is it arrogant, elitist or a form of censorship for an editor of a publication to pass judgment on any type of submission including poetry? NO. it’s their job. There are many different things an editor can look at in making that judgment.. much of it is subjective. Some care more about subject matter and message vs clarity, word choice, grammar, line breaks, etc- while some are very strict about what they’re looking for in that regard. My own definition of shitty poetry is lazy poetry. It used to annoy me to no end when other poets would tell me you need to read, read, read and find your voice if you want to write good poetry. Basically, because I’m lazy. And here i’ll throw myself under a bus and give you an example of shitty poetry…

http://homepages.which.net/~panic.brixtonpoetry/mcdann.htm

years ago when I decided to get serious about writing poetry, I wrote to these people and begged them to take that shit down. I received no response and now i’m glad. It serves as a reminder of what can happen when you think you know it all without bothering to educate yourself in the least bit. If you don’t know what you like, what you’re going for… how do you figure out how to get there?

The extent of my exposure to poetry at that point had been in the form of song lyrics (mostly Metallica and Guns n Roses), Edgar Allen Poe (I slept through the Shakespeare unit in High School) and the one poetry book I found at the local library- Joyce Carol Oates. I know i’ve said before that they had a copy of a bukowski book but now that I think on that more, someone gave me that book. One of my weirdo friends who wrote death, die skull teen angsty poetry who truthfully was probably just trying to get laid. (no comment)

I don’t know if those people at panic poetry really liked those poems or if they were just publishing anything and everything that came in. Point is.. that first publication wet my appetite. I ordered a copy of Poet’s Market, looked up everything I could online and ordered a bunch of crap journals. The only one I remember liking even slightly was Spinning Jenny and it still wasn’t what I was looking for. I joined a critique group online (gimme a break, I live in Jacksonville). THAT is when the real work began. It took me a while to find a small group of people on that site who were doing stuff that was interesting to me and that would respectfully challenge my writing beyond the “this is some weird stuff” comment. That went on for about a year and in that time my writing changed drastically. Then one of those people suggested I check out Zygote, Indite Circle, Remark Poetry and My Favorite Bullet. Jeezus, I felt like I hit the mother load. I became a greedy, greedy reader. Following links from one publication to the next and searching out publications listed in author’s bios. My idea of what I want and like to read in a poem continues to change to some degree but there is a baseline i’m working from. My own writing, I hope, will continue to grow and change. And at least I realize not everything I write should be sent out for publication (you’re welcome.). I’m sure you’ve heard before that in the end, we’re writing for ourselves. Have to be happy with our own work. It’s true. But if you don’t have any basis for making that judgment.. you’re more than likely to just be sending out shitty poetry.

The other point I wanted to make about shitty (lazy) poetry submissions… is inappropriateness. When you don’t bother to read a current issue, back issues, mission statements, about page, submission guidelines… nothin. I understand the want to challenge the editors within their guidelines but why ignore them? You must have more time than I do. After all that reading and submitting, I realized a couple things. 1. you can get anything published somewhere. This is not always a good thing but you can if that’s what you’re into. There’s room for everything. Opinions are like assholes. 2. you can ignore the guidelines and the bent of any particular publisher, just don’t get all pissy when they reject your work and go on to use big words like “censorship”. It just proves how lazy you are. I’ve learned plenty of other things but it’s off point and involves me calling people bad names.

I think in general the definition of censorship is an individual or group actively trying to push their idea of appropriate, moral, good etc on anyone else. Regardless of their intent. It’s a little bit different but worth discussing the idea of self-censorship. So an editor or a publication will not publish work because they view it as racist, sexist, homophobic, whatever. Is that a form of self-censorship? Sure. Do I defend their right to do it, absolutely. Just don’t tell me or my publication what we have the right to publish. But let’s be honest and I think this is especially important in the independent small press.. what one person would deem racist, sexist or homophobic- another would not. That is a judgment call. The simple fact of including the words nigger or cunt in a poem is enough for some people to call it racist or sexist. For others it goes more to intent and the promotion of hate or domination of any one group. And there’s a time and place for everything. If i’m looking at something for red fez, I wouldn’t say I would err on the side of ‘safe’ but I would be more likely to reject a submission if it’s clear to me that the author is a douche racist. If I was in charge of Citizens Online (which i’m not), I would have to spend a little more time looking at it. Is it good writing? What’s the intent, etc. and yet still, that kind of talk bothers me sooo much that I would probably impose self-censorship unless the poem is so extreme that it would be obvious to the average person that it is complete ridiculous bullshit. That being said, rules are made to be broken. I have a poem that will be published soon that uses some of those ‘bad’ words. I tried to make it obvious that people who hold those words up and use them in a certain way are retarded (oops, another non-PC word) but i’m sure it will still piss some people off. It’s all good. Just don’t threaten the publisher with a lawsuit or death threats if they don’t take it down… that’s Censorship.

who says you can’t pose a revolution sitting at your computer? most reasonable people do apparently.

