material when an author “ages out”, or becomes inactive. There is so much material on their ‘slush pile’ that they only dig deep enough to replace an author, not further for someone who is exceptional. They are also aware that the public is not terribly sophisticated, so being really good can be a minus, because the market for fledgling Faulkners of the world is very limited. For example (a must read), E. Annie Proulx (THE SHIPPING NEWS, ACCORDION CRIMES, etc.) is very lucky to be published; her sales are likely also in the pits; they can not publish too many like her because they would go broke. Another must read is Jack London’s MARTIN EDEN, perhaps his best work, but you would not know it from the sales; semi autobiographical; satirical in the over all story line; the trials of a fledgling author.
In the late 90's, I published MUSEUM OF DREAMS, by Roger Granet (still available at Amazon), one of the better free verse poets. Thought there was some newspaper publicity, and as touted on the jacket, Granet previously has had published A WORLD IS A SMALL TOWN, has had 100 poems published in the NY TIMES, plus many magazines, Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc., would not even look at it. There were no delusions that it would rise to become best seller, but having NO bookseller pick it up shows how dismal sales are for poetry. Distributors like Bookazine and Baker & Taylor will include your item in their promotions - for a stiff fee. Success in publishing either as a publisher or author takes deep pockets and an eternity of patience.
The vast majority of published authors have some sort of inside track; a friend of a friend and the like; most do not have an “open” submission policy; they have enough material from existing authors and agents, looking further is viewed as non productive. If one knows someone who is “connected”, he may able to get and agent or publisher at least give it a read; circumventing the slush pile is the trick that increases one’s chances. The “system” is one of the reasons there is so much junk; agents/publishers/booksellers can not see the trees for the forest.
What one might do is accumulate a body of work, enough for perhaps several books; diversify - fiction, short story, biography, etc.;find out where agents and publishers hang out; become a writer groupie; attend workshops, writers camps, etc.; see if you can get to know several published authors and agents; some progressive agents “scout” various groups; if one of them happens to fall head over heels for your work, you may have a shot. While some circulation is good at this stage, poetry cafes and the like, for now, Talia, write for yourself; consider it therapy or something; until you have a good body of diversified work and a few devotes, do not even dream of being published; then - set out, on a full scale campaign, writer’s camps, etc., to get published.
There are several scams to avoid: unless by a “known” publisher (which never happens), notices for open submissions are likely by people who will review your work - for a fee; contests are hooks to get you to have your work included in their yearbook (which they say is provided to industry movers and shakers) - for a fee...
But, don’t get me started, now...
Warm regards,
E.