On this Poetry Friday, I feel grateful. This week held both challenges and unexpected sources of support for my Ekphrastic Nature Poetry Anthology.
The Challenge
The challenge was posed by none other than my State poetry association, the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP). I wrote an advertisement to be posted to their weekly newsletter, calling for submissions to the anthology. There were no guidelines posted other than to pay $10.00 and to keep it under 100 words. I met both of those criteria. There was a link to the anthology detail page on my blog. I made sure the link was active and contained the correct information.
However, after I submitted it, I got an email asking about payment for the authors whose work is accepted for the anthology. I replied that there was no pay, except for a free copy of the book once it is published for each accepted author. At the time I replied, I also included that there is a fee to submit. The fee is $10.00 for up to three poem/photograph pairs.
The next response from the advertisement contact at the WFOP got nasty.
“You mean not only is there no payment, there’s also a fee to submit?”
I was shocked. But I kept my cool and explained that was correct and why. I also went on to stand up for myself and say that I’d like the ad put in the newsletter as written, for there were no stated guidelines other than the ten-dollar fee (sound familiar?) and word count limit.
I went on to say that the complete details of submitting (including the fee and the payment) were clearly written in the guidelines at the link given in the advertisement. Therefore, they were accessible to anyone interested.
Afterthoughts
I felt judged. I felt less than. I felt that the nastiness in the email was not necessary.
I felt good that I kept my cool, stood up for myself, and stayed polite.
You know, part of my moving forward with the Ekphrastic Nature Anthology is to help get people published. It’s hard. I know it’s hard. I’ve tried. And I’ll keep trying. But I enjoyed working on the chapbook I published last year, and I’ve wanted to publish another poetry book – why not include photos (which I love to take) and poetry (which I love to write) from others. I’m trying to do a good thing.
Each poet has to make a choice as to whether to submit to a publication or not. Part of the things considered is pay and fees. I wasn’t asking something unusual. In fact, my fees and payment are the best I can do as a one-woman editor and press. Making sure the photos are clear, appropriate, and of an acceptable size is something I’ve chosen to do. I want – very much – to do it. I don’t feel burdened at all. If anything, I feel privileged that I can produce this anthology.
But I certainly don’t want to be made to feel “less than” either.
My OLW this year is ENOUGH. And I am.
It’s funny how we tend to pick words that end up fitting our situations, isn’t it?!
Surprise Support
The same day I had the challenge of the WFOP advertisement, I got a great surprise from another Poetry Friday participant. Let me just say that there are generous and supportive members in our Poetry Friday group. (Of course, I already knew this.) But, just WOW! I’ll tell you more about it once I have a link to share. This author’s website is something you definitely want to check out, too. She even has a newsletter you can sign up for, and I’d encourage you to do so. I hate to keep you in the dark, but don’t want to share too much too soon!
The contact with this author and Poetry Friday participant made me feel extremely grateful about the anthology, what I was trying to do not only for myself but for others (publication), and how I was going about doing it.
So tonight, I sought a poem on gratitude. And I found the words below fit a lot of what I was feeling.
Gratitude
by Edgar Albert Guest, 1881- 1959
Be grateful for the kindly friends that walk along your way,
Be grateful for the skies of blue that smile from day to day,
Be grateful for the health you own, the work you find to do,
For round about you there are men less fortunate than you.
Be grateful for the growing trees, the roses soon to bloom,
The tenderness of kindly hearts that shared your days of gloom,
Be grateful for the morning dew, the grass beneath your feet,
The soft caresses of your babes and all their laughter sweet.
Acquire the grateful habit, learn to see how blessed you are,
How much there is to gladden life, how little life to mar!
And what if rain shall fall to-day and you with grief are sad,
Be grateful that you can recall the joys that you have had.
This poem is in the public domain.
Sources:
https://blog.gratefulness.me/gratitude-poems/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edgar-albert-guest#tab-poems
https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=4277
Lastly, below is the link to the anthology information again. There’s still plenty of time.
Submissions close November 1st. Thanks for your consideration!
https://wordpress.com/page/theapplesinmyorchard.com/42811
Addendum Added 9/16/23, 10 am CST:
Please visit our gracious host for this week’s round-up – Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities. She’s inspired me to try a reverso poem. Her poem is about fall – it’s her first attempt and amazingly well done!
And if you haven’t guessed who my mystery anthology supporter is, it’s author, coach, editor, and all-around kind person – Lou Piccolo! Visit her website, and read her supportive challenge on my call for submissions to the anthology at the following link: https://view.flodesk.com/emails/65000cf0a37bfd7cfd114e95
Please sign up for Lou’s informative and friendly newsletter, too by visiting her website (linked above).
Thank you, Lou! Working with you this week has been a gift!
