Book editors hate poetry?

Shortly after I blogged about online children's magazine, Wee Ones, I (and my fellow writers) learned that the magazine will be folding after 2008.

*sigh*

For those of us who write children's poetry, it's a sad announcement indeed.

The markets for children's poetry are few and far between. And if you differentiate between funny/humorous/silly poetry and (for lack of a better word) "serious" poetry the choices for each can practically be counted on one hand. (It is rare to find a market that publishes both silly and serious poetry.)

I must confess I don't understand this lack. Children love poetry. They love the rhythm, the sounds, the joy of it. So why are there so few markets for children's poetry?

I'm reminded of a statement I read not too long ago on an author's web site. While giving advice to novice writers, she said (and I'm paraphrasing but not by much): Picture book editors hate poetry.

On the one hand, I understand what she was saying and why. Editors, whether magazine or book, see a lot of bad poetry. A lot. And I'm sure they get tired of seeing it. It clogs up the pipelines. Turns piles of slush into mountains. Steering new writers away from submitting poetry until they know what good poetry is and can actually write it, is a kindness to all.

And yet...and yet...

Picture book editors hate poetry? Even the good stuff?

What a sad commentary on the state of the market.

Sweet dreams are made of this

I received a phone call yesterday from the editor at Blooming Tree Press. They've accepted a poem of mine to be in their new fully-illustrated picture book anthology to be called Sweet Dreams.

I haven't stopped smiling yet.

Of course, the downside is it won't be coming out until 2009 (illustrations and four-color printing take time). But I can wait.

That's a lot of smiling, but I can wait. :)

Webmasters: What are they thinking?

I just put up an article at Playground Prime that some of you may find of interest. If you own a web site that is geared toward children, you might want to take a look.

I'm still shaking my head.

My newest web project

Playground Prime, an Internet directory of people who create literature, art, and music for the entertainment of children. If you fit the bill, come join the fun!