|
Poets write. Poets revise, and poets can become their own best poetry editors. To clarify, let’s look at what’s needed for each of those tasks.
Writing a poem can bring whatever you like, but other people might not catch your meaning or vision unless you revise with your potential readers in mind.
Revising brings new vision in a re-vision. Usually this involves spending a little more time with a poem until you find a fresh perspective or interesting insight. Since a revision shows what you see for a poem, no one can really do a re-vision for you. However, The Poetry Editor can do a critique to help you see your poem from an objective perspective and in a more marketable light.
Editing means that the syntax, grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling need to be modified or improved in some way. This process can be as simple as using spell-check on a computer or looking up words in a dictionary. However, an edit can also be as complex as untangling sentences and phrases so readers begin to have a better idea of what you meant to say.
If you have not yet had a professional critique for a batch of poems or a poetry consult for longer manuscripts, get either of those first, then revise your work accordingly. Since each revision may change a poem’s punctuation or syntax, wait until your poems have reached the final draft before you get an edit.
If you’re self-publishing a book of poems or poetry chapbook, editing will be the last step toward professionalism in your work as a poet, giving you the opportunity to correct any mistakes prior to publication.
For a final edit of the last revision of your poetry book, chapbook, or batch of poems, send $4.00 per double-spaced page in U. S. Funds only with a minimum of 15 pages. [Note: Each page must begin on a separate page. For the final edit, each short poem also requires its own double-spaced page.]
If Mary has previously critiqued the same poems or provided a consult on a manuscript you have since revised, take a 50% discount for the final edit.
If you live in another country, you can get a cashier’s check in U. S. funds from most banks, or you can use Western Union. If you transfer U. S. funds through Western Union, email Mary your first name, last name, country, and money transfer control number (MTCN) exactly as they appear on the form.
Mail your poetry, SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope with adequate return postage), and your check or money order made payable to:
Mary Sayler, P. O. Box 62, Lake Como, Florida 32157-0062.
Long manuscripts of poetry may take longer, of course, but in general, expect your edited work to be returned to you in about two to three weeks.
If you prefer a final edit by email, this can be arranged if you can save a file in Word 2003 format. This does not speed up the actual edit but only the time spent in getting a manuscript from and to you. If you choose this option, use Western Union or send your cashier’s check or money order (in U. S. funds only, of course) by overnight mail to speed the process.
|
