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Vocal Deep Cuts: The Poetry Collection Progress Update and Requests

Details of progress on the anthology I am curating featuring underappreciated poems by Vocal Creators.

By Paul StewartPublished 10 months ago • Updated 10 months ago • 6 min read
Vocal Deep Cuts: The Poetry Collection Progress Update and Requests
Photo by Caju Gomes on Unsplash

Hello one and all!

As most of you will hopefully remember, I proposed my plans for self-publishing an anthology collection of underappreciated gems on Vocal. It was first posted as an entry to the New Year, New Projects Challenge.

My original piece for the challenge was called Introducing Vocal Deep Cuts: The Poetry Collection.

I am still not settled on a title, as I do feel, as Stephen A. Roddewig, who has been a great supporter and voice of wisdom behind the scenes, feel it may not be understandable to anyone looking at the book on Amazon (where it will be sold). So the title is still in progress.

I requested a maximum of three submissions that met the criteria, and then I would choose the one I thought was best.

The submission window ended at on March 1st. As we are now at the end of March and I have finally read through all the submissions I've been given, I thought it was time for an update. Yes, I have taken quite a long time to read through the submissions. I shot myself in the foot a little and then procrastinated and other things came up that required my attention more. So, apologies, but we have some movement.

Thank you to everyone that has already shown their support for the project and submitted their pieces. It was hard to choose one from each of the three poems the majority of you submitted. They were all great and all worthy of inclusion.

List of Poems (So far)

Here is the list of the writers, poems and links that will be included in the book:

Problems With Progress - New Submission Date

As you can see, there are only 19. Although I am bowled over as ever by the support you have shown, I feel that this is still a little shorter than I would hope for and I know there are some names missing from the above list that showed interest in the project.

So, I am planning on opening for submissions again until the end of April and then I will assess how many we have in total for the book.

I want to progress with the book as much as you all are likely excited for it to be published, but I want to make it an affordable venture. I also don't want anyone to miss out, either.

So, if your name is not in the list above, or you know of anyone on Vocal who is likely to be interested in having a piece of their poetry that meets the guidelines in this collection, please tell them, share this post with them or direct them to it, whichever way.

I would encourage anyone who has still to submit to read the original piece, for all the details, but here as a refresher, is the most important section:

What Is Vocal Deep Cuts: A Poetry Collection?

Inspired by the original series, this project will showcase a curated selection of poems from the incredible talent pool on Vocal. I aim to create a beautiful, accessible book that celebrates our community and amplifies our voices.

To make this project feasible, I’ve established a few guidelines:

Submissions: Creators can submit up to three poems, but I will only select one poem per contributor. I want everyone to share the spotlight. Important note - you can only put forward your own poems. The submission window closes on April 30, 2025.

Submission Process: Please submit the links for the poems you are submitting in the comments thread of this piece

Qualifications: As per the guidelines I tried to follow when running the Vocal Deep Cuts series, I consider underappreciated, under loved etc as being pieces with less than 10 likes and/or comments. I would also suggest that Challenge winners, Runners up and Top Stories will not be accepted, unless they have less than 10 likes/10 comments.

Length: Each poem must be between 35 and 40 lines, including stanza breaks, to keep the book affordable and manageable. I also want to add that 35 to 40 lines is a really a guide to the maximum, so if you have one that is less, then please do submit it.

Proofreading: Please proofread your work before submitting it. While I’ll review pieces during publishing, a polished submission ensures your voice comes through as intended.

Formats: The collection will be available in Kindle and paperback formats in all countries where KDP books are sold.

Poetry Forms: All poetic styles are welcome—diversity is part of what makes poetry magical. Although I am happy to accept poetry with strange syntax and unique spacing, please remember to consider the line requirements and that I am just one amateur self-publishing individual.

Acknowledgement: Each poem will include the writer’s name and be nicely formatted in a font size and type that makes it easy to read.

Foreword: I had originally thought to leave details out like this before posting this. However, it makes sense to mention that there will be a Foreword that will outline my reasons for taking on the project and give a little information on what Vocal is for anyone who may potentially buy the book who are not members of the platform. I will also then use the Foreword to make sure it is clear that all rights to the works contained within remain with the listed authors. Thanks, Stephen.

Contributor Bios: As Stephen pointed out in the comments section, it's standard practice for multi-author collections to feature author bios for all contributors. I have yet to decide whether these will be included alongside the poems or be at the back of the book. That depends on how many submissions I receive. Regardless, the bios give a little more real estate for the authors and is a great place for the authors to plug their Vocal profiles, author websites or even podcasts. Contributor bios are normally restricted by length, with 50 words or 2 to 3 sentences, in collections for shorter pieces like poetry. Thanks again, Stephen.

Launch: Once the book is live, I’ll publish a piece on Vocal celebrating the contributors and announcing its release.

As the success and progress of this project depends on the interest it generates, the finer details will be ironed out as time goes on. The title Vocal Deep Cuts: A Poetry Collection is not set in stone. I may change it slightly to help garner interest from non-Vocal users and members in purchasing it.

A Quick Note

While this project is primarily a labour of love, I want to be upfront: I will earn a small amount from the book’s sales as the self-publisher. However, this project isn’t about personal profit—it’s about celebrating the talent in our community. All rights to the selected poems will remain with their creators. My hope is that this collection becomes a lasting testament to the fantastic voices we have here on Vocal.

Final Words of Something

I have asked Ruth to start thinking about a watercolour piece. I know she's not done painting for a while, but she is still into the idea of producing something new for the cover. Sorry, this update is not as positive as it could be. But, I hope you understand that I want it to be the best and most inclusive it possibly can be.

For anyone whose name is in the list - if you want to help progress the project further, you could send me a Contributor Bio. The details are listed above. But here is the most important details "50 words or 2 to 3 sentences, in collections for shorter pieces like poetry."

Thank you for reading and thank you for your continued support and contributions.

I hope this all makes sense. If any of it doesn't or you need clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.

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About the Creator

Paul Stewart

Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.

The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!

Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!

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