Tag: poetry

Good News

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

My romance novel made it to the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards Contest!  In the first round they read my pitch and liked it so now I’m advancing with 399 others to the second round.

The second round reviewers will read my excerpt (and the other 399 excerpts) and the top 100 will be moved to the next round.  I’ll know more on March 12.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed.  I think my romance novel is really good. 

The GRAND prize is $50,000 plus a publishing contract.  Some other finalists may receive publishing contracts too.  First Prize winners get a publishing contract and $15,000.  There are a whole bunch of other prizes too.  I’d love to get either the grand prize or a first prize.  The money would be awesome to say the least but the exposure would also be incredible. 

Realistically, I’m not holding my breath but I am hopeful.

I finish writing my grant proposal and submitted that.  Now it is a wait and see as I don’t believe they notify until the end of the year. 

The new editor from a publication contacted me and asked for articles.  It is nice to have this happen as it shows an appreciation for my writing even though they don’t pay.  I sent her a few articles. 

In the mail yesterday I got my copy of the calendar from lulu.com (Scars Publishing) that has one of my poems in it.  Every time I see my poetry published somewhere it surprises me – in a great way.

Now I just wait for the rejection letters… “If you aren’t being rejected regularly, maybe you’re not trying hard enough.” Kathy Ireland.

The Muse

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

One of my poems has been published in The Muse.  It is a university press literary magazine.  http://orgs.uww.edu/themuse/  I was thrilled to learn that it would be published as the poem published was one of my favorites. 

When they sent me a notice they were doing an event where all the artists were going to read their work (if they wanted to), I felt ambivalent about getting up in front of a room full of people I didn’t know and reading my work.  It took me a while to answer and I’m sure they were wondering if I would respond.  I did finally decide to attend and read my poem. 

Thursday I wasn’t stressed about the reading at all.  I was so busy during the day I just didn’t have a lot of time to think about it.  I think I was more stressed about getting home to pick up Ken and get back in time then I was about reading my poem. 

We sat through the readings of all the other poems and prose.  There was artwork each artist spoke about.  Some of the work I really enjoyed and others not so much.  My poem was one of the last ones.  When I realized mine would be next, I had a momentary panic attack but I squashed it. 

Standing before the crowd, I can’t remember anything more than a sea of faces.  I know I looked around at the group.  I know I looked up in spots as I read my poem.  There were places where I was choppy and stopped when I didn’t want to but mostly I think I did a good job reading my poem.  I came down to the last stanza and slowed down to really stress the words.  When I was done, I was just relieved to have the whole thing over. 

But as I finished my poem, I realized that it wasn’t just me in that room.  There was a room full of people riding the emotions of the poem along with me.  When I read the last line there was a gasp – drawn out aaahh of satisfaction.  Then a lot of applause.  More than I expected. 

There was more artwork after me, a great shot of a cornfield in fall with a blue sky overhead that was impressive and a stairway in a yard that was gorgeous.  The Muse picks out editor’s choices for one piece in each of the three categories.  The three pieces that won were highlighted with being read or discussed. 

The Muse was raising funds by having a silent auction of each of the pieces.  The authors and artists were supposed to sign the piece.  I signed mine.  My sister, Alicia, bid on mine.  We waited after as they announced who won the auctions.  I thoroughly expected Alicia’s name to be called when it came to my piece.  It wasn’t.  I was surprised. 

Immediately after the winning poem was read, some woman behind me leaned forward, tapped me on the shoulder and said my poem should have won.  I was surprised.  I submitted my poem for publishing, winning would have been icing on my cake.  I didn’t like the poem that won but I could see why the editors would have as it was very relatable for women their ages. 

I won when my poem was accepted for publication.  I won when people I loved came out and supported me.  I won when a stranger though my poem was worth bidding on.   I won last night when the audience loved my poem.

