M.A. Dubbs's Blog, page 8

Tracking Rejections: 2022 Review

Just like how Spotify makes a yearly “Wrapped”, or review of your listening habits for the year, I decided to make one of my own for literary submissions. I track all my submissions, whether it be for a single poem or a contest or a book submission, via spreadsheets.The publications range from large publications to small e-zine passion projects. I collected all the data from 2022 to share!

As you can see, rejections make up the biggest percent (in red), while rejections follow behind (in green). The orange is AWAL, meaning publications that have become defunct or there’s radio silence on all platforms from them. I always have a few of these each year, often from smaller and newer publications but not always. Lastly, in white are submissions that are still pending and I haven’t heard back from yet.

I often hear from budding writers concern about rejection. People will say, “I don’t want to submit because what if they reject me?” My response is to submit anyway! It is very common to have ten magazines reject your work but one that will absolutely love it and give it a great home. So much of an acceptance is based off the interests and preferences (and mood!) of whichever editor is reading that day.

What does your submission wrapped for 2022 look like?

Pushcart Prize Nomination

I am incredibly humbled and beyond thrilled to announce that my poem “The Conquest of Hoarding” has been nominated by Oyster River Pages for a Pushcart Prize. The Pushcart Prize is an honored award to receive in literature for any writer. I definitely cried happy tears when I read the email this morning and I’m still in shock and disbelief! My fingers are crossed to hear back from the final announcements but just being honored is a great privilege.

You can read my poem at Oyster River Pages along with other great pieces published in the 6.1 edition.

Chapbook out with Bottlecap Press

Incredibly proud to announce my chapbook through @bottlecappress, An American Mujer!

This chapbook is a collection of poetry, non-fiction writing, and visual found poetry collage and explores the experience of growing up as a queer Mexican-American woman in the Midwest.

Several of the pieces in here found their first homes through @spooniepress @orangepeelmag @renardpress @rccmuse @spotlongreview @openmindsquarterly So shout out to the wonderful editors who first guided these poems into the world!

You can purchase a print or digital copy from Bottlecap Press’ site: https://bottlecap.press/products/mujer

Thank you for any support you can give!

Podcast Interview & Haiku Reading with The Culinary Saijiki

This weekend I met with the mastermind behind The Culinary Saijiki, Allyson Whipple, for an interview on her podcast. I read haiku, mostly related to fall cooking and Mexican sweets. In the episode I talk about my own mixed Mexican-American heritage along with bilingual poetry. We talk about our immigrant heritages and how culture persists through food language.

You can listen to the podcast here:

https://anchor.fm/culinarysaijiki/episodes/M-A–Dubbs-Pink-Tamales-e1pdrgi

You can find more food haiku and Allyson’s podcast and blog at her website: https://culinarysaijiki.com/

Finalist for Onwords Press Who Freakin’ Cares Poetry Contest

Very proud to announce that my poem “A Digital Obituary” is a finalist for Onwords Press Who Freakin’ Cares Poetry Contest.

Please vote for my poem by going to Onwords Press‘ website and clicking the heart on the top right of the page. Link here to vote and support me->: https://www.onwords.io/o/p/QLCM2xYGXOskuzGwG5IZ

This is a poem I wrote after the sudden death of one of my friend’s and trying to process the grief and shock those first few days.

On a completely different tonal note, I did have a chuckle at the editors response to reading it: “The One That Made Us Go, ‘Oof, fuck'”.

Two Poetry Prizes from PSI

The results for the 44th annual Poetry Society of Indiana contest are live!

My poem “Poetic Paramour” won 2nd place in the PSI Love of Poetry Prize and my poem “A Forager’s Haiku in Seasons” won 3rd place for the PSI Membership Prize.

These poems will be featured in the Ink to Paper Anthology, Vol 7 later this year!

Two poems in Free Verse Revolution Literary Magazine

Check out two of my poems published in Free Verse Revolution Literary Magazine @freeverserevolutionlit Issue VII: Tahmina (love and loss). My poems “To The Last Days of Dialysis” and “Death of a Mourning Dove” detail my personal experiences with loss and grief. There is some wonderful writing in this issue and it is gorgeous so check it out!

You can download a digital version or purchase a print copy here: https://freeverserevolution.com/2022/09/23/issue-vii-release/

Two Haiku in Written Tales Chapbook

Written Tales Chapbook IV: Fall is Here is out now! I have two haiku (“Autumn Repose for the Garden” and “Gourd’s Bounty”) in this collection.

You can buy the chapbook in both digital and print here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFFJZY5P?

Poem published with Renard Press

My poem “A Bi Awakening in a Red State” is now published online with Renard Press. It was longlisted for their Spectrum Poetry Competition.

You can read the entire piece here: https://renardpress.com/longlisted-poem/a-bi-awakening-in-a-red-state/

Poem Published in Oyster River Pages

My poem “The Conquest of Hoarding” was published in issue 6.1 of Oyster River Pages (@oysterriverpages)

You can read the entire piece (along with the rest of the wonderful writing and art!) here: https://www.oysterriverpages.com/the-conquest-of-hoarding