Gossip [&] the Devil

Artwork by T. Schroeder (www.thegreatandsmall.com)

From an email I received a few days ago:

“…You’ve taken the time to look/read some of my work, and in the interview I read you said something about, and I am paraphrasing, if there isn’t a venue for your scene-make one.  This all kind [of] rolled around in my brain for awhile, eventually reminding me that this is how its done.  How it has always been done.

THIS is how scenes are made.  THIS is how punk of the 70’s and 80’s came together and came about.  It wasn’t about style, fashion, or genre, it was about supporting those who creatively contributed.  Sharing communication, going to each others shows, reading their work, telling others to go do the same. Especially if they were trying to do their own thing. Its how every art or music scene I have had the honor of being a part of since ‘92 has worked.

How easily we as a culture, and me individually, forget that that is how it is done.

You don’t get to just show up to the party and throw your shit out there and have it be accepted and championed.  You have to work for it, you have to go find and support others who work just as hard as you do.  But only if what they do is honest.  If the end result is not honest, it will go down in flames, bellowing recriminations about the posers in the world and it/they/them will take you down in the same fiery belch…

Tyson

www.thegreatandsmall.com

I’ve struggled with the punk-rock ethic. I know that seems bizarre but it’s true. I was blinded by my own version of the rock and roll dream, my own “all I want is a major label record deal” mentality, in that all I wanted was a book deal. I didn’t want to self-publish–I wanted someone to think I was good enough to sign me to an honest-to-goodness contract. The way to do this, I thought, was to work my way up through reputable publications and until an editor read one of my works and took notice, demanded their assistant get a hold of me and I’d be the recipient of glamor and praise for all my hard work.

Even typing that sort of makes me nauseated.

While that might very well happen, I’m no longer holding my breath (and boy does it feel good). I based everything I’ve done on more of a band mentality. What I mean by that is the majority of my influences and peers are lyricists and musicians. Bands that tour endlessly and promote at each others shows. This is why I have (or will have) stickers, buttons, t-shirts, limited edition books and such a passion for music. If a band can promote themselves like this, I thought, then why can’t a poet? Why can’t I show up with flyers and stickers to shows my friends are playing and pass out my own swag?

Well I can. So I have. Then I began to think about some of my closest friends and what they had to do before they signed to their “rock and roll dream” (whether or not it turned out to be a nightmare is beside the point)–they had to self-promote, self-publish and basically do anything they possibly could to get their product into the hands of the consumers and fans that wanted it. Because of this I’ve grown more fond of self-publishing. I’m DIY in nearly every aspect, why not that too?

Typing it out now it seems like a ridiculous notion to begin with but, alas, that is where I am and, I can honestly say, I have finished my first chapbook. A very limited run of hand-numbered proof copies are being handed out/have been handed out before the final process begins. There will be an equally limited number of 1st editions once final production has commenced. I am excited, this is an exciting time.

Speaking of publications CRAM, Volume 6: The Uncensored Edition has picked up one of my very, very, very favorite poems called “Crybaby” and will be available for purchase July 31st, 2009. The ChicagoPoetry.com publication has always been good to me and I can’t say enough good things about them. I’ll have the [words] section updated soon so you can read it.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The summer issue of Common Line magazine is out and ready for you to stuff your eyeballs full of art goodness. (If you don’t remember I mentioned a while back that they’d picked me up as their music/literary editor.) The Summer 2009 issue features an interview with Def Poet George Watsky, reviews of David Labounty’s Affluenza, Melanie Browne’s Heaven is a Giant Pawn Shop, and a special music review by yours truly titled “Placebo Lose the Battle with Hope.”

Also poetry by: Carl Miller Daniels, Dennis Wilken, Tim Alexander, Melanie Browne, Lyn Lifshin, Erin Foran, Robert Louis Henry, KJ Hays, Ivan Jenson David LaBounty, Middlepoet, and Rick Spuler.

Remember, the humanities CANNOT DIE unless you LET THEM.

Thanks, boys. Placebo from L to R: Steven Forrest, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal. Put me anywhere in the middle.

