I just submitted to two different poetry publications (nine poems in total divided between the two). I doubt I'll be accepted as the competition for these particular publications is pretty high (online systems, they pay if they publish your work), but I thought as long as I was submitting, I might as well submit to them first and then work my way to other ones. I've only tried this once before, the Summer of 2009, before a bunch of hard stuff brought me to therapy, when I was much less fragile about rejection (and it was very hard then when I eventually got the letter).

My previous high school teacher (and always mentor) encouraged me last week to not be afraid to try to publish, as he thinks my writing has what it takes. I don't know how objective he is, though. He sent my stuff off to published poets (without my permission) when I was in high school and college and I did get some nice/encouraging replies from them, but it's not like they were going to say, "You suck, give it up!"

He has published lots of books himself on teaching/writing, but he didn't really give me a clue on where to start. So, I just looked up ones with easy submission processes, so I wouldn't chicken out. I know them not wanting my poems doesn't mean I'm a stupid, horrible, uncreative person and no one in the world could ever like what I write. But, that's how I'll feel in about two months when I get the replies. T is always encouraging me about my writing as well, though he's not a poetry guy, it is more stuff from my journal entries. So, I think he'll be proud of me for trying too.

Anyway, I'm proud of myself for risking it, despite the fear of being seen/heard. Some of the stuff I submitted has been written in the last year, some a bit older. I'm hoping if I eventually find some reputable place to publish it, I will build more confidence for some of my other creative endeavors (prose, short stories, novels, music, etc.). If not, at least I won't regret not trying, right?