I am hereby banned from FOETRY...
Though twas ME who banned ME. Because it's finished as far as I'm concerned.
There are a few people there who seem smart and interested in making the world better. Mostly, it's a bully-circle-jerk-slugfest, and I want no part of it. No more of my IP address. No sirree.
And I don't care at all who's behind it. I really don't.
Because while I'm pleased as punch that former teachers, blog-friends, my MOM, might like my work and want to publish me in their little mags...
I KNOW that I don't send my book to places where I have an "in" not because I'm afraid, but because that's the way to be. My momma raised me right.
Beyond contests? Sure, why not! If a former teacher I like and respect calls me tomorrow and says, "Oprah asked me to send her a few good writers to showcase in her "Oprah poems" series. Are you in?"
I'd do it in a heartbeat! Because I'm really not concerned with the Bullshit of it all. I don't care where I publish, or how I get there, as long as I'm not fucking someone else out of a turn. And if you I need a good dentist, I'll take a referral for that too. Finding a good dentist is HARD!
See, there are rules inside me.
I don't send to contests where I know a judge. I don't introduce bad writers to my own agent. I don't accept crap for the magazines where I work. Ask anyone! I used to read for the Iowa Review and anyone who knew me then and asked to send me poems got the same answer, "Send em to the office!" Because the last thing I want is to read my friends' work. But if I start my own magazine I'll sure as hell solicit from the brilliant people I happen to know. Right now I'm shopping a nonfiction book with my brother and sister in it. If you think that's not okay... you're a moron.
An old family friend happens to be the Exec. Editor of the NYTimes . Guess what? I've never hit him up for a job... And when I was writing music reviews I never once covered my friend Pieta, or anyone connected to her... but I did write a human interest piece about an actress I knew.
There are difference, subtle differences, and grey lines people. The world is almost always grey, which is a good reason to stay okay with yourself, inside yourself.
Because lying and cheating are poisonous. They poison your accomplishments. They make you insecure and sick inside.
I don't need Foetry, because the lines are drawn clearly for me, inside me.
I would've supported Foetry, but they're so cold and mean and careless and cruel, I never will again... as I won't be friends with anyone who calls someone I like (or most anyone) a cunt or a twat. Foetry plays very dirty.
Mostly I feel bad for them, because they just seem like really unhappy resentful people. I hope SOMEBODY loves them, but it won't be me. Nobody should be so pathetic.
There are a few people there who seem smart and interested in making the world better. Mostly, it's a bully-circle-jerk-slugfest, and I want no part of it. No more of my IP address. No sirree.
And I don't care at all who's behind it. I really don't.
Because while I'm pleased as punch that former teachers, blog-friends, my MOM, might like my work and want to publish me in their little mags...
I KNOW that I don't send my book to places where I have an "in" not because I'm afraid, but because that's the way to be. My momma raised me right.
Beyond contests? Sure, why not! If a former teacher I like and respect calls me tomorrow and says, "Oprah asked me to send her a few good writers to showcase in her "Oprah poems" series. Are you in?"
I'd do it in a heartbeat! Because I'm really not concerned with the Bullshit of it all. I don't care where I publish, or how I get there, as long as I'm not fucking someone else out of a turn. And if you I need a good dentist, I'll take a referral for that too. Finding a good dentist is HARD!
See, there are rules inside me.
I don't send to contests where I know a judge. I don't introduce bad writers to my own agent. I don't accept crap for the magazines where I work. Ask anyone! I used to read for the Iowa Review and anyone who knew me then and asked to send me poems got the same answer, "Send em to the office!" Because the last thing I want is to read my friends' work. But if I start my own magazine I'll sure as hell solicit from the brilliant people I happen to know. Right now I'm shopping a nonfiction book with my brother and sister in it. If you think that's not okay... you're a moron.
An old family friend happens to be the Exec. Editor of the NYTimes . Guess what? I've never hit him up for a job... And when I was writing music reviews I never once covered my friend Pieta, or anyone connected to her... but I did write a human interest piece about an actress I knew.
There are difference, subtle differences, and grey lines people. The world is almost always grey, which is a good reason to stay okay with yourself, inside yourself.
Because lying and cheating are poisonous. They poison your accomplishments. They make you insecure and sick inside.
I don't need Foetry, because the lines are drawn clearly for me, inside me.
I would've supported Foetry, but they're so cold and mean and careless and cruel, I never will again... as I won't be friends with anyone who calls someone I like (or most anyone) a cunt or a twat. Foetry plays very dirty.
Mostly I feel bad for them, because they just seem like really unhappy resentful people. I hope SOMEBODY loves them, but it won't be me. Nobody should be so pathetic.
7 Comments:
Laurel,
I know a very good dentist. You would like him.
luv...
Yes! You are right about all of the above. I hate Foetry too. I think the people who are behind it are so malicious. How does one become so bitter? So so bitter? I feel sorry for them too.
Not sure if we're welcome here, but wish we could really talk. We just don't understand how you can defend your blogger friends who set up wins in contests, or at the least, recognized the work of friends -- and they are friends and/or students -- does the money involved not get to you? Think of the Georgia contest -- which was getting 700 entries at $20 each -- $14,000. Is it fair that Jorie picked her husband or that Brenda Hillman picked Laura Mullen? It's just not, and we think you believe that too, but now that your own friends are implicated, you aren't willing to stand for what's right and fair. Take a stand, Laurel. You're better than them.
what the hell is foetry?
I will take a stand and I will deal with things in my own way, using tools and allies I believe in. The choice isn't "Foetry" or "Corruption."
What happened at Foetry last week made it clear to me that Foetry isn't my friend. And the anonymity, the unwillingness you have to be accountable for the damage you might potentially do to innocents, that scares me horribly.
I'm not disagreeing that there's corruption and it should be dealt with... but your methods and your anonymity call your purpose into question. I'll find my own way, thanks.
And no, it isn't because of my friends. I've always had friend who benefitted from the ugly stuff and I'm very honest with them, which is part of why Iowa was hard for me... It's just that I think Foetry sounds irrational and desperate... to the point of being incredibly offensive.
Mallie is one of the ugliest people I've ever met.He speaks for the site and you never reprimand him. So as far as I'm concerned, he IS the site.
I won't come back to the site. Ever.
Laurel -
your 'bully-circle-jerk-slugfest' description was so apt - this mentality and culture is not just confined to Foetry - I've found it to be prevalent on many of these bitter amateur sites - which is basically what Foetry is. I too was initially intrigued by their ethic, and I am totally opposed to nepotism/favoritism/outright corruption, but the whole tone of the postings is life-sucking - and I think if you stay around that kind of thing long enough, they'll drag you down with them. All very well-put.
Best,
Alex Grant.
Of course you are right about foetry. I found it when I was looking for a place to post a concern. I had sent poetry for a $20 fee to Tupelo Pess because they offered a short critique from their editor. They got upwards of a thousand submissions and were understandably late in meeting their commitment.
When I finally got a response it was a single space two page very well written letter that felt like an academic generic response to any poetry. It gave not the slightest indication of anacquaintance with what I had written. An important part of the letter was an offer to do a poem by poem critique for what sounded like a very reasonable fee.
Finally, the question, did any one else out there enter this contest and receive this same sort of generic response rather than a personal short critique?
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