But there are also some who need a serious reality check, before they burst into flames the moment the arts council fund runs dry. There are only so many authors desperate enough to allow themselves to be preyed on like this, and I do not intend to join them anytime soon. 10/10

#poems #publishing

There isn't really a point to any of this, it would just be nice to work with someone who isn't a knob for a change. I must stress there are good presses out there, more than I could ever name, run by editors with amazing patience and high standards who deserve all the success they can achieve. 9/?

What annoys me most is the same tired excuse being rolled out again and again like an everything-proof shield. 'You can't criticise us, because we're independant.' Just stop. You chose this life. If you hate publishing, poetry and authors so much, there are far more profitable careers out there. 8/?

That's when editors aren't being cold, blunt, antagonistic or abrasive in response to simple queries. I know poets aren't exactly known as the masters of social interaction, let's be real, but basic tact and communication skills should be the standard rather something we have to look for. 7/?

It's as if all these tiny independant publishers try to talk and operate like they're Penguin Books, all while working with year-long response times and zero respect for the authors who keep their little rafts afloat. With a contract like that, it's truly hard to argue against self-publishing. 6/?

That last point is a major one. Those outside of the poetry scene, where 150 copies sounds like nothing, might not see it, but most indie presses struggle to justify second runs, and it has been documented by multiple people that most early-career authors sell around 50 copies if they're lucky. 5/?

-pay for your own books (discount not specified)
-sign over all authorial rights with no specified end-date
-no input whatsoever on design or presentation
-expected to handle the majority of promotion yourself
-will not arrange events; you do that yourself
-10% royalties, only after 150 sold

4/?

And as I'm sure you surmise by now, yes, I did receive an offer recently. Very recently, in fact. And this is actually the second offer I have received for this collection, and the second offer I have turned down, because the contract sent to me was, in short: absolute garbage. 3/?

For a while now, I've been trying to figure out what to do with my third manuscript. This was a very difficult, personal project for me and for a long time I was cagey about letting go of it, but now I'm at the stage where I kind-of just want to move on. Naturally, this means finding it a home. 2/?

I might add to this thread later, but never let it be said that poetry doesn't matter in the modern world. Poetry is needed more than ever, from the dodgiest ABABs to the experimental avant-garde. If you're reading this, wherever you are, take care. 7/7

#nationalpoetryday #poetry #poemsabout #life

There's also 'The Blue Envelope', the first poem I ever had published back in 2015, before I even fully committed to the idea of Writing Poems. It's a little shaky, one line in particular, but that confidence boost did wonders for me at such an early stage in my career: wp.me/p3ioYp-cw 6/? #poetry

And of course, there's 'Eleven Years of May', published in the #NationalPoetryCompetition back in dark 2017. A deeply personal recollection of my brother's death, writing this poem was like exhaling dust, the first step in letting go of age-old pain. 5/? poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/eleven...

'It's in the Air' is another poem which began life as a broader critique on apathy in UK society. Then Covid happened and this one took on a new life entirely. Sadly, the press who first published it have kinda died, so I'll link to my own upload instead: wp.me/p3ioYp-dh 4/? #poemsabout #poetry

Another piece I'd like to draw attention to is 'Open Fields', first featured in Honest Ulsterman. This poem was one of many written during a major mental health crisis in 2021 and is very important to me as a result. Some of you will understand. 3/? www.humag.co/poetry/open-...
#mentalhealth #poetry

First of all, massive thanks to Rob and the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival for featuring my poem 'Who We Speak To When Our Eyes Are Closed' at this year's event. Please come along if you can, it's all for a good cause. 2/?

#smhaf25 #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

Thank you, that's very kind of you.

PoemsAbout I know, but I hadn't heard of PromptCombo until now, so thank you for enlightening me. I've been delaying the full transition over to Bluesky, for various reasons, so it'll be good to start getting the lay of the land and making those connections sooner rather than later.