First and foremost, an announcement: As of yesterday I was offered the literary/music editor position for Common Line magazine! The editors, founder Ananda Osel and managing editor Vanessa K. Wilken have been very cool in communicating with me over these last few weeks. They’ve decided to pick up my review for Placebo’s new album, Battle For the Sun, for their Summer 2009 issue. I’ll keep you updated on the street dates! Needless to say I’m extremely excited and can’t wait to flex my creative wings a little. Being so wrapped up in poetry and flash fiction, I forget there is an entire world out there I used to dabble in, namely, editing and interviewing. I’ve already started to interview artists and musicians again, as evidenced by my three-part interview with New York based singer/songwriter Jessica Allyn (which you should have ready by now. If not, kindly visit parts one, two and three) and am currently in the process of interviewing John Bourke, DJ and one-half of the band Trash Yourself! out of Oklahoma City. (Which, by the way, I’m fucking stoked to write. Trash Yourself! know how to have a killer time. I’ve been lucky enough to attend after-parties they’e promoted for bands like the Shiny Toy Guns and if memory loss is any indication, they’re fucking skilled. Believe it.) I also have an interview lined up with The Debutante Massacre out of Columbus, Georgia so check back for updates on all of those delicious morsels of written delicacies. You know I’ll whore them out to your greedy eyeballs.

I’ve been making a concentrated effort to get back into freelancing because I don’t feel like I can create enough. It will be nice to visit different creative wells. I think it helps my poetry and fiction, honestly.

Secondly I’ve gotten off my ass and written not one, not two but three flash fiction pieces for Quick Fiction, one of my new favorite journals. The artwork is amazing and it can fit inside your purse! It’s one of the very few journals specializing in flash fiction, a genre which, in my opinion is neglected. It isn’t poetry, it isn’t quite prose, it isn’t a short story in the truest sense of the term–it’s something else. To me, flash fiction is a written photograph. It’s basically what I try and do with my poetry only I have a bit more wiggle room. So, I’ll keep you updated on that process as well. Fingers crossed, status still says “pending” which isn’t “rejected” so there’s still hope.

ALSO, the upcoming theme for Cram, Volume 6 is the “Uncensored Edition,” and you bet your ass I submitted. That little journal is quickly becoming one of my favorite homes. CJ Laity and Co. always do a fantastic job of promoting new talent and have a true love of the art.

Haven’t heard back from Boulevard Magazine or the Nimrod Literary Journal, which can be good or bad depending. If you’ve made it they usually inform you fairly quickly after the deadline close. If not, they send you a convenient little card in the mail that usually starts with, “Dear poet, while your work was a quality submission we regret to inform you…” and ends with, “but do try us again next year!” Ad nauseum.

Packaging dead flowers, whole cloves and, oh yeah, merch for my site.

The first round of beta-merch has been sent to a handful of lucky people who participated in my button giveaways via Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. If you’re reading, lucky recipients, do take pictures of you wearing your merch (scandalous pictures are fine and even encouraged) and send them in so I can put them up on the brand new [VISUALS] page! (Oh yeah, CHECK THAT SHIT OUT.) Thanks again for participating! I’m still not sure if I’ll keep all the designs but they had to be tried out on someone, welcome to my experiment! New buttons and stickers on their way to me as I type.

Lastly in this long ass update I’ve received all the materials for the chapbooks about to hit the merch store…as soon as I’m done hand making them. I’m thinking this run will be extremely limited, roughly 20 or so, until I see what demand is going to look like. Remember, these are all HAND-MADE by me. Each one will be completely unique and feature all of the work I’ve had published thus far plus a few extras for the hardcore fan, pictures, introductions and will come packaged with bits of clove and dead flowers. (True story, ask anyone who just received their buttons.) Many of you have been asking “what the fuck happened to the t-shirts” and all I can say is I’m sorry but they’re going to have to wait until I can cough up the $300 (and then some) to order them, then find time to make each one of them, again, BY HAND. Though I’ve been accused of being a rockstar (or, even more amusing, fucking a rockstar[s]) (may or may not be true), I don’t make rockstar pay.

Currently, in another window, I’m working on a pitch for The Frisky which, is harder than writing the fucking article itself. I’m optimistic however. I’m determined for this to be an excellent year.

I have a small, much-needed get away next month and a ton of work on my plate. It feels good though. I finally feel like I’m headed in the right direction.

(For finishing this entire entry, click below to view Placebo’s video for their first single from Battle For the Sun, “For What it’s Worth.” Your nether regions will thank you.)

(more…)