The Poetry Front

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good, is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. — Dennis Wholey (via Quote Book)

Last spring I participated in Poetic Asides‘s April Poem-A-Day Challenge 2009. They have yet to announce the people who managed to complete the challenge, let alone which poems will be published in the e-book compiling the best poem for each of April’s 30 days, both of which were supposed to be made known in early June, then July, then August, etc. They have, however, recently announced the Challenge’s Poet Laureate. The person who received that honor also volunteered to read the slush pile (submissions).

If I knew that would increase my chances, I would’ve volunteered, too (not really). I certainly have the experience, having read for The Ohio State University Press/The Journal Award in Poetry during my tenure in the MFA program. Maybe I’m being sour grapes, but seriously, does that seem fair? Then again, life isn’t fair, so whatever. Besides, I personally know editors at a few literary journals, which also isn’t fair but comes with the territory (of having been in an MFA program, being a member of AWP, etc.).

Next month their November 2009 Chapbook Challenge commences. A chapbook is a small book of 10 – 20 poems. However, it isn’t like a book of poetry, which usually consists of at least 48 pages and has an ISBN number — you know, like the kind you see in a store. I’m not even sure if you can purchase a chapbook or simply ask the poet for one of his/hers. But that’s beside the point. I am going to participate in that I’ll write a poem for each day of November. However, I won’t be posting them to their site nor submitting them for the chapbook contest. I figure it’s a good way to generate more poems because they’ll offer a daily prompt, which I find helpful.

In other news, I recently sent an electronic (e-mail) submission of 5 poems to a literary journal and will mail a submission of 6 different poems to another journal tomorrow. Let my writing career begin! (Again. )