I'm a poor personal archivist, other than college lit mags and poems that appeared in 80s zines in NYC, I know I had poems and memoir pieces in lit mags out of Manhattan and Detroit. 1993ish. Didn't save copies and forgot to credit one of them when I reprinted a poem.
I got back into sharing poetry at 50. I did other creative things - making records and painting - but had to get over worries about literary pretention and just submit. I got lucky and the 1st publisher I sent my manuscript to grabbed it. It turned out they knew me from the underground music world. That encouraged me to keep at it. Again, at the age of 50, over six years ago.
I have done guest appearances on other people's records. Sometimes they still do a vinyl release. My old records still sell, which is wild. Since I'm not going to tour to support a record, it makes little sense to release physical media for my own stuff. As for painting, I have made tiny paintings for my own amusement, but do sell them now and again when I'm low on supplies.
High school and college literary publications. But my first publication outside of college was from Avocet: A Journal of Nature Poems. Second was from Barrelhouse, issue #2!
Mine was a short story, “woman menstruating on the Moon" published in Event 1992. I wonder if it still holds up? I love your poem. I can see you then through it.
I'm a poor personal archivist, other than college lit mags and poems that appeared in 80s zines in NYC, I know I had poems and memoir pieces in lit mags out of Manhattan and Detroit. 1993ish. Didn't save copies and forgot to credit one of them when I reprinted a poem.
Oh no that's too bad! Would be so cool to see now.
I don't even have all the vinyl I've been on. Punks are especially bad at remembering to mail contributor copies. Or royalties.
My first publication was a flash fiction piece I wrote at the age of fifty and it was published a year and a half ago in Wrong Turn Lit, which is here on Substack. https://wrongturnlit.substack.com/p/death-by-jimmy-buffett
That's wonderful! Congratulations. Thanks for sharing.
I got back into sharing poetry at 50. I did other creative things - making records and painting - but had to get over worries about literary pretention and just submit. I got lucky and the 1st publisher I sent my manuscript to grabbed it. It turned out they knew me from the underground music world. That encouraged me to keep at it. Again, at the age of 50, over six years ago.
That’s fantastic! Do you still make records and paint?
I have done guest appearances on other people's records. Sometimes they still do a vinyl release. My old records still sell, which is wild. Since I'm not going to tour to support a record, it makes little sense to release physical media for my own stuff. As for painting, I have made tiny paintings for my own amusement, but do sell them now and again when I'm low on supplies.
High school and college literary publications. But my first publication outside of college was from Avocet: A Journal of Nature Poems. Second was from Barrelhouse, issue #2!
Wow that's very cool, Nancy!
My first publication was a story in The New Quarterly in 2007!! I will never forget the joy of receiving that news. It meant everything.
That’s amazing! The New Quarterly is a great magazine too!
Mine was a short story, “woman menstruating on the Moon" published in Event 1992. I wonder if it still holds up? I love your poem. I can see you then through it.
Thanks Lilian. I love the title of your first publication. Do you still have it? It would be fun to read!
I have a copy of the issue! I was thinking maybe of posting it to my substack.
You should do it!
"Misplaced Nashville Skyline" (poem), Zaum Magazine, Spring 2009. Zaum out of Sonoma State is still going strong.
Very cool!!!