But you do what you can- and that’s where i’m at. Truth is, i’m one of those people that’s scared to lose their job. Even worse and more frightening to me and more disturbing that it is this way… i’m afraid to be found out as a poet, editor and publisher of underground lit. it might not be pretty, but that’s how it is. A couple years back, my son mentioned to one of his friends that I work on a site that publishes ‘adult poetry’. Two days later, rumors about internet porn sites being run out of my house were circulating around my husband’s work. Our landlord called– it was all quite fucked. I explained that ‘adult’ doesn’t equal XXX. We eventually avoided eviction but there was definitely a cloud hanging over our house. I live in a smallish town in Illinois- it is what it is. It’s bad enough that I don’t know or blow the right people around here for the kids to get picked for the basketball team or poms or anything else that involves tryouts. Ever been interviewed by DCFS? It’s not fun. All it takes is a call from a ‘concerned neighbor’. And, no. they don’t have to tell you who called in a complaint. But you do get to answer all kinds of fun questions like ‘have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness, do you take any medication, have you ever been arrested, do you drink alcohol… ‘

my job? Well, fuck. I work in social service. It’s on the chopping block every other year til some politician is up for election and decides maybe it’s worth a few votes not to abandon the poor, disabled and senior population. No politics or religion in the workplace? Forget it. People are fired around here for not going to the ‘right’ church. Think i’m exaggerating? … http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/head-36010-teacher-king.html

we met with a school official last year (at our request) because our teenage daughter liked to skip school … more evidence of my bad parenting I suppose. What did he suggest? PRAY.

I was really excited when a bookstore opened up in the newly renovated downtown area. The first bookstore in this town since I can remember. Articles have been popping up in the newspaper about local authors, book signings, etc. but still I was wary of getting involved, putting my name out there. My husband finally convinced me, talked to them and took some Red Readers up for their inspection. Before they looked them over, they were quite excited… another local author/publisher. The newspaper will probably want to take pictures, write an article… then suddenly the bookstore was ‘not the right market’ for THIS. No offense and thanks for bringing them in.

do I want things to change? Of course I do. Going to that Toledo event was the best and worst thing. It does exist, it can be that way… community support and inspiration. The contrast between that feeling and what i’m left with here, literally and physically hurts. But much like the applicants I face everyday at work that are choosing between life-saving medication and heating their homes for the winter… I often feel helpless and hopeless. I need to feed my family. The reality of the situation is I don’t have to worry about protecting my kids from violence in the streets or schools, it’s ignorance around here that kills.

It is what it is. I do what I can. So what does any of this have to do with blogtalk radio? It’s another platform for our growing community to discuss these things. Maybe I can’t occupy city hall but I respect and support those who do. Maybe you don’t think of yourself as being ‘political’ or ‘activist’. You don’t have to. This is your life, effects your life regardless of any labels you claim or ignore.

The literary underground network is not meant for any one clique or club. The only membership involved is a sign up if you want to post on the site and it’s open to anyone. The wiki is open and begging for information on anyone working in the small press. Combine your resources- get more done. That’s the idea.

I hope you’ll participate. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theliteraryunderground
The free option allows for 30 minute shows at limited times. We’ll work within those constraints unless enough people can put their money where their mouth is. I’m already footing the bill for the webhosting on theliteraryunderground.org /wiki etc at around 120 dollars a year. And i’m cool with that but my checking account is anemic, and that whole feed the kids thing. If you wanna host a show- just get in touch. It’ll work as a first come first serve for scheduling. If I don’t know you, just introduce yourself. It’s that easy.

want to donate money for a premium account (longer shows, better times)…
http://theliteraryunderground.org/blog/2011/10/29/occupy-blogtalk/

Love always,
michele

Interview by nobius black. published june 20, 2010- calliope nerve weblog.

Michele, tell us about Red Fez 2.0. How did you get involved and what is your role there?

