Tayari's Blog: Why I Self-Publish by Tinesha Davis
Posted by TayariJones on June 7, 2006 09:42 AM
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Who likes poetry? No one. Nor do they like romance or mystery but especially not poetry. This is the unofficial message that I’ve heard for years. This is the message that I let become my truth.
I’ve participated in many conversations that went a little something like this:
Me: I’m a writer.
Them: Oh really, what do you write?
Me: Poetry.
Them: [Silence. Then,] Oh, that’s nice.
Or
I don’t really read poetry –its boring… don’t understand it… just don’t care for it.
Or
Poetry. Well, what black woman doesn’t write poetry?
With comments like these shaping my opinion of public opinion writing poetry has not only been my greatest honor but my greatest shame. I even stopped calling myself a writer in public just so I wouldn’t have to answer the dreaded “what do you write” question. No one likes poetry. And if no one likes poetry, who was going to publish it?
Okay, maybe I’m being too general and pessimistic here. Maybe someone likes poetry; I mean, my ghetto poll says three out of five people write it. But no one reads it. And this statement even the publishing industry backs up. I have to search far and wide for a mainstream publisher who frequently publishes poetry. Bookstores? Okay, the bookstore I’ve solicited says poetry just doesn’t sell. I’ve been introduced to various agents who will represent subjects on anything from ‘baby making frogs’ to ‘last year’s spotting of Tupac’ but when I mention the collection of poetry I’m working on I get the resounding: “Well, what else do you write?” and then from the introducer, “Oooh, tell her about the anthology your working on.” But the anthology is just in the research phase – an idea. I’m not even all that passionate about it. Hell, I’m not even all that interested in the project. But what I am passionate and interested in is my poetry. And why doesn’t anyone like poetry?
I realize that there’s more to these feelings than them coming from just my observations. I know that they mainly stem from my own need of being accepted yet ever preparing myself for rejection. If I tell myself no one likes – reads – buys poetry then I’ll have no expectation of anyone liking – reading – buying mine. In this way I cannot be rejected. But the problem is I must write. I love writing and I’ve heard that happiness comes from making a living from that which you love. Or is it sanity comes from…? Either way it goes this left me no other choice but to face my own fears and seek publishing. With this in mind I had to get out of my own head that was terribly influenced with comments of no one likes poetry, no one reads poetry, and who in the hell would want to read yours?!? To that last question I had to come back and scream to my inner self-critic, “I do! And she does. And she does and maybe you will too.”
Because I’ve rejected myself for almost thirty years when it came time to publish my collection I had to be the one who first said, “Yes, I’ll publish you.” I was as far as my manuscript got. In 2004 I created Magic People Press and after a little more “head” talk finally, in 2006, I published All Black Girls Ain’t Got Rhythm – And Other Urban Hymns . And with the publishing came my hopes, ambitious and mighty, stomping through the puddles of my teeter-tottering mind. I want my poetry to be well received, to change the minds of the people who don’t normally read poetry for all of the many reasons. Much like Maya Angelou’s. Much Like Nikki Giovanni’s. Much like Tinesha Davis’. And if this should fail, I want to sell at least 50,000 copies. In one year.
All Black Girls Ain’t Got Rhythm represents breaking the stereotypes – the ones that say black people got rhythm, can sing, and play basketball (all at the same time). It’s about not being afraid to be out-of-sync with the rest of the world and truly – freely – joyously dance to our own rhythms. Ultimately, I had to learn that no one can reject me but me just as no one defines me but me and I’m a black girl and I have rhythm – it’s just that the music I’m moving to – no one else can hear.
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There are 6 comments on "Why I Self-Publish by Tinesha Davis". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Jackie ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Ah, poetry. Yep I have responded that way. It's not that I don't like it. It's more that I don't always understand it or know what to do with it. I went to an author event at my local library and there was a poet and a novelist there that night. I listened to the novelist and didn't really feel enthusiasm for her story. The poet, however, was dynamic, funny, irreverent and I never would have known that if I hadn't experienced her in person. Bought her book instead of the novel. Her presentation of her material made all the difference.
