Having an Effect

Once upon a time, long long ago in the early 1980s the Melbourne Branch of the Poets Union of Australia began an initiative soon followed by all the other branches. In an era where editors of literary magazines sometimes took months or even years to respond to a submission, which we regarded as contemptuous and improper, Australian poets began accompanying submissions with a note: I reserve the right to submit this elsewhere without further notice if there is no response within three months. When editors started receiving a lot of these, they took notice! This was revolutionary at the time. 

I was one of a few friends who had a private discussion to arrive at this idea, which we then put to the Melbourne Branch, which took it up forthwith and enrolled the other branches. (If recollection serves, others were Lyndon Walker, Kristin Henry, Stephen J Williams, and possibly Cliff Smyth.)

Well, that’s old history now. The Poets Union of Australia couldn’t continue as a union for poets; it lacked the right criteria to legally exist. Those State branches which continued did so as societies instead.

Fast forward to today, and I read something on Substack (by an English poet, I think) about deciding to leave a poem with a magazine ‘beyond the standard three months’ as an experiment to see how long it took them. (Answer: a year.) 

Well that was all very interesting, but what made me chortle with glee was the discovery that it is now STANDARD, and apparently unremarkable, for poets – and not only poets within Australia – to withdraw submissions that receive no response in three months.

I have not lived in vain.

Memory Lane (and a warning)

This photo (uncaptioned) popped up on facebook today as a memory from 12 years ago. A publicity shot for some poetry event or other. I remember the photo session better than what it was for, as a dear friend did the posing and snapping, and made it lots of fun. The book is my Secret Leopard, which was published nine years before that – still available, but only as an ebook now. (Please ignore the scammer who offers the paperback on Amazon at an inordinate price. He or she almost certainly has no actual copies, and in any case I, the author, will never see any of that money if anyone ever does pay it.)

Substack, My Way

 Goodness gracious, I have 11 subscribers already! 

I have dipped my toe into that water because there are people there I wish to read, and I had to join to do so. And I found one article (so far) that I wished to write, which seemed to fit better there than on any of my blogs or other social media platforms (all two of those: facebook and Instagram).

So I'm using it all 'wrong,' which is typical of me. (Natural rebel.)

That's a good thing with other social media, including my blogs and this blog-posing-as-website – to use them MY way, selectively, and avoid many of the perils of social media usage which I read about. I'm not sure it's so useful to treat Substack the same way. It already appears to be more sensible to use it as intended and designed for. So perhaps I'll come closer to doing that, as time goes on, e.g. with more frequent posts and a consistent focus.

Meanwhile, I don't intend to use it as revenue-raising; my Substack will remain free to subscribers.

I am at https://substack.com/@rosemarynissenwade

In Praise of Certain Women

 Oh, can't resist skiting now! The brilliant poet Rajani Radhakrishnan has just praised me on Substack — apparently people are doing this for what they are calling International Women's Month (presumably it won't all fit into one day). This is what she said:

So grateful to Andy for his generosity in mentioning my name in this International Women’s Month chain of kindness and support. In turn, I’d like to name Rosemary Nissen-Wade who I have known now for over 10 years, first through poetry groups on Blogger/WP and later over emails and discussions. A fabulous poet, a dear friend and a total warrior who, in her eighties, is still writing, hosting and teaching so many of us how to plumb the deepest emotions with the simplest of words. Thank you, Rosemary. You totally rock.

I am beyond thrilled! It's great to think I am seen as a warrior, and I particularly love the bit about 'to plumb the deepest emotions with the simplest of words.' I try – wonderful to know I am succeeding. Also, it is surprising and gratifying to be called 'a fabulous poet' by one whose own poetry I greatly admire. 

I passed on the torch thuswise: 

Apparently on Substack people are nominating outstanding women of their acquaintance for International Women’s Month. The wonderful poet and my dear friend Rajani Radhakrishnan (rajaniradhakrishnan.sub…) just gave me a lovely shout out, so I am passing it on. I’d love to nominate my friend, fellow-poet and sometimes publisher Delaina J Miller of Content X Design (contentxdesign.substack…) – a strong woman and gentle soul who, with her wife Kristin Hatch, is a generous supporter of other creatives, and always seeks to offer love and upliftment to those around her, as well as adding to the store of beauty in the world, through poetry, music, Reiki, and sharing of wisdom.

I also posted on facebook on the actual Women's Day, about certain Australian politicians:

On International Women's Day, I'd like to acknowledge three politicians. Two in my locality: the kind-hearted, clear-sighted and hard-working Justine Elliott (Federal) and Janelle Saffin (State), both of whom are committed to looking after their constituents. And another, the incredible Jacqui Lambie from my birth State of Tasmania, with whose politics I don't always entirely agree, but whom I greatly admire for her hard work, integrity, devotion to the ordinary people of her electorate, the way she has learned and grown into her role over the years, and above all for staying real! (I confess I also love her larrikin quality.)

and I added one of my rose photos:

PS I am really not on Substack much – mainly only to read other people – and haven't got much of a handle yet on how to operate it. Everything is slower now that I'm octogenarian, and  I don't know that I want to spend time on any more social media. I still feel happy enough with facebook, Instagram and my blogs. However, it might be time to dip my toe a tiny bit further in the water. I'll have a think about it.