If I've counted correctly, I've had 6 poems accepted to various places in the past few weeks and another magazine has solicited me for 2 more. If you'd have told me a few years ago this would be the case... well... I'd have said, "Damn right!"

Submitting poems to magazines over the past few years helped me build up a lot of resilience. Not instant feedback like performing to an audience but feedback nonetheless. When you receive rejection emails every week their sting lessens and you focus on your craft, not your inbox

At first, it seemed strange to welcome rejection into my life. I rarely interview for jobs, even if I'm invited to interview I'm very hesitant. I hate applying for funding, I go whether the application is as simple as possible. But with poetry rejection is just part of the game.

My main advice to anyone sending out poems is to read the magazines for a few issues before sending your work there. Don't keep sending out the same poems if they get rejected, let them rest, write a new batch, send those out, go back to the old ones, make them better, and repeat

Join a writing group, or two, or three. Read lots of poetry, read novels and plays, learn a new language - it's amazing how learning Greek has changed my English. If you have the opportunity to read your poems out loud on open mics, do it as much as you have the time/energy for.

And, most of all, don't give up! Despite having a collection out in 2013, it's not been until recently magazines have taken my work. If you want magazines, keep at it. But also it's not the only way to get your work out there: YouTube, Instagram and self-publishing are all valid.