The Apples in My Orchard 
Carol, you are most definitely enough! It is tradition in adult poetry circles for contests (that result in publication of the winner) to require a “reading fee.” Just like your project, these funds help bring the project into being. It’s simply a form of crowdsourcing. I do especially appreciate the presses who offer “pay what you can” so that publication is truly accessible to all. Wishing you all the best with your project. And those fungi pics are amazing! I mean, ghost pipe!! Gorgeous. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Irene, Thank you for your comment. You are correct in that it is tradition or at least a normal procedure now days to list the fee and the pay as what I have it in my guidelines. I did my due diligence before deciding what to do. I’ll remember the pay what you can for the future, as I like that idea as well. Thanks for your kind words about my photography, too! Take Care.
LikeLike
Carol, I am impressed with the Buddha-like calm that you demonstrated by observing your emotion and choosing to respond calmly and rationally. Your anthology is going to be beautiful and meaningful and insightful and not only is that enough, it is exceptional.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Tracey for your kind words and wonderful support for the anthology project! I am enjoying it. I feel like I’ve grown in the last month with managing my emotions – it’s a good feeling.
LikeLike
Carol, I’m so sorry you were made to feel less than, but you handled it well. Thank you for the gorgeous pictures and the reminder that we have much to be grateful for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rose! I am learning to control my reactions to things – it’s an important thing to be able to do.
LikeLike
Carol, thank you for call for submissions. It’s perfectly acceptable to offer publication and free copy as the reward for submission. This is not unusual and it only makes opportunities more numerous for those trying to improve their writing and gain more experience. I feel motivated to write and submit, so thank you. The ghost fungi photo is incredible, reminding me of the mushrooms I’ve seen that look like dead fingers. I love the first line of the Guest poem: “Be grateful for the kindly friends that walk along your way.”
LikeLike
Carol, I am sorry that you were saddened by the correspondence from your State Poetry Association. Remember you are enough! I did think of Lou when you talked about a fellow PF friend. She is amazing. I tried out my image poem writing skills today. Creating the right visual does take time but it is worth it when a poem, photo, and digital tools work together. Thanks for sharing the news of your anthology. You know that I was thrilled when I saw that. Have a wonderful weekend.
LikeLike
BTW, I read Edgar Albert Guest poems since I was a very young girl. I even had a book of his poems, The Light of Faith, that sits in my study with other books dated from the turn of the century onward.
LikeLike
Gracious handling of that clumsy correspondence, Carol. I’m sure this collection will be terrific! I snapped a few phone pics of a couple of mushrooms on our property recently, but the images are not the works of art yours are.
Thanks for the wise words from generations ago… I love those old poems so.
LikeLike
Oooooh, I understand! I generally need to reign in my reactions to correspondence when it feels a bit grumpy. You are absolutely enough. There are all kinds of known and unknown things going on in the lives of others that we just cannot see or control. Your control was impeccable.
LikeLike
I’m glad you made it through your up & down week, Carol. It feels like people need to think before they send too often lately. Good for you for persisting to receive what you wanted per their own guidelines! Edgar Guest’s poems are always so supportive & thanks for this one! I love your photos. That cloud bank from the Florida, wow!
LikeLike
An attitude of gratitude can help us through the tricky situations that life hands us. And you’ve proven this!!
LikeLike
The pleasure is ALL mine, Carol! Thank you so much for allowing me to share this wonderful opportunity with my subscribers, and for creating it in the first place.
LikeLike
Oh Carol, I’m so sorry. You are definitely enough. If a poet isn’t interested, then they don’t have to submit. Your gorgeous photos in this post are amazing!
LikeLike
Carol, congratulations for keeping your cool! It’s surprising that they wouldn’t know that was common practice. I’m glad you claimed your power. The photos in your post today are really beautiful. I especially love the sunset.
LikeLike
Sending hugs, Carol. I learned the hard way that when you share your with the world, you have NO control over how others react to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anastasia, that is so very true! I do not have a very thick skin but do try to keep in mind that if I share, I am vulnerable to all kinds of responses – both good and bad. Thank you!
LikeLike
Hugs to you, Carol. You know, I don’t know what ELSE might have been said, but the excerpt you shared didn’t sound nasty to me. Challenging, yes. Shocked and sarcastic, yes. But not actually nasty. Maybe it was someone who had no idea how these things work or why. I’m glad you were able to kindly and calmly explain. So much about publishing of all kinds is a mystery to most writers, so we all end up educating each other at times. I mention this only because when I feel most attacked, it’s usually because someone has said something that hits on the exact thing I was already feeling insecure about. And then I get my back up and don’t handle it as well as you did! This is just my long way of saying, make sure to keep reminding yourself that you are indeed enough. That there are valid reasons for creating this anthology the way you are. And how lovely to get the support of the PF Community! xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Laura! I ususally don’t handle things like this very well at all. I was proud that I took the time to gather my thoughts and keep my cool. The group is now more specific in what they ask for advertisements and I am okay with that.
LikeLike
How blessed are we in this PF community to be supported by one another! I’m glad you have such a great reminder word to carry you through this experience with grace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could not agree more, Patricia! Thank you!
LikeLike
Carol you are indeed enough, and your calm in the face of this challenge is a wonderful example to us all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much!
LikeLike