Busy… very busy

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
It was definitely a busy weekend.  I got almost everything crossed off my list.  I did get all the homework done I wanted to as well getting most of my forms set up for the new business.
Stone Editing is officially started.  I have no idea whether I will get any customers or work but all I can do is put it out there and do my best.  Now we will see. 
I have one or two smaller things to set up and get done but mostly I’m happy with where I’m at for the business and for homework.  I even got two dvds watched.  The one series can now go back to the library.
Vicki got me two poetry books by Mary Oliver.  I’m going to hopefully have time tomorrow to read them during my lunch hour. 
You’d think with all that I got done I’d be done with lists but I’m not because now I’m turning to the other list which is getting ready for the trip to Georgia!!!!  I cannot wait to see Gin and Stephanie.  I cannot wait to see their new apartment.  I’m hoping it will be a really good time and we get some quality family time in. 
It’s been a good weekend all in all.  It could be that I had a balanced weekend for a change.  Now if only I could discover the secret to complete balance on a daily basis… stop laughing – it could happen…

More Rejections

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
I’ve had a bit of success with getting a few things published.  However, it seems like every time I open my email I’m looking at more rejections.  I know they are a part of writing.  I know it usually isn’t the style and quality of writing but some days it is hard to take.
I’ve let the pile of rejections (if emails can be a pile) accumulate in my email account.  This weekend I spent a bit of time noting it in all the places I track the rejections.  I checked off the poems and short stories that were rejected.  It was almost cleansing to finally get rid of all the crap in my emails.  I spent almost two hours cleaning up emails and dealing with the rejections.
The rejection is hard but I’m trying to look at it as an opportunity.  I have several dozen prospective publications where I can submit my work sitting on my desk.  I just need to get through the stack.  These rejections allow me to send those items back out into the world and see if someone else is interested in them.  This is really not a rejection per se but an opportunity to place them somewhere else.

More Published Items

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Well it has been a good week for me.  Here is the link for the second place I’ve been published. 

cc&d magazine

http://scars.tv/ccd

Click on the link.  Then click on writers which should have another screen popping open.  On that screen scroll to nearly the bottom to find my name and click on it.  You will see the two poems that have been accepted. 

Last night I worked on a fictional short story till about one in the morning.  I had intended to get up and go to the pool today but didn’t because I was still sleeping when mom called.  I finished the short story and went to bed.  While lying in bed trying to go to sleep I realized I wanted to say more in my ending.  The great thing about this is that I could say to myself I’ll do it in the morning and I am able to do it this morning. 

My plan for the day – well fix the ending of the short story.  Then I have to clear my desk a bit so I have room to work.  I have three or four short essays to finish and a couple of other shorter projects in the works that I want to get through the next step.  If I haven’t totally used up my day I’ll work on submissions.  Tonight after Ken goes to bed I’m going to work on one of my longer projects that has been nudging me.  I swear these projects are like the anxious child in the back of the classroom with their hand raise and wiggling in their seat saying pick me pick me.  Today I hope to get a lot of those anxious children completed and on its way to editors. 

Writing organization

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Writing is wonderful for me.  It takes me away from everything that annoys me.  It relaxes me in a way almost nothing else does.  Yet I find myself being annoyed because I’ll come across a good lead for submitting my work but then I can’t find what I want.  Obviously the creative side is struggling with the logical side of me. 

Yesterday I spent a good portion of the morning wading through piles of paperwork.  How is it that so much paper can be accumulated in so short of a time?  I worked my way through bills, filing, taxes, receipts, and a whole lot of junk.  I handled calls, organizing and sorting.  When it came to the ginormous pile of writing stuff I needed to get organized I felt incapable of tackling it. 

Fortunately my stubborn side (not that I’m admitting to being stubborn) took over.  I looked through my office supplies and found things that would help.  I snitched (with his permission) an organizer from Ken’s side of the desk.  I set up the card table and started the sorting process.  I had no idea it would take so much.

My piles were poetry, projects, research, submission guidelines, rejection notices, and other.  On my daughter’s advice I let go the rejection notices.  They all went into the recycling bin.  Then I started working on sorting the other piles into smaller categories.  I got through the research pile and made a start on the submission guidelines pile.  I also made a list of a few places I had guidelines for but that they were outdated so I needed to go look up the new guidelines. 

That took me till 1 am last night.  This morning I’m up (barely), thinking, and almost ready to tackle these piles again.  I’m hoping to finish them off so I can actually work on writing. 

Lately, I feel like I’ve been lax at submitting things for publication.  I’ve been so focused on books (of which I’m neck deep in three or four of them) that I’ve not been submitting my poetry or articles anywhere.  I need a day where I can focus on that. 

Aside from my writing I still have two other bins on my desk to address – school issues and genealogy.  I’m not touching the genealogy until much later in the weekend but I do need to get the school stuff done.

