calls for submissions // what to read

Jul 30, 2021

Hi, all. Lots to share today. First and foremost:

My lil literary journal, The West Review, is open for submissions for our September issue.
If you live in the US, you can buy five books for $30 (free shipping!), and all of that money will go to paying next issue’s The West Review contributors. (FYI, these books are from my personal library, so obviously they’re all amazing.)

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS:

And, with these in mind, 13 Questions to Ask Before Submitting to a Literary Journal.

And also: on the art of the cover letter and bio.

WHAT TO READ:

And, finally, a reminder of other resources you can access in the archive of this blog. Everything is free, of course, but—in case anyone’s an heiress—feel free to buy me a coffee here.

ON CRAFT:

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

the art of the simile

sim·i·le /ˈsiməlē/ (noun): a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox). Similes are powerful and poetic, and I am terrible at them. And—though perhaps I am alone in that—in case I’m not, here are some similes…

4 years ago · 1 like · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

the art of the metaphor

met·a·phor /ˈmedəˌfôr,ˈmedəˌfər/ (noun): a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Whether or not it’s true, I always think of metaphors as caffeinated similes: braver, bolder, rougher. [thing] is not *like* [other thing]. [thing] *is* [other thing]. And, because it’s not reall…

4 years ago · 1 like · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

the art of personification

per·son·i·fi·ca·tion /pərˌsänəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/ (noun): the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form. Anyway, no long post today. Here are some examples of personification or near-personification that I love. I hope that they inspire you, too…

4 years ago · 2 likes · 2 comments · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

the art of titles (or, title discourse ft. seething jealousy)

Titles are tricky things—and, for whatever reason, titling your own work, specifically, is the trickiest. That’s how I feel, anyway. I can help my friends and students and classmates come up with titles but, when it comes to my own poems, titling often is an impossible task…

4 years ago · 2 likes · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

I have this strange obsession with collecting every quotation by writers I admire regarding “the art of writing,” advice, hot takes, etc. etc. etc. It’s difficult—for me, at least—to define what a “good” poem is. What are the necessary qualities of a “good” poem? How much of “good” poetry is defined by music? By imagery? By subject matter…

4 years ago · 2 likes · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

wisdom from maxine kumin

Happy Thursday, all. I’ve finally gotten the chance to sit down with a book—for the first time in forever—and I’m enjoying myself immensely. I just started To Make a Prairie by Maxine Kumin, a book that came out in 1979 and is rife with wisdom for emerging and established poets alike…

3 years ago · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

a prompt // back in california

Hi. I have (almost!) survived my cross-country move. I’m in Los Angeles visiting friends for a few days, and then finally driving the rest of the way home…

3 years ago · 2 likes · Despy Boutris

ON PUBLISHING AND MFAS:

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

getting paid for our writing

Writing—and writing well—is a skill. Skills are distinct from talents: they require an investment in time, effort, and sometimes money to hone, and writing—like other skills—should be valued. Which is a verbose way of saying: If you’ve honed your writing skills, you should be paid for said writing…

4 years ago · 1 like · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

on being self-taught // on first getting published

From the Q&A Forum: Do you have any thoughts or advice for those who would like to try to have their work published, but lack formal education in creative writing? Also, after reading your post about cover letters, I’m wondering how looked down upon it is to submit without having this / prior publications…

4 years ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

on applying to MFA programs

From the Q&A Forum: I'm applying to MFAs this fall and I'm curious if you could share your experience applying/researching MFAs and any tips or advice you might have. Good for you! How exciting! Before you apply, you’ll need to think about what you’re looking for…

4 years ago · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

on submission fees

Whether you have been submitting your work out for years, months, or even days, you likely are aware that many journals—though certainly not all—charge submission fees. You may have asked yourself: What’s up with that? There are certainly valid reasons for charging submission fees…

4 years ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

journals with fast-response times

This post is straight-forward. Here are some journals that, if you submit, will get back to you fairly quickly…

4 years ago · 1 like · 2 comments · Despy Boutris

ON READING RECOMMENDATIONS AND MY NICHE INTERESTS:

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

zines (ft. my quest for healthy coping mechanisms)

For most of us, this has been a difficult year. Or maybe a difficult start-to-the-decade, since we’re well into 2021 by now. Personally, I’m feeling increasing mental malaise, due mostly to the fact that—for the first time in my entire life—I’m not registered for classes. Yep. I have been in school since age two, and now, as of a few weeks ago, I have a …

4 years ago · 1 like · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

just some useful links (and more crafting!)

Dear, all: Happy June! Hope you’re all doing well. On my end, it’s hurricane season and rain is in the forecast for the next ten days—so, if anyone has been enjoying nice weather lately: I’m jealous! Now, here are the useful links of which I speak…

4 years ago · 1 like · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

thinking about poetry // & what to read this june

Happy June, folks! I hope that your month is off to a good start and that you’re making the best of Gemini season. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Marissa Ahmadkhani, iconic poet and one of my closest friends, for The West Review; and, ever since, I have been thinking about her answer to the question “What is the role of poetry?”—one…

4 years ago · 1 like · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

re: accessibility, summer reading, and journals open for submissions

Hello & happy one-month-til-Leo-season to all who celebrate! Today’s post contains a smattering of different topics regarding recent reflections re: gatekeeping/accessibility, what I’ve been reading, and journals I recommend submitting to…

4 years ago · 2 likes · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

back on my zine bullshit // reading recs

Hello & happy Tuesday, folks! In case anyone needs a refresher, since finishing my master’s last month, I’ve been getting into zines. Call it a gift or hamartia, but I’m utterly unable to just ~be~, always needing to “produce” something, even (or especially) when taking a break would be a better idea. Part of that is probably internalized capitalistic th…

4 years ago · Despy Boutris

beauty and terror (on poetry & being human)

calls for submissions, reading recs, and a selfié

Happy July, folks. I’m moving cross-country a week from now and frantically packing in the meantime, but here are at least a few resources I’ve rounded up for you…

3 years ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · Despy Boutris

Thanks for sticking around. Hope you’re having a great week.

-DB
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