Fall Submissions and a Pumpkin Spice Latte

Okay, I sat down today and got busy compiling some fall submissions. After reading many blogs, I felt like a submission slacker. The truth is...it is my least favorite part of writing. My favorite part is right when I finish a first draft of a poem. I don't have children, but when I am done with that first draft, it is a sort of birth.

I told myself that I would do one submission a day for the first three weeks of October. That felt reasonable. I knew I would probably do seven or so at a time and then I could take a week off. Last week I did six so today I had to do eight. It's so tedious and sometimes I just don't know what the hell I'm doing. So much of my work has some smidgen of Vincent in it. I don't want to overwhelm an editor. I have been trying to balance the subject matter.

And then...someone told me last week that I shouldn't mention my education in the cover letter. I never even thought of that. Any thoughts or advice on that?

I have been feeling a bit guilty lately because in my recent publication bios I noticed that I just said where I was from and where I have been published. I never mentioned the NEOMFA program. Is that a no-no? The professors I have worked with in this program have fostered my growth as a writer and as a human being. I wonder if I should make sure in the future that I mention the program. Any thoughts on that?

Another issue that I am interested in investigating is online vs print publishing. I am thrilled that I had work in Diagram. I love reading online journals, but when it comes to publishing, I love to have it physically in my hand. I just love books. Do you think it matters? Is one more legit? Certainly more people will read it online.

I did force myself to submit to two or three online journals. I would love for people to share favorite online journals.

In other news, I got some Starbuck's today. I can count on two hands how many times I have ever had Starbuck's. I purchased a Pumpkin Spice Latte and it was rather tasty.