Just Won't Get In

[Richard H. Fay]

After several unsuccessful attempts to get my poetry published by certain publications (in one case, fifteen poems sent in thirteen different submissions), I've come to the conclusion that I will probably never crack certain markets.

I know what a lot of writers and poets will say; persistence eventually pays off. You should never give up. Well, I'm all for stubborn persistence, but I think that such persistence must be tempered with a bit of reason. I simply don't think it reasonable for me to keep bashing my head against that particular brick wall. Sooner or later, I have to face the reality that, in some instances, nothing I will ever write will ever be right for certain markets.

At this point in my poetic career, I may give up trying to please all editors at all markets (which is probably an impossibility anyway) and just stick with what works for me.

[erazmus]

I'd wouldn't give up on such markets entirely, I'd just move them down a tier on the submissions table. Don't send them as much stuff on first pass anymore, go with either markets where you've had success or markets you haven't tried first.
Of course that might have the same effect as just not trying, if you place everything before it gets down to those markets turn. Oh well.

Mike

[Richard H. Fay]

I'd wouldn't give up on such markets entirely, I'd just move them down a tier on the submissions table. Don't send them as much stuff on first pass anymore, go with either markets where you've had success or markets you haven't tried first.
Of course that might have the same effect as just not trying, if you place everything before it gets down to those markets turn. Oh well.

Mike

Your advice sounds reasonable, but my instincts tell me to put certain markets WAY , WAY down on my list, if I bother sending them anything else at all.

My wife kept telling me for quite a while that I was wasting my time submitting yet more poems to certain markets. In some ways, she might have been right.

I can't quite figure out exactly why (other than it being a matter of taste and/or style - although my wife has other ideas), but certain editors at certain markets just don't seem to like my poetry, and they probably won't like any poem I ever write. My poetry may not be their cup of tea, as it were. There may be little to nothing I can do about that, other than accept it as reality, and concentrate on what works for me.

[Richard H. Fay]

Actually, it almost goes without saying that places that have turned down quite a number of my poems will be unlikely to be my first choice when sending out new poems in my usual style. I might not think of sending anything their way unless I come up with something radically different from my norm. Even then, I would have to think long and hard before sending something their way, considering there are a number of markets out there that seem much more receptive to my work, much more willing to consider publishing my poetry. In most instances, places where I have a proven positive track record with will be the top places on the submission list.