Procrastination Post
I don’t feel like going to work so I’m procrastinating getting ready. 
Anyway, last night got a little less than halfway through the Christmas Story and have gotten it down to 12690 words so far. That feels good. Loading up my bookbag with reading material and saving the transcribing for when I’m at home, rather than trying to do it at work. But the editing, I’m still going to try to do at work.
And now, I’m going to actually make a move to go to work.
I’m toying with the idea of using Lulu to put out a book of my poems sometime next year, since I think that’s one of the only ways I’ll ever get my poetry published at all. For about $100 or so I could get a regular ISBN and distribution on places like Amazon. What about you out there in Cyber Ether Land? Would you ever consider using a POD (Print on Demand) publisher? If so, in what case? If not, why not?
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on September 24th, 2007 at 7:39 AM
Hi Rachel,
I just saw this and thought I would comment.
POD is not bad, if it is a publisher. Doing something like Lulu.com is a mistake, in my opinion.
If you can’t get the stuff published through a legitimate publisher, then leave it unpublished. Self-publishing is something you might want to consider after you have had a book or two published by a real publisher, but it is not a good thing to do first. My reason for saying this, is that people have a tendency to look very negatively at self-published stuff and if they see your book has been published on Lulu.com or some such place, they have a tendency to write it off. Furthermore, when you submit a manuscript to someone, it is not unusual for them to google you. If the first thing that comes up is a self-published book, they very well might write off the manuscript right away—even if they were previously interested. There is also the fact that other writers, reviewers etc. can be very vicious, and the last thing you need is someone to be poking fun at you.
Sorry if this sounds too negative, but it is written with the intention to help.
I have found, after more experience than I care to relate, that where you are published is often more important than the writing itself.
on September 24th, 2007 at 9:42 AM
But what are chapbooks but selfpublished books of poetry that poets hawk to booksellers and at open mic poetry readings? Chapbooks are an accepted part of the poetic tradition.
on September 24th, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Actually, I prefer a chapbook to something put out on Lulu. Even so, it is better to have somone else put out your chapbook than to do it yourself. Also, there are really so many people publishing stuff out there, it seems you should exhaust all possibilities before going down that road. There are, after all, several hundred small press publishers putting out poetry in the US and UK. If you have enough stuff published in chapbook type zines and stuff that might give you a connection with someone who would put out a collection. My point isnt so much about the format (POD, chapbook, etc) as about having someone (an ‘editor’) validate the stuff for you. Also, as far as you are concerned as a writer, this would be much more satisfying–though admittedly much more difficult also.
on September 24th, 2007 at 12:44 PM
I see your point. I’m just tired of people telling me no thank you.
on September 24th, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Well, it is sort of part of the process. I guess some people are lucky and get stuff published right away. I submitted around 100 short stories before my first one was accepted. Then I started getting stuff accepted all the time. For a while, I had a rule: If the story gets rejected three times, look at it again and re-write it. I have also heard that workshops like Clarion are a good way to produce material that people will publish. For my personality that wasn’t ever really an option, but it might be something to consider.
on September 25th, 2007 at 7:06 AM
Yes, you are right in all those other things. I still have the right to self-publish my own poetry in an effort to get it out there and seen by people (we’re not talking publishable stories here, we’re talking POEMS which are much more subject to the whims and fancies of editors).
Believe me, I’ve had this same discussion with my critique partners, all of us taking different sides at different times until we’re blue in the face. In the end, you’ll whatever you choose to do and I’ll do whatever I choose to do. I am tired of knowing my poetry is good and knowing that if it were out there it would find an audience, and yet NOT being able to find an editor who gets it.
As for Clarion and other workshops, well, when they pay me for going to them and pay my rent and pay for my catsitter and pay my bills, then, I can consider them. Until then, I just can’t feasibly take those glorified workshops. I can barefly afford to do what little I do. Soon I’ll be like the Bronte sisters and writing on the wall. This year in an effort to finally put emphasis on my poetry and fiction I have turned down regular paying freelance work that I would normally take. I am doing the same amount of work — 40 hours a week at a job that for budget reasons has not given me a raise in a few years and took away healthcare and only gives me a week off a year but allows me to proofread and edit for a living and instead of working weekends and evening on freelance work to supplement that income I am emphasizing my poetry and fiction. I set up a blog where I am doing movie and book reviews that I would normally get paid to write in an effort to get my name out there. I am writing essays on poetry and poetic devices that I would normally get paid to write, but instead of sending them in I am putting them on my blog.
Yes, it is a labor of love. But you can see why I just want to get a book out there. I want somewhere for there to proof of work done. An equitable exchange of something coming back for all the work I have put out there. I normally see an exchange of effort through a check when I do that same amount of work. I’m not even getting that.
And in the end, if I WANT to do it then I WILL do it. And if anyone knows me they know the more you argue against me doing something, the more likely I am to do it.