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Being published that is, and I am just thrilled as they are two of my favourite poems!
The first piece called ‘Instinct’ appears in the November issue of Transnational Literature, an international e-journal published twice a year out of the Flinders Institute for Research in the Humanities at Flinders University. Edited by Gillian Dooley with the poetry section by Heather Taylor Johnson, the journal is fully refereed with an internationally-based advisory board that seek a selection of cross-cultural pieces, be they poetry, prose or articles. The poetry in this particular issue has a Scottish theme with guest poetry editor Alison Flett covering for Heather while she is overseas researching her next book.
The second poem published this week, ‘Offspring‘, was in Uneven Floor, an independent poetry magazine operating out of Perth, Western Australia edited by Jackson. Aiming to publish one or two individual poems every fortnight with a focus on poets from Western Australia, I was particularly impressed by the calibre and diversity of the content when I discovered this outlet via Australian Poetry, as well as instantly warming to the frank, no-nonsense style in what the editor looks for and what he definitely doesn’t.
So yes, I am one ecstatic poet at present, let’s see what else I can do… 🙂
As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a piece accepted for the fall/winter issue of the Aurorean poetry journal published by Encircle Publications. Well, it’s out now!
Contributors receive a free copy, plus a special discount on further copies purchased, so I’m really looking forward to mine arriving, which I anticipate taking a little longer considering the distance needed to travel!
It’s well known that on the whole, poetry doesn’t pay. However, like many other poets I don’t write to earn and when you think about it, “pay” has many connotations. I still get a thrill from seeing my work and name in print so this is the value for me. And when you couple that with contributor copies and the publicity provided, I feel that’s a pretty good deal, don’t you…? 🙂
The Aurorean is a biannual poetry journal published in April and October out of Maine in the US by Encircle Publications.
Its 60 plus pages offer a variety of form and content from poets all over the world, with a focus on New England and the seasons, and includes a wonderful selection of Haiku. Having won several small press awards, the journal publishes work that “uplifts, inspires, and is meditational”, a refreshing perspective “in a world full of angst”.
Editor Cynthia Brackett-Vincent kindly accepted some of my work recently to appear in their forthcoming Fall/Winter issue due out next month. I was excited by this news, not least by the thought that my work will appear in this beautifully presented and prestigious journal but also, and to quote one of my literary friends, I have now “cracked the US market!” So only 3 more continents to go, as I’m discounting Antarctica unless their definition of penguin has changed…
I have been working on a volunteer basis for The Australia Times (TAT) for over a year now as a poet and copyreader, after responding to their call for volunteers nationwide.
TAT is a free magazine-based online publication, blending professional and citizen journalism to create news for both the community and special interest groups.
With over 30 magazines to its name now, spanning the news, arts, lifestyle, entertainment, Australia and science and technology, subscribers really are spoilt for choice with TAT Books, TAT Fashion, TAT Gourmet, TAT Film to name a few, and of course TAT Poetry. Edited by Maureen Clifford, a.k.a. The Scribbly Bark Poet, this fortnightly magazine publishes a wide range of work from Australia and overseas, be it free verse, Haiku, sonnet, etc., a perfect platform to get your work out there.
Maureen kindly published some of my work last year and is again later this month, so watch this space…and get subscribing to TAT!
Australian Poetry took a different approach to the release of its latest edition of the Australian Poetry Journal (APJ) by launching it online.
The live streaming video session took place on 23 July hosted by Lisa Gorton, poetry editor of the Australian Book Review, who interviewed four prominent poetry editors:
- Michael Sharkey, editor of the current APJ issue;
- Kent MacCarter of Cordite;
- Michelle Cahill from Mascara Literary Review; and
- Fiona Wright of Seizure.
Each editor spoke about their job, the changing industry and most importantly what they look for in a submission.
Some said that a piece had to grab them in the first few lines and be doing something different, while others looked for evidence of reading and pleasure from reading the poem. The obvious no-nos were use of clichés, obscure formatting particularly for online publication and a certain spilling of the guts!
The conversation can be viewed in full at www.digitalwritersfestival.com, an insightful and entertaining discussion, and invaluable to anyone wanting to break into the Australian poetry scene.
