Old Scratch Press founding member, poet and novelist, Anthony Doyle has a few suggestions:
“Science fiction envisions the future. The best way to imagine future change is to look at how and when change occurred in the past.
The drivers seldom change: climate, war, and famine. None of those indicators are looking particularly good for humanity right now. Dudley Young’s masterful, poetic, and irreverent scholarly work about the origins of the sacred in human history is the most enjoyable and rewarding book I have read on human evolution and development. So many things began to make sense to me after reading it.”
In a world overflowing with books, it’s not easy to choose what to read next. But if you’re looking for a captivating journey that promises to inspire, enlighten, and entertain, look no further than Break in the Field by Ellis Elliott. Why would you add this book to your reading list?
A Fresh Perspective on Life:Break in the Field offers refreshing insights into resilience, determination, and the pursuit of meaningful family life. Elliott’s storytelling has a unique ability to make you see your own life in a new way.
Relatable Stories: All poems are also stories, and stories in Break in the Field are relatable and well-developed. You’ll find yourself emotionally invested in this engaging and immersive read.
Inspirational Themes: One of the standout qualities of Break in the Field is its ability to tackle complex and thought-provoking themes like the nature and limitations of parenting, and the importance of community and self-discovery, weaving a rich tapestry of ideas and experiences that, while very intimate, will resonate with readers from all walks of life. Elliott’s writing style is both elegant and accessible. The book flows effortlessly, making it easy to immerse yourself in the poems. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or new to literature, you’ll appreciate the skillful storytelling and vivid descriptions found within the pages of this book.
“This gripping, heart wrenching exploration of her inner most thoughts and feelings while caring for her extreme needs stepson, “[whose] brain vessels shattered at birth into a million stars,” are so raw, so deeply forthright, from a place of such compassion, tenderness, and introspection that I found myself tearful many times.” KARI GUNTER-SEYMOUR Ohio Poet Laureate and author of ALONE IN THE HOUSE OF MY HEART
Support for a Talented Author: By purchasing Break in the Field you’re supporting a talented poet on her literary journey. Discovering and promoting new voices in literature is essential to the vibrant world of storytelling, and your purchase contributes to this endeavor.
Break in the Field, by Ellis Elliott, is more than just a collection of poetry; it’s an immersive experience that will challenge, inspire, and move you. With relatable characters, unexpected twists, and a narrative that delves deep into the human experience, this book is a valuable addition to any rlibrary. Purchase your copy here and embark on an unforgettable literary adventure.
For many decades, my poetry writing was a private pursuit. By limiting word selection and phrases to focus only on what really mattered, poetry served to capture my observations and innermost thoughts and months later I could revisit those thoughts and perhaps develop them into a story or essay.
On special occasions and for friends, I would write poems, but these were personal gifts.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought about sending poems out to be published. I’d had some “Beginner’s Luck” in college and had a few poems published in a small local magazine, but when I started sending poetry to national publications, all I received were rejections. The pre-printed rejection forms were too painful to read. I packed away my poetry manuscripts and kept my poetry to myself.
I could consider myself in good company. After her death in 1886, Emily Dickinson’s family found 1800 unpublished poems compiled into booklets, amongst her things. The very first volume of Emily Dickinson poetry was published in 1890.
Statistically, the majority of literary magazines publishing poetry only accept approximately three percent of the poems they receive for consideration.
Old Scratch Press Collective member and published poet Virginia Watts says, “I consider myself more of a prose writer who turns to poetry to express creatively in a less structured way.” She has been writing poetry for over sixteen years.
“I believe it is very important for those new to poetry,” Virginia says, “to learn as much as they can about the craft of writing. For poetry, that means taking as many classes at locale universities as you can, attending workshops and getaways where a person can study traditional forms of poetry such sonnets, pastoral poetry, haiku, ode. Try your hand at these. Learn about meter and rhyme scheme, enjambment, alliteration, and so on. The more you know about poetry the better it is for finding your unique voice and style as a poet.”
So, what made me decide years later to send a few poems out for publication consideration? I realized that perhaps the short flash pieces of prose I’d successfully published might be considered by some to be prose poems. I decided to challenge myself to revisit other poem forms I’d tried in the past and be brave.
