I know it was almost a decade of hard work from the time I first committed myself to poetry to the publication of my first book, The Cartographer's Tongue / Poems of the World. There was so much about book publishing that I didn't know and no one I could ask.
How times have changed --- and for the better on this one. Now there are books, websites, conferences, consultants, and even blogs that provide first rate information.
This morning I discovered this blog post from one of the editors of CavanKerry. Not only does Florenz Eisman offer good information, she does so with bucket loads of kindness and grace. How I wish I had read her twelve years ago.
Here are the first two paragraphs:
I was asked by a CavanKerry colleague a while ago to blog about submissions. My reaction? Give me a break. Is there anything less necessary to write about? After all, CKP’s website has a submissions page with guidelines. Won’t newbies find everything they need on the screen?
My colleague reminded me that when she sat on a panel for soon-to-graduate MFAs, several asked her how to submit a manuscript. They didn’t have a clue how to go about it. Nada. Nothing. That gave me pause. MFA students who don’t know how to maneuver through the submission process?
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I like the article. She would be a fun person to hang out with and talk about life and words.
ReplyDeleteI have a MS in GIS and work as a cartographer. I love your book The Cartographer's Tongue. Many of the poems are my favorites, short narratives from around the world.
I like this line in The Mapparium
A wave
hitting stone is the sound my voice leaves
as a pledge of return on the glass.
I also like In the Language of Maps.
I am writing an epic about scientists. I am currently working on my story of Anaximandros, who made the first world map for the Greeks.
Hi Surazeaus, You're a cartographer --- it seems so magical to me. Thanks for writing and for your kind words about The Cartographer's Tongue. I agree; she sounds very cool --- and so does your manuscript! You've made me want to research Anaximandros. It's been a long time since I've written about maps -- maybe it's time to revisit that obsession. All best with your manuscript, hope this helped out.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent article/blog post. Seems like good advice, not just for manuscript submissions, but for all writers wanting to improve their work. Thanks for sharing this, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Drew! Maybe you'll come up to Nye Beach while we're there for Poets on the Coast? Sept 7 -9. Hope all is well!
ReplyDeleteThat would be fun! And this time, no interruptions, distractions, nor sickness or slack. : )
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