Some time ago I had an interesting conversation with a poetry editor regarding poems posted online. At that time, editors generally agreed that poems posted on personal blogs were “published,” but often made concessions to publish if you stripped them from the site. Now, many editors have shifted their position, saying they won’t accept previously published work, “to include work published online.” This is proper, I think, and because I still actively pursue journal publications, I’ve decided to stop publishing work here.
As an aside, an interesting problem arises from stripping a poem from a site: its internet trail remains, sometimes indefinitely. Well over a year ago, I stripped a poem, and months later it continued to show in Google searches. The link was dead, but its ghost lingered. Now, the specific site link doesn’t show, but because I offered it on my Twitter feed (along with the poem’s title), the fact that I once shared it remains, perhaps forever.
Any editor who’s interested can perform a cursory Google search and see that trace, which isn’t bad policy. After all, the number of online journals is staggering, and therefore so is competition. You can argue that editors can’t be too picky, but any quality journal deserves first publishing rights. A poem that’s been posted has, by definition, already used up that right.
Another issue, of course, is plagiarism. Let’s call it what it is: kidnapping. Not just a few poets I know have had this happen to them, word-for-word heists without request or attribution. I don’t consider my poetry to be a national treasure per se, or that T.S. Eliot ought to be awfully nervous about my arrival, but that’s a ballsy maneuver, and will probably only get worse. There is software available to “watch” other sites for your words, but I’m not interested in digging too many moats.
I know this argument arises from time to time, and that some take opposite positions on the subject. One poet I know firmly believes his site is the place for his poetry. That’s perfectly acceptable, and I applaud him for making the conscious decision to go in that direction. For now, I am focused on journal (online and print) publication, and to keep my opportunities as wide as possible, my decision is to stop publishing poetry on this site.
By the way, in the past four months I received two acceptance emails and five rejections. The odds are deliciously maddening, but that’s the way it goes. I hope the small group of people who read this blog continue to do so. I’ll continue to write about poetry (and “things”), and share other poets’ previously published work. There’s much to be said, and this is the tiny place I get to say it.
r
p.s. Read this incredible article from the anonymous editor of the just-now defunct > Kill Author online publication. Whoever this is, she/he showed tremendous amounts of grace, and remained famously anonymous to the end, as she/he departed the publishing sphere.
Hmmm … Yes interesting conundrum … perhaps not truly a conundrum but how often does one get to use conundrum three times in one sentence… Where was I ? Oh yes, the blog issue – hmm I’ve used my blog as my personal/public filing cabinet for hundreds of poems written over the past few years mostly in response to online prompts… Seems unfair to me to be prompted by an online prompt and use it only for my own purposes … I’ve decided that that which I post on my site ( I despise the ugliness ofvthevwird blog) is fair game to be submitted to journals etc. that are open to previous publications – in this way can cite my site and get published. With a grand total of less than 100 followers I truly don’t think my site would be compromising any publication of worth. Ah, now I’ve said it, there are a multitude of publications out there that seem to be little more than personal sites accepting other poets musings. I cannot get terribly excited for myself at such “acceptances” although I cheer on anyone who is truly attempting to launch a solid literary publication. So for now – it has been delightful to engage in a bit of dialogue and as far as my own submissions… having ten acceptances in a month ( 3 to what IMHO I consider reputable print journals ) I will only submit to journals or magazines that reach an audience greater than my own beloved online circle of poets. Lovely, intelligent venue here!
Interesting problem: Avoid sharing your work with a small audience in the hope of someday gaining a larger, paying audience. Sadly, a larger audience that pays for content is more elusive every day. The problem of theft is also interesting. Must we carry 50 pounds of chains and locks to protect our 14 pound bikes? Thieves rob us of the freedom to enjoy our property — intellectual or otherwise. Theft is rampant in photography, as well. Post a favorite photo online and someone somewhere will copy it and claim it as his own. Ultimately, we all have to decide if our work’s potential for profit and vulnerability to theft are high enough to outweigh the desire for immediate feedback via online postings to small but possibly growing audiences. Certainly, a blog that grows to include a large number of fans can become profitable if the blogger choses to market and accept advertisements. My blog languishes today for lack of a sense of purpose. Is there enough demand to justify my efforts to post? For this blogger, the answer is generally “no.”
I think the publishing world is being unreasonable and selfish when it excludes work because it’s appeared on a personal blog. It’s essential for a poet to establish an online identity, and publications who pay poets little if anything for their work have one hell of a nerve taking this position.
I understand and respect your judicious decision, Rick. In other words, it makes sense. I’ll still enjoy reading your previously published work here.
I get the impression the publishing world is changing almost too rapidly to keep up with it and will continue to do so. But that’s good because the changes are good (IMO), and if we writers cant keep up with them all, neither can readers most likely. What we can and do keep up with is, of course, all to the good.
Thanks for posting the link to the “Kill Author” piece. I read it and gained added perspective into today’s publishing world. Much food for thought and future discussion.