First up is this week’s issue of Shape of a Box. Click through on first Shape of the Box to read the text of the piece and watch the video or watch the video below. If you are interested in Linda’s book click through:

Next up is the summary of the November Poetry Hickory. It was a fantastic night and WAY too much footage for me to be able to use .  The place was packed despite the rain. Looking forward to December 8th for another Poetry Fix!

Then I have put the whole section of my reading from The Wait of Atom and one of the short stories by Mel Bosworth whose fiction chapbook from Folded Word Press is on pre-order.

And the yoga poems continue over at the Poem-A-Day Challenge site.

Bared Feet

Everyone else is barefoot but I want to wear my socks. They are just simple anklets with pink extra padding at the toe and heel. It isn’t that my feet are ugly, honestly though, are feet ever really attractive? Even though I have never had a pedicure and sometimes I forget to clip the nails as much as I should, they are good feet. Albeit, a bit flat. I lack much in the way of an arch which may be why I am susceptible to plantar fasciitis which I managed to get a bad case of, once, in both feet at the same time after a trip to San Francisco wear I wore sandals while climbing the mountain like streets. No, it isn’t even that. See, my feet and hands are often cold, even in this Hot Yoga room. I’d rather risk slipping on the yoga mat then to feel cold just at my edges. Although as I try to hold plank position, I remember my high school senior show. I had a chance to shine for a few seconds. I was to turn a cartwheel across the stage near the end of the opening number. At our final dress rehearsal we were all wearing gloves (there was a black light involved) and when I went to turn my cartwheel I went down, getting stage burn across my thighs. Everyone was laughing but still asking are you ok? The night of the show I stuffed the gloves in my pockets just before I was to go across the stage, and I rubbed my hands across my shorts just hoping, hoping. It was the most tentative of cartwheels and my chunky legs looked more like wagon wheel spokes then a graceful dancer’s legs, I thought, when I saw a video of the event. But, I didn’t fall. My toes feel like they are slipping, I lay down into more of a crocodile pose and I take turns with my big toes pulling off the socks before I rise back up into down dog feeling confident.

You thought this was Video Tuesday right? Well it will be more like Video Wednesday or Thursday because Poetry Hickory is tonight and I want to include the readings there in our video update.

So, instead, I thought I’d revisit the issue of getting a book published. Previously, I had discussed the process of chapbook publication but I did have a few readers who wanted to look more directly at the issue of publishing full length collections.

First, getting a poetry (my main genre) published is completely different than getting a work of fiction or non-fiction published. I will touch on all genres at least briefly.

Well, you’ve finished your book of poetry. What next? Well, hopefully, you have been sending the individual poems around to lit mags already. Publishers of poetry books don’t all require you to have the individual poems published but, if you look at the acknowledgements page of most poetry books, you will see that most published poetry books contain 50% – 75% of individual poems that appeared somewhere in print or online prior to the book being put together.

When I started sending around Paper House (under various titles) I was also sending the individual poems around but I already had about 10 or so that were published. That was probably low but I was ready to have the book published. That, however, doesn’t mean the book is ready to be published. I sent it around for about 6 months without once getting a note, a finalist or anything. I knew I needed to re-visit the manuscript but I was already working on other projects so I made the decision to wait until half of the poems in it were published and then I would look at it again.

Now how was I sending it out? I compiled a list of contests and open reading periods and I entered or sent the manuscript to those publishers. This is the primary way you seek publication with poetry. You usually won’t have an agent and at most you might win a prize of like $1000 and some copies of the book for free. It is rare for anyone to make any significant money off of poetry. Very rare!

While I was letting the book sit, I was working on other projects. I was then approached by Folded Word Press. I knew the editor from online communication and some work she had helped me with at Shape of a Box but I was surprised when she asked to see my manuscript. I was actually hesitant, at first, because I wasn’t sure I wanted to dig back into the manuscript again and since we had a working relationship I wondered what people would think?

After a lot of soul searching and getting advise from other published writers I decided to go with it. This was the perfect venue for me to go with. I was able to write new work (at my editor’s request – whew!) and to be able to work hand in hand with an editor to revise the work. You don’t always get that opportunity with the contest/reading period route. Most publishers have so much to read that they just don’t have the time to spend hours helping you revise your book. They expect it to be done when it comes to them.

My route, therefore, has been a bit untraditional but I am very pleased with it.

Now, if you have a fiction book it is a very different experience. You finish the book and then query agents. When you score an agent, or agents, who want to read some of your work they will often ask for a chapter or maybe even the whole book. If they then take you on to represent they may ask for revisions before they even submit the work to a publishing house. You can expect to also revise after a publisher has agreed to put the book out. Finishing that book isn’t the end!

