I’ve been working hard on my poetry collection for the book of Matthew. This week I wrote a whole line. Here, I’ll share it with you: “It has been said.”
Impactful, I know. Now to work on the second line – I plan twelve lines in the poem and hope to finish it by April, which puts me on track for a 2023 release date for the collection!
Yesterday I had a nice phone call with a local company that will help me self-publish my poetry collection, There was a time. This is my collection of poems about having prostate cancer and supporting my mother as she died from pancreatic cancer. I could do the work directly with Amazon, but honestly, I just don’t have the time. This company will handle most of the details and do a tiny bit of marketing for a fee – a price that is reasonable. So I’ll review the contract and decide this week. I know other people who’ve used this company so I am somewhat confident that I’ll get what I pay for. More on this in a few weeks.
That’s the progress this week. Next week I hope to report that I’ve submitted an application or two for a summer poetry workshop/master class.
If you need me – I’m at my desk,
Andrew
Andrew's View of the Week 
Four words, being how they’re good words, ain’t nothing to sneeze at.
And congrats for at least looking at a contract, that’s way more than I’ve ever done. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someday I hope to have the second 4 words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s cool, Andrew. Way to keep moving forward. And that line–it moved me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – I spent hours on that line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, I believe that could be true. I know how writing goes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
and it was a productive day
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you’re looking to do a shorter, 2-line poem, you can always do:
“It has been said,
….So I don’t need to say it again”.
Helpful, huh? 🙂 Actually, it seems that many things need repeating…on a daily basis, I think.
But seriously…keep at it. I’ve just run across some of my recorded music. It’s GREAT running across captured moments of creativity! Take care!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could do two lines – if I did that I might finish before 2023 …
LikeLike
Hooray! Look at you go! 🙂 Congratulations!
Just a few words of advice: Read your contract carefully to ensure that all rights in allmedia remain with you (not just “copyright”, which is yours regardless). Some contracts include “standard” clauses that prevent you from ever republishing your work with a different company; and may even prevent you from ever republishing your own work even on your own webiste. Check the Writer Beware site for more info: https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
Also, get them to spell out exactly what they intend to do in terms of marketing for the fee that you’re paying. Many companies say something vague like “we will promote your work on a hundred (or more) of the foremost publishing websites” or words to that effect. What that really means is that they’ll send out one email blast to a whole bunch of sites, regardless of whether your work is a good fit or not. Don’t be afraid to ask for a detailed marketing plan before you sign on the bottom line.
Hope this helps!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Wow, that comment was rife with typos – obviously my brain is on temporary vacation. It should have been “all media”, not “allmedia”, and “website”, not “webiste”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have whole weeks like that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been reading the contract closely. One of the reasons I picked the company I did is that they’re more of just a service company – file prep, administration, Amazon account setup, etc. I retain all rights and marketing is mostly on me (they have a catalog and webpage the put it on, but are honest about what they’ll do for how much). Since I plan on mostly marketing ‘word of mouth’ and here on my blog, I’m not paying them for marketing. Mostly I just using them to take care of the details of getting the book read to print, and listed on Amazon and such.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Andrew. I hope it all goes well and you’re happy with the end result.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So far so good. We’ll see what happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! You kind of went from 0 to 60mph! Seems like you were sort of “stuck” for a while, but not any more. You are man with a plan! So glad to hear your poems will be published soon! Can’t wait to order my copy…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, the light changed and I’ve got a powerful engine … Should be up on Amazon in a couple of months.
LikeLike
I’m glad to learn of the progress you’ve made! I look forward to the final publication!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope to have it available in a couple of months.
LikeLike
Congratulations, Andrew.
Ω
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And of course, you will share with all of us how your experience works out with the publisher. I’m excited for you, Andrew!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will! So far this is working for me.
LikeLike
Hey, you’re making progress!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trying to keep it moving ahead!
LikeLike
All the best. Regards
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the very best…love and light may there be in your way
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person