Acceptances

Cautious Optimism Rewarded

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The title of this blog post is a derivative of the last line of the post immediately preceding this one.  This subtle use of a transition may form a sense of cohesiveness within a blog, one that I haven't had with my random rant posts lately.

For all my recent nonstop complaining about losing a ton of data, something good has happened to silence my backup file blues.  I just won first place in the Burning the Midnight Oil Poetry Contest with my free verse poem Meditation on Meditation.  I feel dang lucky to have won out against 80 other worthy competitors.  Thanks to the judge(s) of this contest, and to The Write Helper for this cool contest opportunity.

This is what I needed.  I hate to admit that my motivation had fell off a little, knowing that I had to perform the crappy task of digging all over for old copies of all my lost work and re-editing them.  It is funny how something like this can kick me in the rear and ease the mental pain of my flash drive meltdown.  Since there is a load of snow outside, I think I'll spend a sizeable chunk of the day writing and rescuing some of my lost work.  About to get on my grind... 

Six Sentences

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Want to check out a different, unique literary website?  Take a look at Six Sentences, an online blog that asks "What can you say in six sentences?"  A diverse selection of entries from established writers like Stephen King and Thomas Lux populate the blog, along with the work of many emerging writers.  Sprinkled in there are some entertaining quotables from celebrities as well, such as David Hasselhoff and Anthony Kiedis.  Every entry is six sentences, and it is amazing how much can be said within that limiting constraint.

One of my micro-fiction pieces, Details of an Author's Divorce, will appear in Six Sentences on 12/22/07.  Much thanks to editor Robert McEvily for including my work on 6S...

Dirty Smiles

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My poem Dirty Smiles will appear in a forthcoming edition of the I-70 Review.  This poem presents a cautionary tale of racism through a child's viewpoint.  Thanks to Gary Lechliter and the staff of the I-70 Review for this opportunity. Once the new issue becomes available, I'll be sure to mention it.

Poem in an upcoming edition of The Arabesques Review

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My poem dream poem will appear in an upcoming edition of The Arabesques Review, fittingly in their "Dreams" issue.  I've been told it will appear in both their print journal and online, so I'll be sure to post a link when it is up.  The Arabesques Review is a respected literary publication based in Algeria.  It showcases original poetry, literary criticism, interviews, fiction, nonfiction, stories, essays, translations, social and political commentary, art works and photographs.  I am excited and honored to contribute to this dynamic international publication. 

Upcoming publications

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Time for some shameless self-promotion. It is what us writers do best. :)

I have some publications coming up that I'll keep you posted on...

  • I will have two poems in the upcoming edition of The Cuivre River Anthology, both of which are award-winners.
  • I will have a couple poems posted online sometime in the next few weeks in the Agit Prop Poetry 101 section of The Guild of Outsider Writers.  These poems are a little more politically charged and aggressive than some of my other work.  OW was founded in February 2007 by five underground authors with a similar drive for outsider writer activism/advocacy.  They have a sweet website featuring some of those underground voices that don't get heard as much because the mainstream literary machine tends to suffocate those who don't fit their prescribed notions of writing.  But I digress...instead of ranting, I'll just provide a link when those poems are up.  Much thanks to Victor Schwartzman for the chance to shine on OW.
  • February 2008 will mark my publication in the uber-cool online lit mag Cherry Bleeds.  They plan on including my poem What the Dealer Didn't Tell You About Heroin.  Cherry Bleeds has published more than 100 authors over the last few years including Charles Anders, Allen Grove, Joshua Samuel Brown, Karl Koweski, Mark Haskell Smith, C. C. Parker and Dan Fante.  They boast on their website that they've been "published with blood since '00."  Thanks to poetry editor Paul Corman Roberts for this opportunity - I have been a reader (off and on) of this edgy online mag for years, so it is nice to have a chance to contribute.

Hope to be back with more news soon.  I'm on the grind right now.  September has been a good month so far, so I hope to keep things rolling at this pace all the way up to November, when I will be taking the NaNoWriMo challenge (writing a novel in one month).  I'll post again soon, until then...be good.

Prairie Poetry Acceptance

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Good news - just found out that my poem Finding Religion on Interstate 80 has been accepted to appear in a future edition of the online journal Prairie Poetry.  Prairie Poetry offers bi-monthly images and poetry from and of the North American plains — poems to feed the vast open places of the soul. Thanks to editor Marc duPlan for accepting this piece, which is a little different than the bulk of my poetry.  I'll post something when the poem is published in the future.

