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Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 10:39 am: | 
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Hello, All.
I would like very much to have my work(s) published.. The problem is I that I am a bit unsure about how to go about this.. Can some of you "experts" (lol) tell me more about the options/legalities tied to this? Yes, I've read about several things, but I would love to hear more from people with experience and what better place to come but here? :-)
*Somewhat clueless but extremely receptive so that I will not have to be. ;-) *
Thanks in advance..
Oh in case any of you wouldn't mind e-mailing some info to me, my e-mail address is:
mentalstimuli@hotmail.com
Thanks again. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 12:19 pm: |
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Beautifulwaterstar:
What kind of works are they? Fiction, Non Fiction Biography, Philosophy?
If fiction are they short stories or novels?
Are they for children? Are they genre works? Are they poetry?
We need some upfront information (not necessarily details but at least about type of work) before we can give you some suggestions.
One up front though is have you tried The latest edition of The Writer's Market? |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 12:40 pm: |
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Why thanks, Chris!
Um. No, haven't even tried the first edition. To be totally honest, I am really a writer by passion. I would just now like to do something more with my work than keep it to myself or share it with friends/family etc. I've really always wanted writing to fill a huge chunk of my life/career but I am just starting to look deeper into it...
Poetry is what I am really aiming for first. I mean, I wouldn't mind throwing a few previews of some short stories just to give the reader an idea of what else is in store down the line and such, (if I can get away with that. hehe) but it would mostly be poetry. I would love to publish some essays as well.. Need more info?
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Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 12:50 pm: |
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No:
I'll either post here or email you if you like. |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 01:07 pm: |
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Hey, whatever's best for you, Chris.. You know though, there might be a lot of other ppl on here with the same situation, maybe posting some info here could help them out as well or even sharpen someone else's knowledge about this.. You are more than welcome to e-mail me as well.
(Thank you so much, Bro..) |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 01:56 pm: |
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Beautifulwater star--and others:
I will tell you what I did. I joined a poetry group. Said group put on readings and ultimately self published a small chapbook. I met others through the group who were publishing poetry journals. I submitted to those journals and got some things published.
I began to submit to the poetry journals of people I did not know. Some published. Some didn't. I submitted to selected sites on the internet (you should go to sites that are rather selective--some sites publish everything--not saying that means your stuff is not good but your stuff gets lost in an avalanche of work.
I did readings and met poets. Some of them published journals and I submitted to those. Ultimately I got my own chapbook--a short one I was able to hand around. I was approached to edit a locally produced anthology.
I still do readings locally.
Poetry is not very profitable as a rule. Jewel's book of poetry had fantastic sales but that is due to her fame as a recording artist. Maya Angelou does good numbers for poetry but she has been at it for almost forty years and didn't really take off poetry wise until she read that poem at the Clinton inauguration--before that she was more famous for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
There are publishers who will publish poetry in the Writers Market--they want you to have book length manuscripts. You can enter contests--I don't do that. You can enter contests where the prize is publication of a book length manuscript--Paul Beatty did that.
You can get a very controversial poem published and bet busted for it (Ginsberg did that) or get condemned on the floor of the Senate (Sapphire did that).
You can make the acquaintance of an editor at a quality publishing house, slip your poems under her door one at a time, get declared a genius and get them published (Alice Walker did that).
You might make the acquaintance of a famous poet and have them mentor you, or you can have some famous poet anoint you and you go on from there (Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Sapphire, Beatty). You can become part of a poetry movement (Baraka with the beats, Madhbuti Nikki Giovanni, the Last Poets with the Black Arts Movement).
You can follow the academic route.
Above all again realize that unless you have somehow hit on the holy grail--that is you wrote something that is accessible to the public, your rewards from poetry will probably be ancillary ones--speaking gigs, teaching gigs, other writing gigs, a chance to go on and do stories, novels, screenplays, acting, etc.
If you have questions,please post. |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 10:07 am: |
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Chris, the post was not only very informative but also VERY inspiring! Thank you! Thank you sooo much!
