Getting Published with Outside the Box Poetry

It all stated on a WordPress blog where I found a chunky list of places to submit my poetry. I made it about halfway down the list when I got to their listing, and it sounded right up my alley. And - I checked out the publication, and it sure is my cup of tea. So, maybe I should spill it?

Who has 2 thumbs and feels dumb? THIS GIRL!

I didn't have the correct submission information from the blog. I should have done more digging and found a verifiable date/time during which to submit. And because this Lit Mag is smaller and not connected to Submittable (which is where I typically submit to bigger presses) or use Google Docs (like other journals and mags), I emailed them directly. This is not unheard of, it's just harder to track for writers like me but it's not my decision so I just do what they (publishers) ask for. Right? Okay, so I jump on the project. 2 hours later I have a submission together and ready. Eight poems, a brief bio at the front, attached and sent off. I log it into my submissions tracker that I made in Excel and go to bed.

The next morning, I see an email from the Editor clearly stating that I did not submit during open session. It starts on 10/1. I sent my sub in on 9/18. Terrified, I see a second email that says, "Since you already paid, I will hold onto your poems until 1 October and read them then so you don't have to resubmit, but please read more carefully next time."

Okay, now I'm terrified and fully embarrassed. I feel this FULLY needs like 16 letter L's, but I digress.

Fast forward to today, exactly 1 week later, the Editor has emailed me again and I'm kind of smirking ironically to myself because I am uncomfortable. And I hate conflict. Gingerly, I down a handful of my morning meds, sit down at my laptop, and I open the email

All right, I am not feeling so nearly terrified and embarrassed because the editor opened submissions to read early, and I surmise that I must not have been the only offender. (Sheepish grin) In fact, she says: "I was blown away by "Better Off" and would love to publish it." OH. MY. GOODNESS. GRACIOUS. Someone quick, grab D.J. Tanner and tell her to get Mylanta out because this girl (holding up two thumbs) just landed her second Lit Mag print of the year.

Sometimes mistakes aren't a terrible thing. We can really learn from them. In this mistake, I learned that people are more forgiving than we think they are behind the words they type. They're just doing their job and often short, to the point sentences aren't meant to reprimand necessarily, but to educate you on an important facet of their work. I should know, I've dealt in customer service and as an executive assistant. I'm also a teacher. I hear "DUH, DONIELL" in my head a thousand times now. It's exactly how I handle my piano students.

So, this short (not so tragic) story has a sweet ending to it. And I really can't believe my hard work paid off here when I was thoughtless. So, many thanks to the team at Outside the Box Poetry! You rock. Can't wait to see what's in store for the full issue you'll be putting out!

​~ Doniell