Non-fiction is also different. If you have had some publications, clips, you may be able to query an agent with a comprehensive plan for a non-fiction book, say a travel memoir, and then write the book but if you are an unestablished writer you are going to need to, most likely, finish the book before you ever submit it to an agent for consideration. You will then, for the most part, query agents in much the way you do a fiction manuscript.

Now I am just giving you my personal poetry experience and what I have learned from fiction and non-fiction writers who I know who have been published.

There is also, of course, self-publishing and working with small presses which can be different. Self-publishing is a world all to its own!

Hope this gives you a little bit of insight into the process. Will look forward to chatting more about it in comments.

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Here is my NaNoWriMo/Poem a Day poem from 11-8-09

Should I Go In

I’ve seen no one who looks like me enter the class. Mostly young women. Tight black pants. Personal rolled up mats. Clear faces. One man. Athletic fit white T-shirt with the OM symbol on the front. Crocs. 5 people. Then 7 more. I can’t even pick out who might be the instructor. Pacing, I move between the water fountain and the door to read the group exercise schedule. Memorized. Lunch Time Yoga. Hate to use the word ironic. So overused. Does it fit here to cover my guilt that I don’t want to be the fat one in yoga class? I would be the one dreaming of milkshakes and cheeseburgers while everyone else is probably comfortable lying on the floor thinking about wheat grass and tempeh. Did I really imagine that doing yoga videos at home would prepare me for this? For moving my body in a room full of taut flesh.

Monday already? Well, let’s start our week right with shout outs.

Best American Poetry 2009. I purchased my first BAP back in 1996 when I needed to memorize a poem for my undergraduate intermediate poetry workshop led by Stuart Dischell. And it is funny to see how that book has trailed my ins and outs with poetry. The next issue I bought was in 1999 after I had been out of college for a year and I was trying to figure out what to do with my poetry. Then I don’t have another copy until 2006 when I made my way back to Poetry. As I read the poems I mark the ones I like the best and then I look up where they were originally published as a guide for where I should, perhaps, submit my own work to – where maybe I’ll fit in. I have 2006, 2007, 2008 and now 2009 and this issue is one of my favorites. I picked out quite a few poems that I just adored and the introduction by the guest editor is wonderful. I won’t say which of the years I have I least like, but it was recent!

At the end of last week I finished an issue of The Greensboro Review. I’ve been submitting poems to The GSO Review since I was an undergrad (in the dark ages) and it is sort of a dream journal for me to get into. I loved the poetry in the last issue I read (I subscribe but I’m behind!) but also there was some fantastic fiction pieces. Pick up a copy if you get a chance.

Have you been listening to the Joe Milford Poetry Show? If you haven’t you should be! Click through to check out the website and listen to some archives. Speaking of archives, Joe is building an archive of poets as well and if you are an established poet who might have to some work for Joe to consider you can contact him through the website or via mail:  Joe Milford / P.O. Box 235 / Newnan, GA 30264.

Over the weekend I finished the essay collection Something to Declare by Julia Alvarez. If you are a writer, or wondered what goes on in the mind of a writer this is a fantastic collection. Heck, even if you don’t care about the writing life it is so well written and deals with a variety of topics, not just writing. I now want to check out Julia’s poetry and fiction (when I get through my copious stacks of books to read!).

Still working on the PAD/NaNoWriMo Challenge. Here is the poem I wrote for 11-7-09.

Tree

Standing on my left leg with my hands in the prayer position, I start inching my right foot up past my ankle. Steady. Don’t rest it on a joint. I can make it as far as my knee but not above so I put it back down on my calf. Safety first. I try to raise my arms into a triangle above my head but I shake. I feel like one of those old weebles which could wobble but not fall down. Not me. I can fall. I am not shaped like an egg, more exaggerated hourglass with, apparently, uneven legs for when I switch to my right side it is all I can do to even stand on one foot. I can’t keep my hands in prayer position. I must hold them out as if I am pretending to be an airplane. But I don’t want to fly. I’m supposed to be connecting with one foot to the Earth. Grounded. Yet, I think, with my arms out to my sides I am more tree than when I have my hands perched in front of me, than when my bent leg is pressing back into my temporary trunk. So what if I sway? A tree is meant to look solid but to still dance.

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Tuesday is Poetry Hickory! Oh and both sections of the Charlotte Writer’s Club have events that evening that I’ll, unfortunately, have to miss.

Thursday is Iodine Open Mic at Jackson’s Java.

Saturday is a “reading your work effectively” workshop at Main Street Rag. Google their site and see if there are seats left

Have a great week everyone!

