I need help deciding whether I should go down the traditional publishing route. I've got a substack, but, per the advice of a contact in the industry, I stopped uploading there and amassed some poems that I can now either submit directly or bundle with the "published" ones and have them appear in respectable journals (not Paris Review/New Yorker level yet, but still pretty good). The problem is, I’m not sure I want to do that. Part of the reason is that I want to remain anonymous, but Submittable requires identifying information that most of the journals want access to, and they generally won’t publish under pen names without “good reason". More importantly, I perceive something wrong with the current, circuitous way in which “serious poetry” is expected to reach readers. I’ve read far too many poems which seem to have been written to conform to the formats common online - in other words, poets consciously or unconsciously adapt their work to the specifics of the current mechanisms (and formats) for publication rather than write meaning/intent-first. I am aware of publications like Black Sun Lit, which publish more experimental/interesting work, but it still feels like just another part of the landscape (because anything else carries an unacceptable fiscal risk, and that’s all that seems to matter?).On the one hand, agreeing to be published in those journals will help me reach more people more easily, but on the other hand, I am tempted by the satisfaction I feel when uploading to the 60 readers on my Substack, which is the satisfaction of tailoring the process to my work and needs without regard for “how things are done.”Any anons care to share their opinions or experience?
>>24885666bump
My first ever published poem was a modified Substack post that i edited to be more explicitly political. Such is the publishing landscape anon, don't be too precious with your early work. One day you will get to call the shots.Ask for anonymity most publishers don't mind a pseudonym and plenty of public facing poets publish under one.Also submittable isn't going to call your mom or anything, just give him a different address lol. That's what I did Lastly I would recommend sending to a few religious magazines. They tend to take more chances with religious poetry and it's a good way to get your name out there. Good luck
>>24885985hey, anon, thanks for the inputI truly am not being precious with my work, I'm thinking out loud that I want to get something out of the process not just the result>Ask for anonymity most publishers don't mind a pseudonym and plenty of public facing poets publish under one.some editors got back to me in the negative when I asked before submitting, is this something you can negotiate if they accept you for publication?Also, I was impudent enough to directly write to the editor of the New Criterion and send him my poetry but I knew full well my work does NOT fit there, I just wanted him to read it and he (predictably) got back to me with a "not right for us".>Lastly I would recommend sending to a few religious magazines. Why religious specifically? I'm not writing religious stuff, though I have religious imagery spattered throughout >Also submittable isn't going to call your mom or anything, just give him a different address lol. That's what I did kek, fair enough
