I always thought getting published was like being inducted into a mysterious cult. It seems like such a daunting task to put your work out there for others to judge. This is to say, I have been submitting my work to journals. And BIG NEWS!!!! I am getting published in January in Cantaraville Five. It is an online Lit. Journal! While this is not my first publication, it is the first literary journal, outside of my alma mater’s literary journal, that I will have my work in. It’s funny how sometimes that outside vote of confidence is just what you need.
On the other hand I also submitted poems to the BoxCar Poetry Review, and I am submitting a couple of poems to the New Yorker. I fully expect to get rejection letters from both. I tend to think that way when submitting my work for publication. I guess my reasoning is that if I don’t expect to get in to the journal and I don’t then I’m not disappointed. Some would consider this a fatalistic attitude, but I believe that it is simply honest.
I just got back from GA two days ago, where I spent a day with my family. I decided it would be a good idea to share my poems that are being published with my mother. And in response to my poems my mother said, “Where are your happy poems? Aren’t you ever happy?” It made me laugh. Not an hour later my grandmother (Mema) asked to see my poems, and her response to my mother’s comment was “Poems are rarely happy.” And the moral to this story is: Trust your voice, and the emotions you put into your work.”
Until next week,
Ivy