Excellent News!

Two of my manuscripts have been losers in poetry book contests, and, yes, that is great news! Now before you say I'm crazy, hear me out: This is an opportunity - a chance for me to go in another direction. I have literally no limits when my work is freed up in this way. Let me explain.

When I submitted each of my manuscripts to three different poetry contests (we'll defer the insanity and what-was-I-thinking conversations for now), I immediately was hit by a weight of anxiety. I had literally no control over what happened (is still happening in one case) next. I had no desire to withdraw from any of the contests, but I also wasn't fully sure that I wanted to win any of them either. Weird, right? But still true. I didn't really want to edit them any further because I wanted to wait for whatever changes might be proposed or might have been prohibited should they do well/win. I couldn't really imagine adding any of my newer poems in despite the fact that my books have been in limbo for months. I also had no real idea of how things were going. It's not like the judges of these contests give you any insights into their process and where your submission(s) are within that system. So I've been waiting.

While I'd like to think I'm a person with decent - or at least average - patience, waiting still is terrible sometimes. So it's not wasted time, I've been writing a lot, researching, starting this blog, doing up the website, and working on other important pieces to try to make my publishing dreams a reality. And even still, it's not been an encouraging wait. But, the moment one of my manuscripts was declined, I was both relieved and excited. In fact, I researched several publishers, made some tweaks, and submitted it to each of them that same day. And now, I'm pleased to have received the news that the second manuscript is freed up in a similar way.

Interestingly, I've decided to hold off from submitting that one anywhere. I'm choosing instead to focus my attention on getting the first book (Inkling) published. I'm tossing around the idea of adding some of my newer poems and expanding it. I've been working on coming up with a good cover. I've been doing research into how to start and run a business as a writer until I fall asleep. And repeat. And I'm seriously considering going the traditional poet's route and taking publishing into my own hands.

That's not to say that I wouldn't be thrilled to win the last of the poetry contests I'm still in - of course I would! But I also am really quite drawn to the idea of having a bit more control over the whole process and what's to come. So while I'm still undecided about a lot, I like having my options so open. And I'm carefully considering all the next steps that are required to get from here to the end goal.