As always I guess I have lots to do and need to just wade right in…

Night Words

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Last night I made a point of going to bed early (for me) because I have a cold and feel pretty lousy.  I lay in bed trying to sleep.  Words tumbled through my head with a repetitiveness that I knew would mean I would not get to sleep early.  I lay there listening to my thoughts hoping that the words would leave and I could sleep.

You would think after all these years of writing I would know when to just give in and get up.  The repetitiveness of them should have been a clue because I couldn’t stop repeating certain phrases.  I know other writers tell me they keep a pad of paper by the bed but that doesn’t work for me.  For one thing, it would disturb my husband if I were to sit up and turn on a light to write this down.

I tossed and turned for quite some time before I finally got out of bed annoyed with myself for not being able to turn my brain off.  It is funny how I can lay in the dark with my eyes closed, trying to relax and empty my mind enough to sleep but I won’t sleep.

The interesting thing is I got up and wrote a long poem about a true moment and didn’t think it particularly good.  I zipped it off to one of the people who reads for me, as she usually gives me objective feedback.   So did I then go to bed?  No, because for some odd reason the words excite me and rev me up.  I have to go through my shut down routine all over again.  This involves checking email and a whole odd nightly routine that I must do.  By the time I was done, it was nearly 11:30.  Not early anymore and I’m not getting extra rest like I need. 

The good thing though, now the words were out and written.  I fell into bed and almost immediately fell asleep.  Somehow getting those words on paper allowed me to settle the chaos in my head enough so I could sleep.

 This morning I get up to read an email from my friend.  I am slightly concerned it will be a commentary on how completely awful my poem was.  Yes even I have doubts about my work sometimes.  There is an email and she loved it.  It is a relief that the forceful words weren’t just a jumble of twaddle and make sense to someone other than my warped mind.

Creative vs Business

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

And now for a slight break from the drama and stress of politics…

Writing is a dual process.  You have to be creative to create the product but you also have to be business minded to market your work.  The creative side sort of takes care of itself in my mind.  There are times I sit down and say – let’s try something new.  I’ll pull out my poetry book and try a new type of poem.  Or I’ll go to a publication I don’t normally write for and try their style.  Flash writing for me is quite the challenge.  I LOVE words so I’m not likely to tell you there is a blue sky.  I’m going to tell you about the clear cerulean endless expanse dotted with puffy billowy white clouds.  Flash writing is typically a very small number of words – 500 or less is very common.
Marketing and the business side of writing is a bit more difficult.  You have to find the places that publish the work you produce.  Then you have to follow their guidelines (don’t bother sending if you aren’t following them).  After an interminable amount of time you find out whether they accept your work or not. 
You also have to put your creative self away when you get the notice because most of the time it is NO.  They don’t tell you why – they just say no.  You have to have a thick skin here because I’ve had rejections from sweet and kind to completely bitchy.  One of the things you have to realize is that in a magazine there is a limited number of spaces they fill.  If it is a big publication maybe ten, for these ten slots, they get hundreds (perhaps even thousands) of submissions.  You are one very small submission.  Your article, story, poem – whatever – may have been perfectly lovely but there were a lot of other ones that were just as lovely.  The lesson here is “do not take it personally”.  It is just a business decision.  Move to the next publication that fits the item.  Keep trying – even if it seems hopeless. 
The problem here is there are only a finite number of hours in the day.  If you are like me – you have a day job, family and other obligations.  Sleep is important… I guess.  You have to find a balance between your writing tasks.  For me this is one of the hardest things to do.  Sometimes I’m just in the mood to write and to hell with everything else.  I just want to work on what I want to work on.  I don’t want to deal with the editing, marketing, etc. 
This means time management is a key skill to employ.  It is one I’m still working on.  One thing I do is when I have very limited time, rather than start writing when I’m not going to want to stop, I’ll work on those marketing tasks, editing tasks and so on.  If I’ve only got an hour, I’ll look at my submission guidelines and try to find a piece that will fit without me having to write.  If there is one then I work to make it fit the guidelines.  If there isn’t one – I put it in my to do pile (which is WAY too big). 
I have a day job so my breaks / lunch time activities sometimes include editing and other writing activities.  Because it is a shared break room I often end up doing more of the business side of the writing during this time.  I try to make the most of my time but really there are just times I want to be a veggie and hit my recliner…