As I move ever deeper into the third
print run of Whatever You Do, Just Don’t, I find myself reflecting more and more on the complete
irrelevance and absolute significance of sales figures.
Sales are completely irrelevant to me as an objective or target, but on the other hand their growth brings
with it an accumulation of readers, who are by far the most important part of my
whole creative process. Without a reader’s enjoyment, my poems would seem
self-indulgent.
Then there’s the fact that no
favour trading or box ticking are involved in someone’s decision to sit down
with a collection, and engage with it. The gaining of a reader is by far the
greatest award that a poet can win.
I’ve come to believe that slow-burning word of mouth is the most solid, long-lasting way to build a reputation as a poet. Do you agree…?
