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Submissions
I have submitted words for decades,
back in the 80’s it was with stamps
and typewritten. In the 90’s it
was the self-addressed stamped envelopes.
I gave up in the 2000’s too busy
having children to write anything down
except lists upon lists and breast-feeding
in my sleep. So I probably woke up in 2010
sometime after my second novel, between
getting cheated out of my royalties
to producing poems on smoky notepads
and wine stained lips. I submit my words
and feel the rejection tickle my psyche
with I toldyayousuck and all those
self-doubts in editors words polished
up as this is not what we are looking for
at the moment. I gave up on submissions,
then when I did,
I was sought after,
published a poem here, there, in some
obscure website, and still
nothing can burn up rejection letters
not even a fire itself. Ingrained in
the memory, so why would I want to
start over, create an account,
and submit poetry
for the tone of my poems
are never what university professors are
searching for. They want so-and-so to
change the world, pick the star themselves
the one with the perfect amount of short stories
under their belt,
five or less published poems,
in a master’s program studying under the writer
in residence of the year. These are the acceptable ones.
I learned that so long ago
so do not send me any more emails
on how to submit.
Submissions are closed.
Comments:
23
thelighteningandthefire.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/fizzy/
Powerful. I’m very unfamiliar with this industry.
Better that way. Thank you Jain.
This is magnificent Christina!!!!
Thank you Fiorella! You know what I mean my English Lit friend!!! hugs thanks for stopping by xx
I think this is an accurate depiction of the publishing industry. It’s also a beautiful homage to the craft.☺
thank you Dustin x
Anytime, my friend!
Well done!
Thanks Laurel x
They haven’t written a rejection letter yet that could refuse what power you have in your words. I’m new to trying to hand my words to people who haven’t come looking for them. I could write some grandeous post here about how your words affect my heart. How much I love them and what they mean to you. But you already know I revere you with the respect due The Mighty Athena, herself. Your words are your acropolis…and each time I look for them I find the Parthenon.
You’re a Laureate, with me, always, Christina. ❤
I will screenshot this and read it when I feel down on myself. You lift my spirits Eric. Thank you for being here and reading me. I feel honored.
Much respect,
my Greek ancestors say hello by the way.
Chrissy x
Xox ❤
Took the words “write” out of my mouth and made them sound even better. So glad to have found you here.
Merci, Helene! I know. And oddly enough a short story I had submitted a long time ago will be published in a litmag ebook. How ironic!
Chrissy x
Congratulations (I guess…). Keep sowing those seeds – ya never know what will come up between the cracks in the sidewalk.
A great write depicting the horror of the publishing industry. I find it amazing that you never landed an agent. How can they not see the power in your words?
I never submitted to agents. Just publishing houses until after all the rejections, I was accepted to publish my book. Poetry is another animal. That I am self-publishing. Thank you so much Andrew, you are way too kind. Xx
Oh, okay. Literary agents are even worse. You are too good not to be published.
Thank you I appreciate that! Have a great weekend! xo
You too
Thank you
The “this is not what we are looking for at the moment” is the most maddening response because most of the time, I often tailor a piece so that it would be EXACTLY what they are looking for. Still, the worst response is no response. I can so relate to the endless lists of motherhood. I actually have to write down activities I want to do with my daughter, or I will forget.