October Reading and Feeling Defeated

Since October is "horror month" for most people, I'm going to do a reading on my YouTube channel on the 19th. The event will be under an hour. I promise to read at least one thing not previously published online. There will be an archive, so don't worry if you miss it. 

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I'm thinking a lot about my future as a speculative (horror/fantasy/sci-fi) author. The difficulties with publishing Blighted Feast make me believe that presses (perhaps even readers) don't want horror poetry as an entire book. I love writing it, but it might be something kept for myself. Or it could be the dejection talking.

So many magazines consider short horror fiction, and quite a few accept poetry as well. When you look at the publishers considering book-length projects, you find almost no one will touch it. Why are magazines filled to the brim with horror verse and short, freaky fiction but presses turn up their noses?

I suppose, in a world where poetry doesn't make money, splintering off into speculative could mean the book is even less likely to gain traction. Most small publishers (often the ones who take more risks) still have to be realistic. If the audience isn't there, it's just a guaranteed loss.

My horror poetry is a fairly large departure from my literary work. It isn't personal. There is little that relates to the human condition. It's just (hopefully) entertainment; maybe it isn't enough in a world where cheap thrills are as close as a click away.

Two different presses almost took my book. It should hearten me. But it doesn't. Two chances is a significant amount when there are under twenty total. The book was rejected five times and ignored at least three more. I know new presses begin every year. I know rejection is subjective and all that jazz. I know... but it still suckaroos. 

Not all manuscripts are meant to be published. Is Blighted Feast one of those? Am I holding onto false hope because I conflate the book being accepted twice as being publishable?