A GALAXY OF VERSE
Hi, I'm Barbara Blanks, your new A Galaxy of Verse (GOV) Editor.
I am also a current Director of the Poetry Society of Texas (PST), will be its Recording Secretary in September, 2010, and am the current Librarian for PST.
If you go to the PST website and e-mail any of the officers, they can verify who I am. http://poetrysocietyoftexas.org/PST_home.html
My other credentials: I've written two books (one memoir, one poetry), and write on assignment for the Senior Voice in Dallas, and RubberStampMadness, a national magazine, plus I’ve won/placed/showed in a variety of poetry and prose contests, and have been published here and there by same.
Here is the short version:
- GOV is non-profit 501-c (3) Literary Foundation.
- Membership is $20/year, which will consist of two issues if finances allow.
- It publishes two member-submitted poems (no more than two pages) written by each member.
- Members receive at least one anthology at no additional charge.
- Members may enter contests and win cash prizes at no additional charge.
- Non-members may enter contests for $3 each; First Place poems are published, prizes are awarded, and one complimentary copy sent.
- Only one entry per person per contest.
- You do not have to be a member to sponsor contests. However, contest sponsors do not automatically receive a copy of the anthology. (Financial reasons.)
- Please use Times New Roman or Arial Font, 12 point; no fancy fonts. Single space. Please send them as a Word .doc attachment to galaxyofverse@gmail.com Be sure to include your name. (Editor reserves the right to reject any blatantly inappropriate poems and poems that do not meet the standards of this publication.)
- Patronage is greatly appreciated to help fund printing, postage and other expenses. Patronage donations (tax-deductible) begin at $20. If not already a member of GOV, patrons will receive one copy of current issue.
- You do not have to be a member of any other poetry society to be a GOV member.
Now the longer version: Please read for important details!
1. A Galaxy of Verse is a non-profit 501-c (3) Literary Foundation, which publishes member-submitted poems, sponsors cash-prize contests, hosts member-sponsored cash-prize contests, and aims to produce two issues of its anthology each year. Finances are the final determination, which is why sponsorship is so important.
2. As a member, you may submit up to two of your poems for publication, total of which cannot exceed two pages of print (like the front and back of a page is two pages.) More poems are allowed if you're submitting very short poems, like haikus.
a. Poems may be previously published ONLY if you have the rights to them.
b. Please be sure you didn't sell or give away all rights to any poems you submit here.
c. Please state where poems were previously published.
d. GOV claims First Publishing Rights only on previously unpublished poems. All other rights revert back to the author after publication.
3. Please use Times New Roman or Arial Font, 12 point; no fancy fonts. Single space. Please send them as a Word .doc attachment to galaxyofverse@gmail.com Be sure to include your name. (Editor reserves the right to reject any blatantly inappropriate poems and poems that do not meet the standards of this publication.)
4.To become a member send $20 (check or money order), payable to A Galaxy of Verse to:
A Galaxy of Verse
Barbara Blanks, Editor
1518 Running River Rd
Garland, TX 75044-7254
5. Note: I still would prefer receiving your poems via e-mail (MS Word .doc attachment) at galaxyofverse@gmail.com
Be sure to include your current contact information for the next member directory.
6. If you are in a poetry group or a chapter of the PST, PLEASE encourage all your members to become subscribers to GOV. It's a wonderful way to get your poems published, have a chance to win cash prizes at no extra entry fee, and receive a copy of the current issue.
7. Patronage is greatly appreciated to help fund printing, postage, and other expenses. Patronage donations (tax-deductible) begin at $20. If not already a member of GOV, patrons will receive one copy of current issue.
8. To sponsor a contest (minimum cash prize award $15): Send your contest information. State specific subject and poetry form if desired, line limit, who is judging the contest, and other pertinent information, along with a check payable to: A Galaxy of Verse to me at:
GOV Contest Sponsor
Barbara Blanks, Editor
1518 Running River Rd
Garland, TX 75044-7254
a. Only one entry per person per contest.
b. Send two hard copies of poem(s) to address above. One copy with your identification on it, one copy with No identification. (Blind judging on all contests.) Both copies should have contest name on it.
c. Entered poems cannot have been previously published, nor can they have won first place in any other contest.
d. By entering any sponsored contest, you are confirming the work is your creation, and you own the rights to it. You're also confirming # 8c.
e. Only First Place winners will be published. You will be asked to send an e-mail Word .doc attachment to the Editor at that time.
f. Non-member Sponsors will not automatically receive a copy of the anthology. While Sponsors are appreciated, none of the prize money goes toward GOV expenses.
9. Non-members may enter contests for an entry fee of $3 Per Contest entered. Only First Place poems will receive the cash prize, publication in GOV and a complimentary copy. If a Sponsor wishes to fund 2nd and 3rd place prizes, that's great, but those poems will not be published, nor will complimentary copies be sent.
10. Being a member means you ascertain authorship of your poems, agree to allow GOV to publish your poems, that you retain the rights to your poems. Poems may not be entered in any contests outside of GOV or submitted elsewhere for possible publication while being held for publication in GOV.
11. Plan for the future: GOV has always had a limited print run in the past; once copies were gone, they were gone. A limited number of books will still be printed locally, but this Editor is planning on extending the life of the issues by using a Print on Demand company also. POD will allow members and non-members to order as many additional copies as desired. POD printing and shipping is paid for by the individual buyer. That account is not yet set up, so stay tuned.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions.
Barbara Blanks
your new, dedicated, determined--and delightful Editor
Visit me at www.barbara-blanks.com