I was first introduced to Nobius Black and his print zine, Calliope Nerve, back in the mySpace days by space poet, J. D. Nelson. It was one of those bulletins, you know, that we used to pay attention to. Something about an actual print zine that comes to your mailbox and it was free. I sent a quick email requesting a copy and a few short days later, it came. In a regular-sized envelope, one page printed on both sides.

There were many things that I loved about this zine. It was a nice change from all the internet reading to have something print to hold in my hands. It was free. But most of all, I loved the way Nobius laced together the subtitle, poems, and quotes into a cohesive theme. It started the tick tick tick in my brain that led to Rural Messengers Press and the mailers.

After corresponding for a while and trading print lovelies through the mail, Nobius asked if I might be interested in joining an APA. I’d never heard of an APA before. He hooked me up with the Central Mailer and soon enough there was a sample issue in my mailbox. It was a big, stapled mess with some odd-shaped booklets, CDs and other groovy stuff tossed in for good measure. One guys zine was a sort of travelogue about his train travels and general obsession of trains. Another was about old radio shows, obscure music and another with more poetry. I don’t recall if Non-Creative Garbage was included in this APA or just mentioned. Nobius many times mentioned that Non-Creative Garbage and it’s editor/publisher James Dilworth inspired him to start Calliope Nerve. And so it goes …

I’ve spent a lot of time and effort in the past year doing things that I hope build community in our lil lit world. Some things worked, some things didn’t. I don’t think I’m anything special, I’m just doing my part. It all exploded on a stage in Toledo, Ohio a couple weeks ago. It was amazing and impossible to walk away from without my perception of so many things both affirmed and changed. I was really sort of high for about a week, not from any substance ingested but from the whole vibe and couldn’t quite comprehend what it meant in terms of future plans and plots but I knew some things would have to change. It was in the midst of those feelings that I found out that Nobius had died. His real name was Matthew Evelsizer, not Nobius Black. I can’t help it though, he’ll always be the man in black to me. Serious, soft, funny, dark, unique and inspiring. I will miss him for a long time to come.

So, yes. This is a I loved him and I will miss him letter but this is also a call to action. As writers, editors and publishers, it’s gotta be just you in the room doing what you do. But when it comes time to release it to the world, it does matter how you do it. It does make a difference and it is a choice that you make. Whether you are conscious of it our not, if you gotta have an agent to talk/work with other editors, writers and publishers, that says something about you and your work. If you’re only open to what you already know, same same. Hello, it’s the big circle-jerk.

I’ve thought about it and now it’s time to act accordingly. I’ll be publishing a free zine called Citizens for Decent Literature in the style of Calliope Nerve. It will be distributed to contributors, the Citizens for Decent Literature APA (yes, that too) with extras stuffed in your mother’s underwear drawer, thrown out windows and left in public restrooms. I’ll put the archives online. If you wanna submit, do it here… http://theliteraryunderground.submishmash.com/submit

If you’re interested in getting in on the APA, message me and I’ll send you the info. Membership is going to be limited not to certain whos but to certain numbers until I figure out how it’s all going to work.

If anyone’s read this – read this far, you should leave a comment about someone or something that’s inspired you and how.

Spread the love, always,
Michele

Zine-Scene has this really groovy online literature calendar. It’s a great idea and I’d love to do something like it. a couple problems though. 1. I did find a plugin calendar for wordpress that handles most of the functions that would be useful but it doesn’t look quite the way I’d like. 2. Many of the online lit places I dig don’t have a publishing schedule set in stone. Free, volunteer-driven sites have to be flexible. I get that but it really helps to build readership outside of your contributors to have a schedule you can count on. For now I’m just using this for my own information… to keep track of things I want to read and share. I like that it links to a page with more information about the publication. In my spare time (haha) I’ll work on it being useful to others.

i have to admit… i sign up for newsletters i know i’m never going to open much less read. usually it has something to do with coupons.
yet, it’s still confusing to me why people would sign up for a lit newsletter and not read it. maybe it’s going in their spambox, i dunno. we’re not offering any coupons, freebies or other perks other than sharing of lit links- new releases, books, calls for submissions and events. oh well. of the twentysome non-spammy sign-ups, five opened their newsletter. no matter though, twitshares and facelikes lead to 10 times as many visits to the online newsletter and clickety-clicks on to other groovy litstuff.

plus, i’m on to google reader now. if you were wondering who’s watching- i am. every lit site should have an easy to find rss. even journals that only update their sites once a month or quarter should have a blog page with rss that announces new issues.