Virginia says, “When I select poems to submit, I generally give my poems some time to sit on the backburner without me. When I return to them a few months later, I can see where final revisions are needed. I submit a batch of poems that reflect where my poetry is at the moment. That simply means ideas that came to me that I couldn’t shake until I had written them down.”
“Read poetry.” says Virginia Watts, “Listen to poets read their work. When you are ready join a poetry workshop where other poets will read and offer honest suggestions for editing your work.”
So here comes the tricky part, if you decide to start submitting to publications. 1) Read as many literary publications that publish poetry as you can. If you like what they publish and you think your work would be a good fit, submit your best. 2) To find data bases of publications check out Poets and Writers, Duotrope, Chill Subs, and Submittable. Some publications charge submission fees and some don’t. Take into account how many writers statistically they are known to reject and keep that in mind when you submit. 3) Keep good records with dates of submissions, responses, and any feedback. While most rejections are form letters, some will invite you to waive the waiting period for resubmission or even in rare instances invite you to re-submit with revisions. 4) Expect to submit as many as thirty times before you achieve success, depending on where you are sending your work. Good luck and if you are over forty and have poetry that fits the current theme, check out our sister publication ( published by Devil’s Party Press) Instant Noodles Literary Magazine.
Thank you for reading and don’t forget to sign up to follow this blog for more useful writer’s tips and information. We love hearing from our readers. Let us know what you want to know more about.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It can be heartbreaking, gut wrenching, and bleak.
At the same time, it is loving, faithful, soaring and inspiring.
A constant theme emerges – the fierce love of a mother for her son. But the intensity of that love takes a toll. After all, who is there to care for the caregiver? A caregiver that experienced her own broken childhood, surrounded by rings of cigarette smoke and uncertainty?
Ultimately there is a search for faith and understanding, and the author is open to whatever form provides the answers she is desperately seeking, whether that be Christianity, Buddhism or even tarot cards.
Ultimately, unknowingly, the author has already reached the Nirvana she is seeking. By loving her son unconditionally, that is enough.
“A deeply felt collection of candid verse.” KIRKUS
“Ellis Elliott’s compelling Break in the Field creates associations between humanity, nature, and time that deserve not only individual inspection and appreciation, but spirited discussions about contemporary poetry’s ability to attract and react to life’s events with bigger-picture reflections about growth, freedom, and life lessons.” MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
“This gripping, heart wrenching exploration of her inner most thoughts and feelings while caring for her extreme needs stepson, “[whose] brain vessels shattered at birth into a million stars,” are so raw, so deeply forthright, from a place of such compassion, tenderness, and introspection that I found myself tearful many times.” KARI GUNTER-SEYMOUR Ohio Poet Laureate and author of ALONE IN THE HOUSE OF MY HEART
Devil’s Party proudly presents BREAK IN THE FIELD, a captivating and heartfelt poetry collection by Ellis Elliott. Deeply personal, Ellis’ collection looks at the enlightening experience of parenting a profoundly disabled stepson, while simultaneously embracing the other shifts in mid-life.
A 2023 National Book Award nominee title, this outstanding collection arrives July 2023 under the DPP imprint, Old Scratch Press.
Old Scratch Press (OSP) was formed as a way to help poets get their poetry out there. It is our hope that someday we will offer many opportunities for poets. Our first mission, though, was to see if we could publish the books of the group members, as a way to see if we could support each other, function well as a cohesive group, etc., before we took on other people and their poetry or short-form dreams.
And so the first OSP book has been released: Break in the Field by Ellis Elliott. Why is Ellis’ book first? She won the coin-toss, or, in our virtual case, the random-#-generator-toss.
However, that luck of the draw does not lesson the beauty of the book. It’s a beautiful book, and the poetry is accessible and so relatable. I have a daughter with a disability, and I found this, really, meditation on mothering and parenting, so moving and important. I also worked for years in group homes and etc. for people with disabilities, and the book really speaks to me because it humanizes people with disabilities, and, too often, their disabilities make them so unable to make good contact with those of us of average capabilities, that we never stop to imagine their needs or feelings or think that they even have desires. Ellis’ book tackles that notion of supplying the concept of being human from the outside in, to a person who can seem like an object more than a person. I struggled, in my years as a staff trainer, to help the staff I trained to come around to that more full view of the people we took care of, but it was a tough sell, sadly, to some of the staff. Ellis’ makes it something we don’t learn, but we feel and know in our bones. I love this book for that.
