Dear friends,
My book becomes bigger and bigger every day, but the real challenge seems to be everything else than the effective writing. For a self published author there are a lot of issues to solve by yourself starting from covers of the book, finding a good enough( price vs. quality) typography to print the book, but the most challenging I find to be the composition of the book itself. In what sequence I will arrange my poems? The book is not finished yet, but this just crossed my mind. I read a lot a and I saw different ways, but at this moment I just don’t know if to like it or not or if it is another new way to do it … in such a way than to transmit the message better. It is not easy, but it is fun…it is like waiting a baby to be born. I am a father of three beautiful girls and I waited a lot the birth moment, but I was never a mother of something and just now I fell like a mother or better said just how I think a mother can feel in her carrying days. So, from going through a dilemma to a trilemma was easier and my trilemma is growing everyday.
-Andreas-
Andreas Ignotus 
I’m sure you’ve already considered these, but just in case: You could divide them by subject, or even put them in chronological order, or alphabetical by title. That may give you too many options, but there it is. Much good luck in deciding the best way.
thanks.
It is a lot of work to put together a book but I am sure it will be wonderful when finished 🙂 Annie
Yes, it is a huge work. I thank you for your beautiful words, Annie. 🙂
Being in the midst of finishing m y own third book (unpubliushed–but organized) I began the first by Starting with a title-a working title- which after most of the poems had been finished I changed, after choosing a piece that I thought covered the main thrust of the book. I went from The Mirror Obscura-the title of my blog to To travel Without a Map because I felt that it was really what the book was done with. It was a journey and I had not trail to follow no directions at first and the journey was one of discovering that the journey was the point. After that I picked four other poems that seemed to bring the strongest points or stages to that journey.I had a section that was completely made of love poems, both about the good and the heartbreak of loving. These I picked a poem from The Way Water Freezes which talked about howe I would learn to love someone-slow and solidlyThen I had poems about events, things that go on in our lives and this in titled The Things That Happen, also a poem in the section. The next was about poems dealing with life in general which I titled after a poem The Situation of Gravity. The last section seemed to speak to me of all the things I had learned throughout the working of the book The Importance of Wonder. I put The Things That Happen first, Then Travel, The Situation of Gravity, then the love poems and ended witrh Wonder. In each of these sections I decided to use the title poem of the section for the first poem to establish the thrust I wanted the reader to be given about what was to follow. Some writers put such a poem at the end as the climax or denoumant, but in my case I really wanted to let the reader have a direction to follow, an explanation if you will about what was to be expected in each section. My second book was structured completely differently because it was written so, but this is long enough. I would be more than happy to give you some help even show you the manuscript of the first bgook or look at yours to give you some insights and suggestions.>KB
thanks a lot. 🙂
The first thing I would suuggest is to trim your number of pages down to the best 70-80 pages (not poems-pages) of the what you think are the best poems you have. It is common knowledge that in one book that is about as much if not too much poetry for a reader to deal with at one time. You can always use what is left over as the beginnings to a second book. A note here about self publishing–there are many contests and competitions open for first books and I would try them first. It is good to think your poetry is ‘great’ and asnother thing entirely for someone else to feel the samee way. Next getan editor–someone who knows poetry at least to tell you honestly what is working what is not and what needs to be re-written. Like a lawayer who has himself as a client, a writer who has hinself as an editor is a fool. You are too close to your own writing to see the sore points and things that are not working as well as the typos, mispellings and awkwward phrasings. As I said ask me and I would be happy to help. I have been a poet for over forty years and I have a good editor that points things out that I simply don’t see–who also tells me when something really sucks. I would be willing to at least look at a paired down manuscript if yuou wish. I write 12-14 hours a day writing, revising and reseaching. Editing someone else’s work is an exercise for me and helps me write so it is no problem. Also, don’t take things personaslly, if you are thin skinned about criticism, constructive though it may be, don’t bother asking to hjave some one read your work, particularly if you publish it. Self publishing should be emphasized as ‘SELF’ you, not someone else who thinks you’re writing has merit.>KB
I will think about all that and I will thank you if you can suggest me(with links if possible) those contests that are you talking about. thank you again.
Type in ‘Poets and Writers’ in your address box. They have a section called ‘Contests” click on that, check the filters appropriate and you’re set. Oh be sure to register for an account–it is not mandatory but it helps and wreiter, especially poets nedd all the help that they can get. There is also another site called ‘The 50 Top Literay Magazines’ (I tink that is the title or just go to Literary Magazines and you’ll see it–tthat’s if you simply wish to send your work out and say you’ve been rejected by the best–I have a corkboard filled with rejections so never dewspair, just keep working and getting better.>KB
million thanks
You’re welcome.>KB
My father often said when referring to seemingly insurmountable tasks, “That ain’t no step for a stepper!” (With the meaning, “That’s no climb for a climber like you!”)
I think you would have liked my father. You and he are so much alike — he was a man’s man but there was a tender streak in him…and he could cry and not feel weak.
I miss him still after these 18 years.
-R-
Your father was a very wise man and I’m sure I would like him. Thanks, my friend. I miss my father too. Nothing can replace missing family.
Dear Andreas,
I’m sorry I was unable to be online today except for a moment. I have been sick and spent most of the day in bed. I’m feeling better now except for a little fever and upset stomach. Still in the morning I will mail the poetry book or have my wife mail it. Talk to you soon!
-R-
I am so sorry to hear that. I hope you will feel better very soon. Health come first. It will be enough time for everything, don’t worry.