Writing Milestone: Poetry
Dozens of poetry submissions, only rejections: until now!
Daniel Dore
8/7/20261 min read
Writing Milestone: Poetry
In the past several of my devotional pieces have been published, and also a Creative Non-Fiction piece. Then came the acceptance of a personal story for a collection called: The Wind at Your Back (I will let you know when it comes out this Fall!) But breaking in with poetry journals was a tougher nut to crack.
I sent out dozens of submissions over almost a year of trying but still only received rejections (albeit with some encouraging words to keep submitting, along with some free advice listing other publications in the “poetriverse” to target.)
Then I listened to a recorded zoom meeting from Poetry University, since I could not attend “live” due to my work schedule. At the end of the session Kimberly Phinney, the teacher, shared some journals that were currently open to submissions. I sent out two or three poems to several publications on this curated list, receiving rejections from all but one. Vessels of Light Literary Journal accepted one of my poems for their Message in a Bottle issue, Summer 2026. You can read my poem, Mountain Cliffs, on their website at:
https://www.vesselsoflightlit.com
You will see this message: "Our summer issue, Message in a Bottle, is now live!" Click on the Read Now link. When the ezine appears, make it full page. Keep clicking the page-turning icon until you reach page 40, where my poem appears. Then at the end of the journal there is a list of authors and their short biographies. Mine appears on the second page of bios.
This victory has encouraged me to keep writing poetry and to keep submitting. I hope it encourages you too, with your creative endeavors. I think Jesus’ words ring true when applied to this the context of not giving up but continuing to create and to submit: Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7-8)
