Reversal of Fortunes

OK. I was wrong. j.a. accepted Music for Pieces of Wood. It's been added to the ml press 2010 chapbook series. Thanks, j.a. I'm glad to have been wrong and to now be part of what is a series of cutting-edge works. Now everyone go subscribe to ml press.

One of Those Days

Holiday has been tough on ,y writing. Just taking notes and reading. No formal, prolonged session at the keyboard. Too much company around for that. Of course, in the middle of this three- or four-day layoff, I get a chapbook mss. rejected by Big Table Publishing. Adding insult to injury, I paid a $15 reading fee, too. Not money well spent. I originally sent 8 poems, for which the editor/publisher went crazy. The editor asked me to send more before making a final determination. These tipped the balance to rejection. The editor -- named Robin, so I don't know which pronoun to use, he or she -- said he/she couldn't understand them. Apparently, he/she wanted a traditional narrative resolution to the poems, character-driven scenes, etc. Or else he/she just wanted my $15. Depressing.

I sent out yesterday a series of 10 prose poems to be considered for one of the mini-chapbooks that ml press published. I'm under the general impression that j.a. (who runs the press) doesn't like my work. But I'm also under the impression that the prose poems are good. Nonetheless, I expect another hurtful rejection shortly.

Ethics and Entertainment

I received the proofs today for Ethics & Entertainment. Oh, God. The thought of proofing 300-some pages of academic writing is nearly enough to make me give up the ghost. But it must be done -- and in less than four weeks!

Ghosts of Breath

Pamphlet of poems published today by Bedouin Books --

http://www.bedouinbooks.com/pamphletpoets-2-.html

Pushcart

I have been nominated for the fourth time in four years for a Pushcart, this time for my poem, "Repairing in the World," which appeared in tinfoil dresses.

The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

Catalonian Review took a three-part prose poem, "Notes of a Doctor of Moral Diseases." It should be in the next issue. elimae is publishing my six-part poem on Delmore Schwartz in November; I'm anxious to see how readers react (or if they do). It's weird that I've published so much over the past six months -- three chapbooks and a full-length collection -- and I'm still in the same pathetic situation as ever. I keep expecting something I write to make a difference in my life and work. But nothing changes. Nothing.

My Heart Draws a Rough Map

Cut and paste -- and read. Mia Christopher's illustrations are it. Justin Runge's design, too. I'm glad my poems inspired two such talented people to such good work.

http://www.bluehourpress.com/2009/10/my-heart-draws-rough-map.html