Though I'm not an influencer, I occasionally post my writing achievements on social media sites, including images of open mic sessions and the covers of anthologies in which my work is published. But I have yet to make a poem available through public forums.
Every once in a while, a follower asks to read my poetry. Why even announce my success, then, when I don't include a reading sample?
For one, I regularly submit to contests and publication venues. To be considered, the editors require that my submissions be unpublished. The appearance of my work on my website or in a social media post usually is disqualifying. If my poetry is accepted, the publisher wants to be the first to reveal it to the world. However, I am allowed to read my work at public events such as open mic sessions without penalty of disqualification.
Publishers of anthologies are not enthusiastic about posting individual contributions for public consumption preferring, instead, that the entire anthology itself be purchased.
For one who was quite shy in her youth, I'm surprised at how readily I've taken to reading my poetry before a live audience. These gatherings are comprised of an interesting community of fellow writers and poets and their supporters who want to hear what others have to say. Some poets are much more performative than I am (I'm working on this), and some bring along chapbooks or zines comprised of their poetry to sell or distribute at the reading—which leads me to an exciting venture.
I've decided to develop a poetry chapbook to solve this quandary of making my work available to my followers. Often self-published, these small collections may include previously published pieces as long as the publication in which they first appeared is credited. One main criterion (not written in stone) for chapbooks is a universal theme that ties the poems together. Since I've tended to write poems with a social consciousness theme, often based on historical events and present-day politics, I plan to pursue this thread for my chapbook. I also hope to compile my golf humor pieces into another chapbook in the not too distant future.
Inspired by my audience's desire to read what I write and my love of poetry, I look forward to tackling this new project. I've already made one chapbook (Cautionary Tales: Evocative Prose and Poetry to Contemplate for 2025), so I'm intimately familiar with the process. But I need to write more poetry. What better way to revel in the spirit of National Poetry Month!