You know the scenario: One submission after the other, and after three months or so  the standard replies come flying in: “Whilst we enjoyed your work, we currently have no use for it…”, or, “We receive a tremendous amount of submissions on a daily basis, so you will understand that the selection process is a really tough one…”. The thing is, I do understand indeed, because I know that there are gizillions of people like me out there, trying to get at least one piece published.

Anyhow, when we went back for a visit to the UK in October, my sister in law had a stack of post for us and amongst some more rejections there was a letter from the editor of Poetry Now, part of Forward Press. They agreed to accept one of my poems in their upcoming anthology “Awakening Inspirations”, out in January! Needless to say I nearly hit the ceiling! I am especially happy that it’s Forward Press, because they are a long established publisher of poetry following their creed “poetry for the people by the people” and have published poets like Carol Ann Duffy and Wendy Cope. So, keep writing, keep revising and most of all keep sending off. You’ll get you foot in the door when you least expect it!