I’ve been toying with posting this for a while, but I was unsure if I wanted to continue the debate.

But, here it is, is there too much poetry being made?

So many people argue that poetry is dead, that no one is reading poetry. Etc etc etc. And yet, I am constantly bombarded with new chapbooks, full length books, literary magazines and the occasional request to do a blurb or a book review or to just read, read, read and critique for someone.

Poetry is not dead. It is everywhere.

Sure, maybe only poets are the ones reading each other, but poetry is definitely still alive. But, is she well?

I have run into far too many poets who don’t actually read poetry, who rush to publication anywhere that will take them (hey I was 19 onces and wanting to do the same) and who think that anything they write down is golden ( meaning they will not revise etc).

See, this is my judgment against some who want to be in the world of poetry.

1. I have a hard time calling anyone a poet who doesn’t actually read poetry.
2. Revision is at the heart of writing. Sure, there may be the rare poem that jumps – fully formed – from your Zeus-like head but that is RARE.
3. I know we can’t read every online or buy every print lit mag publication that is out there but before you send your work at least TRY to get a glimpse of what they publish instead of being disappointed when you don’t get in or do get in but don’t like the results (been there done that!)
4. The world of poetry is not quid pro quo. If you volunteer to do a review for someone don’t expect them to do one for you. Sure it is nice if they do but poetry karma does not have to beget poetry karma. Review, blurb, critique because you want to be part of the community not out of obligation.
5. Don’t forget the joy of words which is what, most likely, brought you to the pen in the first place.

Ok so that was a little bit of a mini-rant but I have been wanting to do it for a while.

And below I’ll post my 11-6 PAD/NaNoWriMo poem. Having a bit of a hard time keeping with my theme. I have so many other ideas that popped into my head last night. I wrote them down but I really want to see this through. It is never good to give up on a project too early. I’ve learned that. Give it a chance. One bad poem does not mean it is all over!

Have a great Sunday everyone and in the spirit of my yoga poems – Namaste.

Yoga for Beginners: Brochure

The brochure suggests that you wear comfortable clothes, but not baggy. But, for me, comfort is baggy. They also, however, suggest layers. I do like layers, more cloth to cover copious flesh. Perhaps, it says, you can wear long sleeves and then pare down to a tank top or bra as your body warms-up  before, at the end, covering back up for the final relaxation poses as you naturally cool off. Will I? I get warm and then hot and then sweaty so quickly whenever I try to exercise. Until a shower, I don’t think I’ll ever feel comfortable again. Exercise is not comfort. This fat is not comfort. But, can I, strip down in front of others? Can I try to stretch while everyone is watching? What if I can’t do a move? What if I fall down? What if it doesn’t even work and I’m left still fat and now covered with the grime of exertion? I fold the brochure in half, put it in my back jeans pocket to take home.

Ok. I don’t normally do meme’s but my dear younger writer friend asked me to do this one so I will.  I won’t tag anyone but feel free to participate on your blog and tag back here.

A – Age: 34
B – Bed size – King we bought this year. So nice!
C – chore you hate Bathrooms
D – Dog’s name None 3 cats though: Foggy Bottoms, Sir Digby Chicken Caeser and Zoe
E – Essential start your day item: water first thing!
F – Favorite color: probably blue
G – Gold or Silver: Silver.
H – Height: 4 foot 10 (see blog title!)
I – I am: a poet, a blogger/writer, a teacher, an editor, a wife, a sister
J – Job: freelance all of the above (most without pay. ha!)
K – Kids: Occasionally I’ll borrow some
L – Living arrangements: Mortgaged..hehe
M – Mom’s name: Thelma
N – Nicknames: something involving shortness
O – Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Nope
P – Pet Peeve: hmm…this may sound silly, but meanness. People are just overall too mean.
Q – Quote from a movie: Sorry, first thing that came to mind, “I fart in your general direction.” Monty Python and the Holy Grail
R – Right or left handed: Right.
T – Time you wake up: varies but usually about 8 am.
U- Underwear: ladies should have their secrets!
V – Vegetable you dislike: not a fan of collards
W – Ways you run late: getting lost, but i’m rarely late.
X – X-rays you’ve had: hmm…think i had my ankle x-rayed when i was a kid. have had dental type xrays and once my knees and feet due to knee and foot pain
Y – Yummy food you make: turkey spaghetti
Z – Zoo favorite: giraffees

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Now I should probably share a NaNo poem. Let’s see. Where am I. This was written on 11-5 with Poem a Day prompt being – write a growth poem.

