2018 poetry submissions stats
Dear oh dear. Well, I promise to deliver the ‘ups and downs’ of poetry submissions, and 2018 was slim pickings for sure.
Number of poems sent out to journals: 25
Number accepted: 4
Number declined: 15
Number awaiting reply: 6 (3 have been out for 300 days/43 weeks, 3 for 53 days/8 weeks)
Number poems entered in competitions: 10
Number poems placed in competitions: 0 (1 was ‘highly commended’)
I had 4 poems in anthologies and took part in one poetry installation.
I also wrote two private (yes, paid!) commissions.
In previous years I’ve been sending 40 to 50 poems out to journals, so in some ways 2018 was a slack year. It’s not that I haven’t been writing. I think maybe I’m more cautious about what I send, and I spend more time than I used to trying to decide the most appropriate place to send each poem. On the other hand anthologies, installations and commissions are very interesting and it’s exciting to be branching out a bit.
Refreshingly honest, Robin. And very reassuring. Sometimes it feels like only my mat gets the proverbial! Cx
Ha ha! Thanks Claire 🙂
Thanks for this Robin – really good to read about the realities of the ups and downs which we all face when mostly it’s only the successes that are shared. And well done for all those successes you did have. Sometimes fear of rejection translates into reluctance to submit, so it’s reassuring to see the balance of yays and nays is something I can relate to 🙂
Hi Harriet, thank you and yes I hope it redresses the balance a bit to share the ‘warts and all’ version!
I also had a lean year. Let’s hope this year is better for us both. It’s a strange life this writing one!
Hi Heather, it certainly is strange. Maybe there was was something in the air last year.. will this one be different??
I keep stats for magazines sent/accepted as well..
Thanks Rodney, yes, always good to keep on top of the admin 🙂