Micro-fiction piece to appear in The Binnacle

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My short-short story Simple Needs will appear in the 2007 Ultra-short edition of The Binnacle, the literary journal of The University of Maine at Machias.  The piece was chosen as one of the 60 finalists, which were determined from the 600 entries.  This is the second time in the past three years I've been able to contribute to this unique publication; the Ultra-short edition features only prose and poety pieces that are 150 words or less.  Thanks to the staff at The Binnacle for this great opportunity.

So Cool

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Another acceptance. My poem So Cool, a satire piece that subliminally disses the whole “Hollywood starlet gone wild" syndrome (think the three headed monster of Lohan-Spears-Hilton), will be published later this summer online in Death Metal Poetry. DMP is a new online journal based out of Athens, GA. Check out the journal - there are a lot of unconventional and quirky poems (I just read one that mentions Shaquille O'Neal running for president, for example).  Don’t let the headbanging name fool you – there is no death metal music – only edgy poetry, which is why I'll be able to contribute. Much thanks to editor Ryan Downey for selecting my work.

Talking Stick 16

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Good news! My poem wedding song just got accepted for the upcoming edition of The Talking Stick, is a ten year old publication of the Jackpine Writers' Bloc. Showcasing some of the best to be found poetry, prose, fiction and creative nonfiction, The Talking Stick is an honest glimpse into the eyes of writers. Proud to be written and entirely produced by writers and artists of Minnesota, The Talking Stick is a northern treasure. I've been blessed to be part of three of the last four editions, and I'm happy to have a chance to contribute again.  Big thanks to the editor of this publication, Sharon Harris, for appreciating my writing yet again.


There was a time when it seemed every magazine wanted an Adrian S. Potter poem or short story. I rarely got rejected. And then there was a period when it felt all I was getting was rejected. I much prefer the yeses.  Hopefully, I've turned a corner and will be getting a lot more positive feedback.

Inspiration

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Just found out that my poem Meditation on Meditation earned Honorable Mention in the Poetry Society of New Hampshire's May 2007 National Contest.  I'm going to try to use that as inspiration to write - I have several contests I want to enter that have deadlines on June 15th.  I'm working hard to keep my name out there, trying to keep getting publication credits under my belt.  I'll post again soon; until then, be good...

Contest win!

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My poem How the Blues Can Bruise just won the Saturday Writers 2007 One Page Poem Contest.  A little bit of notoriety, a little bit of cash - score.  This poem is a testament to the writing craft, because I have edited and rewritten it no less that twenty times trying to find the absolute right words. Guess I finally found them.  I definitely want to thank the judges and the Saturday Writers for this great opportunity.

"The Essence of Doubt" to be published in Inspirit

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Just received word that Inspirit, a Christian literary journal published by the Baughman Memorial United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania, is interested in publishing my poem The Essence of Doubt.  This poem is a very personal piece about doubt and how it tricks you into wandering from the righteousness path, so I consider it an honor that it will appear in their Winter 2006 edition.  I'd like to thank Gail Varney, the editor, for seeing potential in this poem.  I'll let you know more once the new edition of Inspirit is out.

"Love Commentaries" accepted by "It Takes All Kinds" litzine

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My "Love Commentaries," a triad of prose poems with different viewpoints on love, have been accepted for the fifth issue of It Takes All Kinds, a quartely litzine that includes short stories, poetry, comics, articles, photography and columns from a wide variety of writers and artists.   I had the opportunity to be in the inagural and second issues of this journal, and I am excited to be able to contribute to it yet again.  Misty O’Brien, the editor, has created a noticeable and diverse litzine in a short time, and I appreciate her including me in it.  I will provide further info about the next edition of It Takes All Kinds when it comes out.

Two Poems Accepted by "Velvet Avalanche: Poetry Anthology"

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Received some good news over the weekend - two of my poems, "Savage" and "A Bachelor's Guide to Her Backside," have been accpeted to be part of "Velvet Avalanche", an anthology of erotic and seductive poetry. 

I would like to thank Donna Hill, the editor of this project, for including my work in this collection with many exceptional writers.  I am excited to be part of such an ambitious project that will feature the work of about 75 contributors and will be nearly 200 pages.  It looks like the book will be out in October or November...I'll make a mention on this website when it becomes available.

"Survival Notes" wins 2006 Cervena Barva Press Short Story Prize

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I just received word that my manuscript "Survival Notes" just won the 2006 Cervena Barva Press Short Story Prize for a short fiction chapbook! 

I would like to thank Gloria Mindock (Editor) and Dorthy Freudenthal (Judge) for this opportunity and award.  The chapbook will be out sometime in 2007 and contains several stories that have either won awards in the past or have been published in journals or online.  I think you'll find that it is a good read.  I'll let you know more details as the publication date nears...