Warrior II

Do I suffer from a survivor’s guilt? I wonder as my mind wanders. I lower my arms so that one is pointing forward, the other pointing back into Warrior II. Tired. Last night I was contemplating placing phone calls or booking trips to family members I haven’t seen or talked with over extended periods of time. It is hard to keep looking straight ahead past my fingers because my torso also wants to come back around to a front facing position. And then the guilt, even here, as I try to remember to be in the breath. And then the question of the guilt. Why should I always have to be the one to call? Why do I have to be the one to visit? At what point is there a two way street? Or do I eternally go one way, one way, one way. At least I’m past tears. I’m ready to start the warrior flow on my other leg just for something new to do but I’m not trembling, I can wait for the instructor, this time, for the call to switch legs. I can wait.

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Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I still need to do a NaNo poem for the day but I think I need lunch first

Jeez my computer has been having issues this morning! So it is almost 11am I have not finished my to do list, have not finished working out, and I really want to be present at the 4pm Publishing Panel at Queens. Will I make it? But at least I did these:

S: 2

A: 0

R: 2 – one of these was “assume” meaning after 6 months no response. Good mag and one I subscribe to that I knew I’d have a hard chance getting into but still. Over 6 months?

The reading at Queens was fantastic last night. I ended up picking up more books than I had planned to buy but they were books on my list of needing to get so *sigh* will just be watching the budget this week! Speaking of which though, part of why my morning is all off is that I’ve been on the phone with the bank and my student loan carrier because 1-bank hasn’t resolved fraud issue 2-loan carrier forgot to bill me AGAIN. Good thing I keep good records

Hope you guys submitted some work today. Still waiting on the piles of rejection slips to start pouring in as the year closes out. Now if I could somehow manage to finish making a vid this afternoon, complete my NaNo poem, vacuum and still make it to Queens. Hmmm…Oh and I hear my print proof of The Wait of Atom is on the way . . .

Here is my NaNo/PAD poem from 11-4-09. Topic was to use Maybe in the title.

Maybe I am a warrior

- Virabhadra

even though I practice Yoga with jelly arms because when I move into Warrior 1, I am strong. I plant my right foot and move my left heel back, checking my alignment like looking for chinks in armor. As I settle into a deep lunge with my right knee bent I bring my palms together and then push them up and over my head. It is time to giving thanks or to ask for protection or to be. I almost feel I could sleep until my legs start to shake. They are more viscous than jelly but yet not as strong as a solider wearing greaves. But, before that moment I was ready for battle, forgetting all but the feel of my body without thought of what I would next eat, of papers requiring pushing, of clothes that do not fold themselves. For a time, I was fighting by being just there.

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Have a great weekend everyone!

Trying to decide what poem, or poems, to share today?

Think instead of directly posting a poem I’ll link to The Wild Goose Poetry Review where I have work up that was accepted earlier this year. I’m the Featured Poet too! Wow! The featured poem “Amphibian” will be in Paper House when it comes out in the spring.

As far as an new poem for today? Let’s check in with the Poetics Asides Poem-A-Day Challenge to see what I need to write:  For today’s prompt, I want you to write a growth poem. Hmm..growth. You guys want to try it?

I’ll write mine later but for now I’ll post Day 3

Sun Salutation

-         Surya Namaskar

This one I have taken with me to hotel rooms, back porches of fenced in back yards. in pictures as I try to do something besides counting sheep to help me sleep.

Start in Mountain. Breathe. Always breathe. Then hands up as your arch back before exhaling and bending forward towards you knees. My hands do not yet touch the floor. It’s a goal.

My lunge starts on the left because I have better balance on my non dominant side. I stretch the left leg back before moving the right one back as well into plank position.  It does not take long for my abs to quiver, to hurry me down to the floor.

Now upward dog with bent elbows before rising into downward dog where I feel strong. My arms won’t let me stay there too long and besides this is a flow.  This is a way to great the morning.

So I put my left foot forward this time, knowing how awkwardly I’ll move out of this lunge as I return to the bent over position, lightheaded I inhale and rise up to that slightly arched back, returning to mountain.

Sometimes I repeat until I can feel most of my muscles because I can’t see my muscles. They are under the mountain and the dog. They arch and lunge in caves waiting to for a tectonic shift to push them out.

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Hope everyone is having a good week. While has gotten away from me. I met a poet to record yesterday for a future issue of Shape of a Box and tonight I will be going by Queens University for the MFA alumni readings. We have quite a few people with recent books out so it should be fun to hear some readings and perhaps pick up some signed books. 7:30 in Sykes Auditorium.

But before that I need to continue working on pushcart nominations for Shape, some serious house cleaning and just in general playing catch up. Tomorrow is really already Friday? What?