I will post more when I return. (I really appreciate your help, thank you..) |
Beautifulwatestar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:10 pm: |
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Okay..
See Chris, Man, I can write allll "kinds" of stuff. I would really love to just write any type of thing I want.. I believe that poetry (since it is the closest to me) will really always be my main focal point, atleast in my heart, but I write all kinds of things. It's like,"I could break it down like wutevva ya want", nah mean?
;-)
Not at all trying to brag like I'm just alllllll dat and stuff, but what I am saying is that I really feel that I have talent that is (on a larger scale) going to waste. I said "larger scale" still, because I know that my messages touch whoever they are meant to touch; I strive to help heal before anything else so that's peace.. Still, I would like to do more, because I feel that I am more than capable of doing so..
I wouldn't at all mind taking a few courses, because I know that there is MUCH for me to learn, even if just about the basics.. The creativity wouldn't at all be a problem; never has been.. Um.. I just forgot what I wanted to say. *blank* Dagnabbit! Don't'cha just hate when that happens? lol
Anyway, I can write pretty much anything.. Plays, poems, essays, short stories, novels, heck EVEN THE MEAT OF MY BROTHER'S PAPERS! (Heeeeee's the one getting his Master's, not "I!" lol) I just would really like to see my talent work for me. I have more questions, but (if you're not tired of me yet *hehe*) I'll try to get clear about them and ask you soon..
I really appreciate your help.. Thanks X infinity. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:29 pm: |
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Well that's good.
I advise people to try to be WRITERS first--willing and able to handle it all. Most of the greats did several kinds of writing--Langston, Maya, Poe, etc.
Find out what kind of writing you like and start putting together a manuscript (manuscripts) and get them out there--
One other thing I forgot to share with you before. When people train to be professional wrestlers they learn how to fall without hurting themselves. As a writer you must learn how to take criticism and rejection. It is all part of the game.
I don't know any training for this unless it is joining a workshop or taking some classes. Danger--that all kinds of people get in those things and some of them do it just to downrate and bust folks' bubbles but again this is part of the game. Get you used to it.
Good luck. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 02:07 pm: |
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BWS: Chris' advice is solid. And, I've always contended that good writers are born, not made. You seem to have a natural gift for the craft, so you don't want to dilute your creative juices. But maybe a course that teaches plot structure and character development would be helpful to you. |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 09:02 pm: |
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So Chris, does that mean I' gotta be walkin' 'roun lookin' like a down trodden negro that the bus passed for college on one a dem UNCF commercials talkin' bout "Weeee falll downnnnn but weeeee gitz up"? lol Don't mind me, I'm silly. Forreal, though.. I understand what you are saying and though I 'can' be a very sensitive person, I can (at the same time) be a VERYYY indifferent person. Also, I know how I am.. I love to listen/learn/grow, but there are certain things about my passion/art that I feel I am just not willing to compromise. But all I can do is be a sponge, taking in what I need and squeezing out the rest..
Hiya, Cynique. Ya, that sounds good. Actually I think I would find a 'few' courses helpful.
Thank you two. I really, really, REALLY appreciate it. If you find anything else you think I could use, pleaseeee feel free to e-mail me. Much luv, yawl.. Thanx.. |
Yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 03:49 pm: |
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BWS:
And a critical support group would also help! |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 08:27 am: |
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Hiya, Yukerz! :-)
I also believe that I will find this helpful. Thank you. (Y'all so sweet. :-) ) |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 10:37 am: |
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BWstar:
Au contraire--you shouldn't walk around looking downtrodden unless those are the kind of poems you are writing--artists are sensitive--because they have to be and when they are starting out--and I have been assured, even when they are "established" they are rejected and criticized a lot--and one must be able to not take it personal, have a thin skin and keep going on. I believe it was T.S. Eliot who told everyone who asked him not to go into poetry, and when told that a young friend was going to be a poet he said, "He's going to have a sad life."
It is something you would best do because you have to and you are going to do it come what may--especially if you are not willing to compromise |
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