The cover is a photo of one of the dollhouses Ellis rehabs as one of her artistic outlets. On her blog she has a very lovely post explaining how she came to want to have that as her cover, and I think you’d enjoy that too. Ellis is also in process on a cozy mystery series, and I highly suggest you follow her on her very interesting blog, especially if you are an author, or an aspiring author, as she offers lots of writing tips.
I earned my MFA as a poet, something I never expected to get into when I decided to further study writing, and I’ve always really loved poetry (my own included…. lol) and I am so very happy that we can publish poetry. The book was put together by the Devil’s Party Press crew of two, but also proofread and dusted and cleaned by volunteers from the collective. There is no way at all, though, that I, or Dave and I, could have done it without all of the OSP members: Nadja, Ellis, Anthony, David, Ginny, Gabby, Janet, Alan, Morgan, and stalwart meeting leader, Robert, may the poetry gods bless him for always remembering to hit record, among other things. These folks are volunteering their time to show up to Saturday morning meetings, to take minutes (the ultimate sacrifice) at these meetings, to edit each others’ books, and working to promote each others’ books, and that is what every author needs, a team of supporters. Poets are not TikTok influencers, racking up 10,000 likes, but poetry is more important. I think that poetry makes the unexplainable able to be shared; that’s how I would sum it up. I’m not sure which of the members volunteered to do an edit and proofread for Ellis, but all of the members are helping OSP in general, to grow.
Back in 1989 when I was putting a poem and two dollar bills in an envelope with an SASE and sending it off in the mail, I almost never even found out if the poem had reached its destination, but when it did make it, I always received a request back, in my SASE, to please subscribe to the Zine. I never did, because I made about 60/week, and most of that went on bus fare, and, frankly, I didn’t care about other people’s poetry. I cared about mine. But, that was wrong. I mean, I couldn’t help the financial situation back then, and, though that hasn’t much changed now (lol), when I have a friend put out a poetry collection, or a poet I don’t know but admire puts out a new collection, I buy it. I usually buy two, actually, and give one as a gift. Without people doing that, poetry will fade from view, and we’ll lose something that is all magic. Magic is rare. Poetry is one way to hold magic.
The collective is going to curate the holiday/end-of-year issue of Instant Noodles, and choose the theme for next year’s issues, and we are in talks to see what other opportunities we can provide for poetry readers and writers, so follow us, and see what we bring to the world of poetry and short-form writing, and, if we make it. We could end up as a fabulous poetry cooperative, or as the modern, poetic version of the Donner Party, or anything in between. This is still an experiment. So far, I think we can feel quite proud, all of us in the group, of our first book.
And I am really excited for the next book too: White Noir, by Robert Fleming. It’s very different from Break in the Field, and I like the diversity of movement from one book to the next, and that our group has such variety of style. It is very exciting. White Noir should be up for pre-order in the coming months…. hopefully sooner than later, but there hasn’t been an author, from a single story or poem, to a whole book, who hasn’t had to be patient waiting for DPP to get caught up. 🙂 We appreciate the patience, and we hope you’ll follow along on the great experiment of OSP.
Thank you for supporting these wonderful authors, and independent publishing, and authors over 40, and late bloomers, and poetry, art, words as art…. It means so much to me.
Congratulations, Old Scratch Press, on a book successfully and collaboratively done.
Congratulation Ellis, on your wonderful book of poetry.
We are proud to announce that Old Scratch Press will be publishing Gabby’s first chapbook of poems. The working title is No Ocean Spit Me Out. Approximately 30 pages in length, the poems in No Ocean Spit Me Out explore the dynamics and evolution of family relationships. It is scheduled for release in 2024, so keep following our website as well as Gabby for more details.
OLD SCRATCH PRESS 