Mood:
a-ok
Well I was forced to make a few changes to the website today, removing about 15 poems that are to be included into my new book “Bikers Got Culture!” The book, a work of humor consisting of poetry and some limericks, has tentatively been accepted by a publisher but in reviewing the contract and discussion with the Acquisitions Manager I find that I must remove previously published works from the internet. Bummer. I am told that I may again re-post some or all after the book comes out and with the advice and permission of the publisher. You see, when you sign a publishing contract, you abrogate your rights to some extent. There is what is referred to as a “Non competition clause” that simply means you wont compete with the publisher. It makes since, but was unexpected.
I have signed the contract and now await further instructions from the publisher on submission of the final manuscript. I must turn it in within 15 days of signing… that gives me another 12 days to edit and more or less tweak the thing. I’ve been working on it for a while now editing it as I find little errors… they hide everywhere! I’ve already made numerous changes to older work, improving the grammar, meter and artistic value of earlier pieces. It’s difficult when I know what it is supposed to say… I read right over the mistakes without noticing them. That is why one really needs an editor. The problem with poetry though is that one really needs another poet to do the editing and alas, there is no one I would trouble with such a daunting task.
I am of course excited at the prospect of being published and at this point it appears there will be no major problems but I will not really be sure until I see the first one in print. I’ve placed a number of pins and needles on my desk chair so that I may remain alert to conditions as they develop. I continue to re-visit the work in my ongoing search for mistakes like “and” where I meant to have “an.” Yes, tedious is a good word for it.
