John Poch, 32 Poems Editor, Guest Blogs
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My dear partner-in-crime (surely, poetry is a crime in many towns and even states in America), Deborah, has asked me to blog a little. While I, for the most part, eschew blogs, we need to get out of our comfort zones every once in a while, so here I go. Not to mention, I now have to confess I am the owner of a Facebook page, and I went on a “friending” frenzy recently, connecting with some folks with whom I haven’t communicated in a while. I have lots of “friends.” I’m sure I will crawl back into my shell soon, so don’t worry. Nevertheless, you should “friend” me if you are a friend. Shoot, I’ve been friending foes.
Okay, a topic. Blogs should have topics, no? My second collection of poems came out recently, and I tried to notify everybody I know without being an egocentric poet pain-in-the-butt. I gave a long email list to Story Line Press of maybe 400 email addresses, maybe one twentieth of them no longer real email addresses. But these are people whom I am in contact with. Nevertheless, I immediately (within two weeks of the announcement) sold a grand total of around 10 books. And all these people that I KNOW. And I also posted the announcement on my Facebook page!!! I was sort of thinking the “what if” of perhaps replacing one of Mary Oliver’s five books in the top five selling poetry books. Not really, but ten books?
Here’s the thing. Not too long ago, I was that guy who rarely would buy new books of poetry, partly because I was a poor poet who had little money, but partly because of some sort of mental block on buying poetry. People don’t bat an eyelash when buying a novel, but a book of poems?? We wince, we gnash our teeth, we, perhaps, begrudgingly, lay out that fifteen bucks for a book that we might actually read over and over again. Unlike that novel that we’ll probably read once. Why don’t people buy poetry? It’s embarrassing to me to be in a poet’s house and see a tiny bookshelf of poems. They should be spilling all over the place. Why don’t people (especially poets) buy it? How do we get past this?
On a side note, I have to say that any teacher of poetry should require students to buy at least two books by living poets (and a poetry magazine) every semester. Especially when a Chemistry book is $150. Just to be FAIR, we ought to have students buy 10 poetry books. That would do something for poetry sales. Yet the teacher probably shouldn’t force the students to buy the teacher’s poems!
I’m not trying to guilt anybody into buying my book. Do NOT, under any circumstances, buy my book of poems. I forbid you, dear reader. But buy somebody else’s book of poems today, or get a subscription to a magazine (32 POEMS) whose poems are worth reading. Don’t be a cheapskate. Well, be a cheapskate, for we all need to conserve, but be liberal when it comes to poetry. Why not?
Everyone, feel free to vent or rail or twitter or do whatever it is we do on these computer devices.
Your “friend”,
John Poch
- July 22nd
I think having students buy poetry books in an excellent suggestion. In both my undergrad workshops we had a “textbook” we had to buy of poetry exercises and were asked to read a book or a magazine and then present a memorized poem we liked. That was it.
*Note to self on having books purchased if I ever get said holy grail of Creative Writing teaching job*
I teach with a creative writing “textbook” but I have now developed the practice of having my students buy one book of contemporary poetry or fiction for the class. Last semester, the poet I used came to speak to my students. Her visit (and her book) went over well!
i enjoyed your gentle musings here…blog on!
I have to say, I find it extremely disconcerting that the editor of 32 Poems has had a hard time buying a book of poetry. I have been a poet, writer, thinker since the age of six. I have begged people to buy me poetry. I buy poetry shamelessly. I even pick one book of poetry a year to read to my son as his bedtime as though it were a prayer. He’s older now, so maybe I should step up the number of poetry books per year.
It’s equally diconcerting that you don’t like to blog! Debroah here has one of the most accessable blogs in history. Blogs are fun, they’re easy, they are unpretentious. Everyone has one. Doctors, lawyers, gardners, interior designers, stay at home moms, etc., they all have one. Blogs make life and the lives of others real. We can keep time and pace with the frequency of our favorite blogger’s postings. They invite us to join a party. They give us an upgrade to our peer group. They are a grand cultural think tank!
It’s nice to read the thoughts of the editor of a great poetry magazine. I love 32 poems. Even though I have yet to subscribe. My day off is tomorrow, I’m gonna try and make it to the bank to put some money on my card and finally subscribe.
Congratulations on your book of poems. I love Facebook too. You have way more friends than I do, so I might “friend” you even though I don’t “know” you.
I do want to note, real life is also nice. As fun as computers and online communities are, there is no subsitute for the nuances of a private moment in a gentle house only a few people have visited.
I also find it disconcerting that I made at least two typos in front of an editor and countless writers!
I should clarify: when I said not long ago, I’m talking about when I was in grad school. I suppose that was 7 or 8 years ago.
Nevertheless, don’t be extremely disconcerted. Just be disconcerted. People, even poets, don’t buy poetry. You need not be all that surprised.
And as far as not liking blogging, I still don’t like it all that much. I should be writing a poem or something. Some people don’t like ballet. Some don’t like grilled cheese. Some don’t like blogging.
[…] to be sure that I’m not a hypocrite and that I’m fully out of poetry cheapskate mode, I ordered two books yesterday. Gabriel Gudding’s Rhode Island Notebook and […]
I don’t care for grilled cheese. I’m one of *those* people.
That said, Lisa, you buy poetry books and not magazines! Well, I guess if you subscribe to 32 soon, we shall forgive you. =-)
Well, I’ve been trying to subscribe for about forty minutes now. Pay pal is so secure it has rejected my billing address and does not recognize my card number. Enriching myself is obviously going to take longer than I thought. I’m going to persevere through this technical roadblock. It is my year to subscribe. I can feel it. If it takes me a week to figure this out, just know my order is on the way!
I have to confess, I let my 32 poems subscription lapse. But I renewed it!
Alas, I forgot to buy John’s newest book. (I do buy lots of poetry, though.) I will buy John’s book too. Soon as I find my lost wallet.
Hey, I found my wallet! It was with the river swim bag. Scary thing is, we went swimming last Saturday.
At any rate, I just ordered your book!