August 13, 2005

  • Hmm... perhaps I should have explained my last entry...

    "Strange Expectancy" was written because of LordPineapple (Terry Cuthbert) who used to
    comment on my poetry and never sugar-coated his commentary.  If he liked it, he
    said so, if he didn't, he said that, too -- and he said why.  Sometimes he would
    say things like he loved the whole poem but one word "ruined it" ...  ... and
    he was usually right.  There were times I put up something I wasn't totally
    happy with but didn't know why, and his comment would show me what it was that
    was wrong with it.  Often it was about a word or line I wasn't comfortable with
    anyway, and his comment would be the impetus to make me change the word or the
    line and it would improve the poem.  

    The
    fact that he subscribed to me at all I considered a compliment (and he was my first subscriber!)  I truly
    appreciated his candor.  I would sometimes leave my poems up without adding a
    new one, just waiting for him to drop by and read the most recent one and
    comment on it. 

    He was diagnosed with cancer in June, and he died on the
    31st of July.  Now, when I put up a poem, I still find myself still hanging out mentally waiting for his comment,
    too, and I have to remind myself it isn't coming.

    He sharpened my
    writing skills.  I will miss that.

    This does not mean I don't appreciate any other comments, compliments
    and criticisms that are left on my poems - I really do appreciate all of them!  I just ... miss his.

    ~ ~ ~

    Some of you have mentioned or asked if I've been published...

    I have been published a few times.  In 1980 a poem I wrote was
    published in Campus Life Magazine ... my first published poem. In the
    early 80s several of my poems were published in a college poetry book.
      In the early 90s several articles and a couple of my poems were
    published in a small mom-and-pop religious publication that is now
    defunct.  Other than that, I have only self-published my
    poetry.  I did print up two volumes of it, but only made a few
    copies for family.  I have written so many more poems since those
    two books I could probably fill up a few more (and thicker) volumes...
    but I haven't done so.  I'm glad people seem to like to read it,
    but when I talk to publishers, I am told that there is no market for
    poetry out there...

    Maybe someone has a connection they could toss my way and I could look
    into it further... and then again, sometimes I don't think that I have
    enough "good stuff" to warrant a "real" book of it (but wouldn't that
    be cool?!) 

Comments (3)

  • I totally understand that Strange Expectancy...I find myself experiencing it also. HUGS. I thought about trying to publish also the normal ways and I decided instead to publish my poetry through Lulu.com Lulu.com allows you to ublish without actually investing money up front for just the basic publishing. I have dont my first two through them and as I get the editting done of further poems I intend to publish those through them also. I haven't sold very many copies of my book except to friends and family but I am very happy with the ability to do what I want with my writing and getting it available to others who might be interested.

  • hey, i was just browsing ... Terry sounded like a great guy, with a great mind. hearing you speak of him kinda makes me miss hims to even tho i never knew him.

  • Terry still lives on doesn't he?  In part, now, thanks to you.  What a nice write today.  I think his family would love to have this...

    I wouldn't stop sending my work to publishers.  Times change, like every second!! Don't  give up.  If it's important to you, then it has value. 

    Have a peaceful Sunday with your family.. 

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