tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post6909763578142019264..comments2023-07-20T08:35:44.681-07:00Comments on A person named Eunice: My CareerDarlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02390374931911258822noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-63416972911795608122011-04-06T23:14:11.177-07:002011-04-06T23:14:11.177-07:00Yes, submit to mainstream literary mags.Yes, submit to mainstream literary mags.Johnnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00773075683946846125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-2317806406258308302011-02-15T23:51:34.495-08:002011-02-15T23:51:34.495-08:00This was so interesting, as were the comments.
On...This was so interesting, as were the comments.<br /><br />One that interests me (and has probably been discussed heaps and heaps at some of the other sites you frequent (but that I don't, so far) is whether it's only your less-Mormon fare that would be suited for a national audience. When a Jewish or Catholic writer's religiosity shows itself in a work or a Jewish or Catholic community creates a setting for a work, when is it off-putting to an audience, and when does it conversely make that work all the more intriguing, specific, and meaty?<br /><br />I'm up a little late and a little sleepy so I'm not sure any of that sounded as clear as it is in my mind-- but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think maybe Mormon artists should be trying to reach a wider audience *as* Mormon artists rather than trying to make our works more "general." I'm trying to imagine Chaim Potok trying to eliminate Jewish culture and questions from his works, for example.<br /><br />Obviously nobody's very interested in religious propaganda, but real art in a religious setting and dealing with real questions pertaining to faith can still have universal appeal, I think.<br /><br />Anyway, you'll figure it out--and I'll continue to be interested in your choices.<br /><br />Now I'd best go see if I can ameliorate my sleep deprivation. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-36689901472345766302011-02-11T14:09:38.249-08:002011-02-11T14:09:38.249-08:00I agree with the wise comments that have already b...I agree with the wise comments that have already been posted. Also, I don't think you're selfish for not posting them on your blog. If it's something you want to publish, I definitely wouldn't. But you could send them to friends in the mail. :)Jennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18027072144184440842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-22660415351408205542011-02-11T12:33:29.962-08:002011-02-11T12:33:29.962-08:00Great comments, and from three people whose opinio...Great comments, and from three people whose opinions on the subject I highly prize (you guys care about Mormon letters as much as I do). <br /><br />Cool link, Theric.Darlene Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16879790457149136785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-89412494185820378452011-02-11T12:04:44.557-08:002011-02-11T12:04:44.557-08:00.
Seems like I agree with everyone else, but let ....<br /><br />Seems like I agree with everyone else, but let me add one more: If you're sufficiently successful nationally, you'll be doing us all a favor as your shared glory falls on the rest of Mormon letters, potentially increasing our audience. You can't tell me that if Stephenie Meyer won the Irreantum contest that people wouldn't hear about it. <a href="http://www.mormonartistsgroup.com/Mormon_Artists_Group/Harwood.html" rel="nofollow">We need more artists to go to Paris then return.</a>Th.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16460795570237872290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-68431133822023738442011-02-11T09:14:32.893-08:002011-02-11T09:14:32.893-08:00Yes, great post, Darlene. I like your comments too...Yes, great post, Darlene. I like your comments too, Wm.<br /><br />My thinking is this: I don't believe it's an either/or proposition. Poets like Lance Larsen publish in mainstream lit mags and in Irreantum, Dialogue, etc. Personally, I think you ought to branch out and submit to the mainstream lit mags, simply because broadening your audience and publishing experiences doesn't automatically diminish what you can do w/ the LDS lit community. In fact, it enhances it, imo. The truth is, publishing outside of Mormonism enhances your clout with Mormon readers, and Mormon readers might be more likely to read and think about a poem of yours that's published in Irr. or Dialogue if your bio has some mainstream publications or awards. Again, this probably has something to do with our own cultural inferiority complex -- a complex which is too bad, but still real, and affects your ability to be ready by other Mormons, or to get into MFA programs (BYU or otherwise).<br /><br />Anyway -- I say submit to mainstream publications AND submit to LDS ones, too. Just keep cranking out the poetry, kay?Anghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08026899563208525525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23774671.post-24060367580841807712011-02-11T08:22:30.189-08:002011-02-11T08:22:30.189-08:00Great post, Darlene. I like that you both think ab...Great post, Darlene. I like that you both think about and then share these kind of things.<br /><br />I will admit that I have a copy of Writer's Market 2010 sitting by my bed that has a bunch of post-it notes in it (and needs to go back to the library tomorrow). And this even though<br /><br />a) my 2011 is completely booked in terms of my writing and editing projects<br />b) I have publicly poo-poohed the drive among some Mormon writers for literary respectability <br />c) firmly believe that Mormon journals should "count" for much more than they do and that Mormon artists need to get over their inferiority complexes<br /><br />I also don't think the advice to "just write what you are aching to write" isn't entirely useful because the reality is that the promise of publication -- contests, anthologies, journals (new and established), trends, etc.-- does motivate us as writers and help us select what we focus on. As do our past experiences. <br /><br />For example, the Irreantum contest has been the main drive of my meager output of short fiction. S.P. Bailey has turned to genre fiction because he feels like he's done what he could do with Mormon literary realism and the small market for it. etc. etc.<br /><br />My suggestion is this: you really want to do an MFA at some point. What is going to give you a better chance of making that happen and even choices when it comes to do it (not even thinking about where it might be)? <br /><br />You've done a lot for the Mormon market. Try the national one. Or even budget your time: say, for example, you'll submit 5 poems to the national market for every 1 that you do for the Mormon one.<br /><br />The possibility of rejection will go up, which could be discouraging. But my contention is that once you hit a certain level rejection is less about "this isn't a good poem or story" and more about "this story or poem isn't right for this editor."Wm Morrishttp://www.motleyvision.orgnoreply@blogger.com