Rather late, here's my stats for 2023.
wrote 32 new poems
finished 2 poems from previous years
9 book submissions
31 magazine submissions
9 magazine acceptances
10 book rejections
28 magazine rejections
12 magazines published 22 poems
21% acceptance rate
Acceptances were much lower than in previous years, but it stands to reason, I submitted less work and as a result, had fewer poems accepted.
I did try to get my collections a home. I've given up on the publisher that accepted my Scottish collection back in 2019. Every year they'd send a group apology to all their unpublished poets with vague excuses and promises to publish in in the next year. I'm not even sure if I would accept if they actually said they were going to start work on the process. I have lost all faith in them. Currently, I have no other options, so I keep on submitting.
A friend in my writing group and I were discussing yesterday why we want to get books published. He writes fiction, I poetry. I accept I'll never make any money from my poetry, but he'd like to see some return. At least, not lose money trying to get his books published. He's self-published but now wants to try magazines and other publishers.
Traditional publishing has changed a lot since I worked in it. He was talking about rights, that fantasy and sci-fi writers don't have their rights protected anymore. I have no experience in fiction, but I'm not surprised. Big publishers have control of the market and little publishers just try to get by and get noticed.
In poetry publishing, it's become more and more that the poet does most of the publicity and sales. Small publishers expect you to pay for various services. Often they don't edit the collection.
And yet, I still want to be published. To be considered part of the scene, to be considered good enough. I am published regularly enough in magazines and journals, but can't get a publisher for a collection.
I mentioned that I'm probably not visible enough on social media and wondered if that was a possible reason. Publishers want someone who is a voice, that will sell their books through readings, on social media. I have struggled this year with posting on Twitter. I've joined Blue Sky and Mastadon (@grimalkingerry on all), but haven't gotten the hang of them. I guess that needs to be a goal this year tied into finding a publisher.
Publication news: my poem 'The Lake Swimmer' has been published in Alternating Current an anthology published by thi wurd. And I have two poems in the City of Poets 2023 anthology.
