Spell. Stone. & Sparks that Ignite Change

Taking Risks: My First Literary Submissions & Early Wins

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poeaxtry_

writing prompt responses

Daily writing prompt

When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

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Best For:

Indie Poets especially who are hesitant to send their first submissions in, creative individuals looking to channel personal loss into professional growth, authors looking to balance self-publishing with traditional literary credits.

The Vault:

Submission Stats: Two approvals and one rejection recorded as of 4/25/25.
New Platforms: The launch of the WordPress site and the poetry Discord.
The 5-20% Rule: The statistical success bracket for poets that I am currently beating.

The Leap Toward the Page: Taking Risks in Literature-

Taking a chance on yourself is often the most terrifying thing a creative person can do. It is much easier to keep words, art, and creative ventures tucked away in a private notebook or your mind than it is to offer them up to the world for critique.

However, growth only happens in the space between comfort and uncertainty.

The Heart Behind the Ink:

In 2021, I lost my mother to nonalcoholic sorosis of the liver. She was my first audience and my most consistent supporter. I used to share all my poetry with her; every line, every stanza, and every real emotion went to her and it rarely went anywhere else.

When she passed, I was left with a silence that was deafening.

For a long time, the grief made me feel like my words had nowhere to go. Eventually, the silence turned into a catalyst. I realized that the best way to honor the connection we had through my writing was to stop hiding it.

Losing her led me directly into the world of self-publishing and, eventually, to these recent submissions. I stopped waiting for someday and decided that my voice deserved to be heard today.

The Vulnerability of the Submission:

The last risk I took was two weeks ago when I sent out submissions for the first time to literary magazines. As of today, I have received back two approvals and one rejection. With success rates among poets often sitting at a slim 5-20%, I count this as a significant win.

This process is incredibly nerve-wracking. There is a specific kind of anxiety that comes with an editor holding your personal history in their hands.

Yet, it is an essential move for indie poets and authors. It bridges the gap between our private creative worlds and the larger community of readers. Also it is validation of the work we do while it pushes us to refine our craft.

Since receiving my first approval, I have started a poetry Discord to grow with other artists and launched this WordPress. I plan to continue seeking professional publications while maintaining my roots in self-publishing.

Creative Risks:

Taking a risk is not about the absence of fear; it is about acting in spite of it. Whether it is a “Yes” or a “No,” the act of hitting “send” is a victory in itself. It is a tribute to where I came from and a commitment to where I am going.

TLDR:

After losing my mother in 2021, the person I shared all my work with, I pushed through the grief and began self-publishing. Now as of two weeks ago I have started to submit my work to literary journals.