Once at home with her book, though, I quickly went back to the "Huh?" state of mind and I find that often happens with poetry. One or two of the poems will strike you in a special way, then the rest leave you wandering around lost. I don't know what to do about this.
(Now that you have introduced a previously unknown writer to me, I will at a minimum, check her out, OK?)
June 7, 2006 10:07 AM
Comment #2, by Tammee
I love this:
"Because I’ve rejected myself for almost thirty years when it came time to publish my collection I had to be the one who first said, “Yes, I’ll publish you.”'
It takes a lot of faith to step out and say I'm a writer; at least for me it does. It takes even more to say I'm a poet. And it takes pure gumption to say I'm a writer of poetry who self-publishes! But Tinesha's belief in herself is the difference between success and failure, and of a lifetime of regret for what she never did, but always dreamt of doing.
Good going Tinesha!
June 7, 2006 10:31 AM
Comment #3, by Teri E-B
say it loud...i'm black and i'm proud-poet, too. yes, yes tinesha...poetry is magic and magical!
and regardless of how we cut the umbilical on our work...i agree with tayari says that it should be "good" and not leave our readers scratching their wigs.
now who determines if it is good or not, i think, depends on the target audience. random house, small presses, russell simmons, your grannny, mfa programs like mills college, etc., or perhaps poetry magazine and the likes? whosoevah, whatsoevah... that's how i measure myself stanza-to-stanza...by who i'm writing for...besides myself. and it always takes work. belief. work. belief. work. i also have aspirations of a collection coming forth one day...but in the meantime as tinesha put it, i'll keep "joyously dancing to my own rhythms."
"poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits." -- carl sandburg yep.
June 7, 2006 09:40 PM
Comment #4, by Tinesha
Jackie, I agree - I love poetry - but when I do buy collections I may find 1 or 2 (4 atmost)poems that I really feel and then I may find one or two more that I get but don't love and the rest remind me of album fillers (songs that producers know won't be hits but it makes the album so they can have atleast 12 tracks). I can honestly say (and not because I'm biased) that my collection isn't like that - its quite the opposite maybe there'll be 1 or 2 that you don't love - but you WILL get it. It makes sense.
Thanks Tammee - I think another problem is we always hear: person number 1 - I write poetry. Person number 2 - I write too - person number 1 - but mine are good. The question is what defines good - and how do you judge good when everyone obviously thinks there's is good. What makes poetry hard to sell/market is all poets are judged on the merit and poems of the poets who came before them - and we're not talking about the exceptions to the rule. Maya's an exception - Nikki - Sonya - Amari - Langston ect ect ect are exceptions.
Teri - that's a good point - never looked at judging it by the audience it is written for.
June 9, 2006 10:38 AM
Comment #5, by dwayne
self publishing is cool. but from my experience alot of what i've seen people self publish just hasn't been good. i write poetry, and dont think i would self publish mine, because i got this gut feeling that im nice. still, even with that said, the self publishers who ive found to publish quality stuff have always been the folks who publish others as well. i think of third world press or kwame alexander. their books, haki madhubuti's and alexander's never really disappointed me, but i could see that they read.
it seems some poets dont read poetry. and the fiction lovers, i dont know. people tell me they don't like poetry, but put them in a room with a good poet and the story changes. so it's an acquired habit. if you get it when you are young, you can appreciate it from stanza to stanza and line to line. if not, most of us as adults dont give it time. the idea of processing a metaphor frightening folks for some reason.
but tinesha, more power to you. may you sell 500,000 copies.
June 10, 2006 06:03 PM
Comment #6, by Jenn
Although I am not a published writer, I respect those who have received deals with big publishing houses and had to conform to their rules of what they have to crunch out. However, I also dig the self published writers who want their voice to be heard and go by ANY MEANS NECESSARY to have their voice out there.
Poetry is a love of mine.
Are you familar with Jessica Care Moore? My favorite professor in college introduced me to her poetry and I have been hooked. She is more spoken word but she rocks.
Tinesha, I will DEFINITELY check out your poetry!
June 12, 2006 11:05 PM