Well, I am glad you asked! Seems like a good time to give you all an update.
But first, do you know that I started the Bad Poetry Project three years ago? Mama mia, where did the time go?
I have been writing poetry like a mad thing. Yes. More than fiction, to be honest. (I’m up to 11,000 words of fiction this year, which isn’t too bad considering everything, but I was hoping for more. So I’ll be working on that, too.) Poetry is easier because it’s quick, it’s efficient, and there’s a set beginning and ending. Plus, I can sit here and pound out a poem while doing my work. So it lends itself to being squeezed into pockets of time better than fiction. Not that I like it better, per se. Just that it’s been easier as of late.
So, yeah. More poems. I’ve also been using Instagram prompts, which have been so useful, because sometimes I’ll start with a nebulous idea of…something, but I’ll have no idea where or how to start. So I’ll just be like…spinning my wheels. Prompts give me a place to start it ….a leaping off point. I collect them every month from poets who regularly post them, then mine them for inspiration later. It’s very effective.
I’m still writing in Esperanto, also, which has been a blast.
But …drum roll please…I’ve started submitting my poems to literary magazines! Yes! I’ve taken the plunge! I haven’t done this in over twenty years, and I am terrified, but I wanted to put my stuff out there and see what happened! It’s been interesting. There are SO many. A quick perusal of Twitter shows dozens upon dozens. Just cataloguing the ones I’m interested in is a full-time job. And there’s the fear that what I’m writing isn’t what editors are looking for now. Because let’s face it, I juuuust started from literally scratch, after a twenty-year hiatus, being out of this so long…it’s possible I am out of touch with it all. However, I still want to try and see. Maybe, just maybe, someone out there will think my stuff is just what fits their magazine. Here’s hoping. I always say, “The only way to truly fail is to never try.”
So, here are my stats! (Yes, I am being all transparent and stuff. Look at me being brave!):
Submissions sent: 8 Acceptances: 0 (sad face) Rejections: 4 Still out there: 4
One submission is (hopefully) going out tonight. For this particular one, I wrote four poems specifically as a challenge, because the subject matter was a bit different than my usual. I also used a few prompts as well. I’m not submitting all four, either. I don’t think they are all up to my standards, to be honest. But I think two of them are totally perfect — or as close to perfect as possible.
This has been interesting and a lot of fun. Writing just for the plain fun of it, not really worrying about perfection — until editing time, that is — and just dipping into the creative well as often as I can has been really good for my mental health and well being. Before, when I was just (not) writing fiction, as the time stretched out, I was pretty unhappy about the whole thing. I still am, truthfully. And now with a pinched nerve and messed up arm and numb fingers, it’s even worse. Buuut the poetry is helping me feel a bit better, that I can still be creative and not hurt myself. And it’s a different medium, and one I’ve always loved. And technically, it’s what I started waaaay back when I was a kid, even before fiction. So it’s like I’ve come back to the beginning of my youth, kinda?
I suspect my inner child needs it right now, if I can get a bit woo-woo on you for a second. 😉 Inner children like to play, and playing with words is fun! I just need to tell The Editor part of me to “shut the f&ck up, go back to sleep, and let us have some fun” because she always wants to stick her nose in. When it’s time, she can play too. Just not during the writing part. Editors, man. Editors. 😉
Anyway, so to answer the question, it’s going well. I’m having fun. I’m doing a scary thing. But something I feel is going to be a good thing. And we’ll see where it takes me. Hope you come along for the ride.
Obligatory shameless plugging:
Poetry & Verse (my brand new poetry newsletter)
Do any of you write poetry? Have you tried to submit to literary magazines? How do you feel about that idea? Is your poetry just for you (which is totally okay!) or would you want to put it out there for others to read? Let’s talk about it in comments.