I checked my Submittable account and I currently have 50 different submissions out for publication consideration. Some of these–a lot of them, actually–are manuscript submissions for Sonnets for Post-Divorce Photosynthesis, but several are also submissions of individual poems; anywhere from 3 to 10 are sent in at a time.

I haven’t been this actively submitting my work since I was in undergrad. Like, 2015-2018. I used to have this process where I would send out submissions (at the time it was short stories and short nonfiction work, not poetry) and anytime I got a rejection, I’d send out three more. For probably two years, I never went below 25 submissions on my account at a time and it lead to a lot of acceptances and publications.

But life happens. I separated and then divorced my husband. I went from financial stability to poverty and instability. I started an M.F.A. program and it was so intensive, I really didn’t have the time or energy to send out my work. Because even though the submission process itself is simple, actually sitting down to do it can be exhausting. At one point, I only had a few submissions out because my priorities simply weren’t on getting my work into the hands of literary journals.

Now, I’m back in full force. 2026 is the year that I get shit done. I have sent out Sonnets for Post-Divorce Photosynthesis more in the first 5 months of 2026 than I did in 2024 and 2025 combined. That book is going to find its home this year, ya’ll.

However, I need to slow down the submission process. It’s good that my work is getting in front of so many people, but at the same time, if a piece (or a manuscript) gets accepted somewhere, I have to withdraw it from everywhere else I sent it, and with 50 active submissions, that can take a lot of work. So, I am not submitting anything else until I go from 50 submissions down to 40. It’s going to be hard to do this because I love sending out my work, but I need to give myself some breathing room.

And instead of using that time and energy to send out my work, I can use it to perfect my current manuscripts and individual pieces. I am determined to get Sonnets for Post-Divorce Photosynthesis accepted for publication this year, and to start sending out A Body Ripe for Talons for publication consideration. As soon as at least 3-5 poems from A Body Ripe for Talons have been accepted for publication, I can start sending the manuscript itself out for publication consideration. (This isn’t like, a rule, fyi. Just my own guide.) With any luck, I’ll have two collections of poetry accepted for publication this year.

I am motivated, but I also need to slow down. Give myself some space to breathe. It’s an exciting time. I’m loving this space I’m in.

Love and light.