Crafting Words That Matter: Katerina Stoykova on Poetry, Publishing, and Persistence

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when an eight-year-old girl from communist Bulgaria decides she's going to be a poet? Katerina Stoykova joins us to share her remarkable journey from the shores of the Black Sea to becoming a published author, publisher, and literary community builder in Kentucky.Katerina's story begins with a pivotal childhood moment when a visiting poet sparked an unshakable desire to write poetry. With disarming honesty, she recounts telling her mother about her dream and immediately writing her first poem, determined to prove herself. This early conviction carried her through years of honing her craft, from publishing in magazines as a teenager to finally releasing her first book in her thirties.Drawing from her fifteen years of experience as founder of Accents Publishing, Katerina offers invaluable guidance for writers navigating the publishing landscape. She breaks down exactly what to look for in a publisher (longevity, fair contracts, good distribution), how to scrutinize publishing contracts, and the factors to consider when choosing between traditional and self-publishing paths. Her practical advice demystifies the often-confusing publishing process with refreshing clarity.Perhaps most valuable is Katerina's wisdom on handling rejection—an inevitable companion to creative work. Rather than being crushed by rejection or wearing it as a badge of honor, she advocates for emotional neutrality: "Take every rejection as a data point, just like Thomas Edison said about finding ways not to make a light bulb." This perspective, coupled with her three non-negotiables for writers (reading, writing, and workshopping), provides a sustainable framework for creative growth.Subscribe to hear more conversations with fascinating creators who are living their dreams and building meaningful careers through passion and persistence. How might your own creative journey benefit from Katerina's insights? https://a.co/d/0Fry5XjWant to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600Support the show