TWIWBM / Part the First
What that means, what you can expect, and how we will work going forward...
As promised, This is the Way going forward. Every Monday, we’ll have a selection of top-quality gubbins: what I’m doing, what’s available to see and read, plus a cheeky heads up on stuff that nobody else knows is happening (yet). This is going to run in tandem with a few other places as well: YouTube, Instagram and (eventually) Spotify, but I am keen not to get ahead of myself.
Once everything’s up and running, it should all make reasonable sense.
So what is this thing, exactly?
I used to do this on the Old Blog, for a LONG time, as a way of keeping myself accountable for what was going on. Seven years down the line, it seems like a decent idea to bring it back, for no other reason than it’s become apparent over the last two years that certain people appreciate things being clear, concise and largely non-negotiable. I need to specialise more, and clean up the delivery systems.
That means, that in the weeks that follow, this is where you will find:
Details of my gigging (either online or IRL)
Advanced notice of publication (see below)
News on acceptances (and rejections) of my work
Links to my pre-production ‘Poetry Film’ diary (more on Wednesday)
Personal essays and reflections on ‘the World’ (more on Friday)
Every post that appears on Substack will be free to read, beginning RIGHT NOW.
Show Me the Poetry!
There will be people here looking for poetry, of course, and in the main that’s been something that’s been consistently popular since this began. However, starting next week, I’m fully committing myself to producing a long-form sequence of experimental videos that will accompany my upcoming pamphlet, Forest Management. As a result, I’ll be placing all focus into making this something very special indeed.
If you are interested in keeping up to date with progress, I hope to have video appearing that documents the pre-production process in late August. You can find it and be kept up to date by subscribing to my channel:
The intent is to return to posting poetry as soon as this project is concluded.
Coming Up
We have THREE PUBLICATIONS due in the next two months, and are currently expecting news on both Collection!’s submission status, plus a number of other poems in the next few weeks. You’ll get a background post a few days before a piece is due in the wild, and a process post to accompany it after the fact. That means, in August, I’ll be able to share with you a poem about learning, plus another that altered my view on submissions for good.
I’m also genuinely looking forward to seeing the poem I wrote on a John McCullough poetry course appearing in Nine Arches Press’ next Under the Radar, which is due in September. Because of the subject, we will be doing a WHOLE WEEK on this piece when the book is published. To get you in the mood, I’d suggest watching this video. Yes, this is a genre poem, but with a VERY personal twist.
Will I still be able to Support You?
Yes. Subscriptions that pay me fairly and will allow you to pick content that suits you will begin in September. You won’t find them here, but in a place that I completely control. In the meantime, if you like a post I publish and want to help out?
If you got this far? Well done.
See you on Wednesday for more details on the Poetry Film.