Dear friends, followers and casual poetry lovers,
I want to firstly thank those of you who remain as followers on this blog. You are the best!
Life goes on and none of us ever stay in the same place, right? For awhile, I’ve had this as my casual blog for poems. First intended as a travel blog, then a place for oddball poems the literary journals didn’t seem to like. Then it became the number one place for my poems, and for a good year or so before the lockdowns this was my sole outlet.
Beyond Norcal has certainly been a lovely accoutrement to being away from where I’m from, and brings back lots of hungry poet memories. I certainly don’t wish to do away with it just yet, for sentimental reasons. This year I plan on thinking deeply about how I can continue using it. I even have a new logo planned for it!
But right now I am centering my literary output on Substack. While there is little many of us can say about the world that is nice, I gotta hand it to them: they really make it possible for an independent writer to thrive. Substack gives me hope that independent writing can flourish in this corporate, anti-art technocracy we’ve found ourselves in.
To all of you still interested in reading my poems, I would like to invite you to go to timelessfelixpurat.substack.com and subscribe. Not only will you get a lot more writing on a regular basis: you’ll get updates about my self-publication plans, which will most certainly include poetry collections. My first self-published novel, Calm Before an Earthquake, will be out in June so definitely subscribe to keep abreast of that development!
There will be, among other things, a weekly poem every Saturday. (first one published tomorrow!) I will aim for the longer form, since I think my strengths lie there in a looser, yet mildly structured format. The poems will be available to paid subscribers – while this might annoy some, I don’t feel I can truly devote myself to writing anymore of any kind unless I can make a living from it somehow. Writers do not just write: they live the writers life. They are not meant to be the pets of university creative writing programs, but to be out there in the world soaking up what they come across.
My poems will, however, be just one of several goodies that come with a paid subscription. And those who can’t afford a paid subscription will be content for the moment with the goodies that come with a free subscription; I am conscious that this is an economically trying time. You will see for yourself today, when my first publication comes out! (NOTE: wait a week before trying the free trial! As I am just starting, I want a few more publications up first so that you can maximally benefit from full access and see what you can get. Wednesday the 22nd is a good first day)
And I should mention that while the phrase ‘making a living’ might connote certain things to certain people, it will not involve any kind of surrendering of artistry, or honest expression. On the contrary! I would say that the biggest hampering of artistry has been letting myself be intimidated by what the publishing industry wants, while lamenting the narrow-mindedness of independent publishers. At some point, one has to take a hint when 75% of rejections say “this is not what we’re looking for right now.” But I am right here, right now all the same!
That period is now over. The short period of unadulterated poetry you guys saw a couple years ago and supported here will now be taken to the 2.0 level. It would mean a lot to me to have you guys join me.
The poems here on Beyond Norcal will, naturally, remain out there for people to enjoy. But they are the poems of another age. A lot has changed since the covid lockdowns.
I hope to see you on Substack! And thanks again for following.
Cheers,
- Felix, The Tired Knight
Felix Purat 