Having recently received three rejections in a row from three different magazines/journals, an element of self-doubt can start to creep in – what am I doing wrong, how can the poems be improved, am I wasting my time, etc. Successes are wonderful, celebrated and then filed but maybe its human nature to dwell that bit longer on failure and make it personal.
During my period of procrastination, I remembered a recent essay Kim Moore wrote during her digital residence with the Poetry School, where she describes her path to publication along with some practical hints and tips she learned along the way. But what I found really interesting (and somewhat reassuring!), is the overlap between the lists of magazines Kim’s work has been accepted in and rejected by (have duplicated it below for ease):
There are particular magazines and journals I would love to get into, a few of which are on Kim’s list, so the message here is clearly one of perseverance!
Kim also went onto say that one of her poems was rejected 13 times before being accepted as part of a collection, and then went on to win an award in its own right.
So if you’re like me and have some work that you feel does have a certain something but just keeps coming back (a boomerang springs to mind!) don’t despair, it may just be a case of it finding its home.
I have just finished reading Captives by Angela Meyer, a very sweet little book (literally too as it’s perfectly pocket-sized) that holds an entertaining selection of micro fiction.
The book is split into seven juxtaposed sections, such as On/Off, With/Without, Then/Now, with the exception of the last one headed Until. Story length varies throughout as does focus, resulting in a kaleidoscope of beautiful snapshots that use almost poetic language to frame them.
In The day before the wedding, the opening piece, a woman “saw her love through a hood of dew and halted, her lungs dragging wet air” while in the very poignant Empty cradle, “the wind moaned and whistled through holes, filled with the whispers of fairy folk”. One of my favourite examples of this delicious imagery can be found in Halloween in Atlanta, in which the protagonist recounts an acquaintance comparing their “episode” with the act of “scooping out – your thoughts like pumpkin mush”.
There is humour and loss, confusion and discovery, some will make you smile, others will make you think, any which way it is a wonderful first collection that warrants a read.
Yesterday I tried a different writing technique. Usually an idea comes to me or a title, first line or the last, I leave it to take shape in my head for a while and then write it down (normally in pencil unless I happen to be on my laptop) giving special care to punctuation, line breaks, stanzas, etc. I almost try to get a final version straight off. But yesterday, with a topic in mind, I just wrote – a solid block with no attention to sentence structure, breath or indeed anything other than getting down what I wanted to say.
This came about after reading some work by Sarah Chapman, a dynamic young poet most recently published on Helen Ivory’s Ink, Sweat and Tears webzine. An interesting result, quite liberating in fact. I think the lesson I learnt is a very simple one all poets experience – that deviating from what feels comfortable and familiar can lead you into a very new space to explore and in which to make your mark.
I am just in the throes of finalising the piece and then intend to submit it to one of a number of magazines on my increasing to do list ! Let’s see what kind of reception it gets…will keep you posted.
No time like today to post some love poetry !
So here is the poem I was thrilled to have published by Inkerman & Blunt in Australian Love Poems 2013, edited by Mark Tredinnick. This wonderful collection is split into sections to capture the full spectrum of love and it’s journey – from those fresh heady sparks to the sometimes unavoidable last remnants. My poem sits within ‘We outgrow love like other things’…
Leaving
Our front door has gained weight
seems harder to close.
I manage our hallway then fold
a paper chained doll.
Temptation dropped me off.
He is older, wears suits
peels me undone with deep set eyes.
There is safety in here
a promise I’ll always be loved
It’s just not enough.
I know this will slice your insides
but I do it also for you.
You need more
than this glossed over longing.
I place my goodbye on the table
seven years of tears
line dried, folded in pairs.
Copyright © J V Birch 2013
Happy Valentine’s Day – spend it wisely 🙂
Volume 2 of the Australian Poetry Members’ Anthology: Poems 2013 is out now and available to order.
I am both pleased and proud to have a poem included in this wonderful collection, that sees poets from all over the country converging to express themselves in a multitude of ways on a variety of topics.
Emerging names speak alongside some of Australia’s prominent voices – I share the pages with the likes of David Adès, Jennifer Compton, P.S. Cottier and Rachael Mead.
So if you’re seeking a selection of the latest contemporary poetry from Australia, this is the perfect read.
J V Birch 