Well, last week a really big thing happened.

I’ve been submitting my chapbook to publishers and literary journals to try and increase my publication portfolio. I’ve had many individual poems published, which is exciting all on its own, but the hurdle that feels like it’ll be really difficult to conquer is to get a manuscript accepted for publication. Chapbooks are usually 15-35 pages, which seems easier to tackle than to send out an entire manuscript. Therefore, I’ve been researching different places that accept chapbook submissions to see when their submission periods are.

This lead me to look at local Portland publishers. Portland may not have quite the size of a literary scene as, say, New York, but we do have a substantial literary community with several larger and renowned publishing houses/literary organizations operating in Portland. As I was looking for local places that accept chapbook submissions, I found an independent publisher that sounded really cool. As a non-profit organization, 100% of royalties go to the writers, and unlike typical publishing houses, the writer collaborates with the publishers, editors, and book designers to put together their book. It’s a form of community that isn’t super common in the publishing industry.

I decided to query my chapbook and my full length manuscripts to them, fully expecting not to be chosen. Publishing, while it is many things, is also competitive, and poetry feels even more so than other genres because so many people are poets, and yet the market for poetry is relatively small. At least, compared to fiction and nonfiction. So I managed my expectations, queried my manuscripts, sent them the writing sample, and waited.

Last week they asked to see the manuscripts for both my chapbook and my full length collection, saying they were “very excited” by my work.

I’m not counting my chickens yet, but this is an enormous step. The books this publisher has released are really beautifully designed. I love the communal aspect of the organization itself, and I love how much support goes to the writer. Regardless of what happens from this point forward, a new marker has been achieved in my writing career. Of course I really, really want for them to accept my manuscript. But even if they don’t, I’m walking away from this experience with a renewed sense of inspiration, motivation, and validation of my work.

I have several other poetry projects percolating in my body: some about my marriage, some about my education, some about various friendships that have come and gone, some about religion, some about mental illness and neurodiversity, some about nature. It’s almost endless, really. I’m excited, so very excited, to see where this next step takes me.