David,
Your: "Like many others, I feel rather strange using the word "career" in relation to poetry. Frost's uniting of avocation with vocation says it better. In any case, Tim suggested I be available to discuss career issues and I thought I'd begin with one tiny suggestion here."
Vocation is money, isn't it? More or less? So what should a poet do? Teaching, reviews, books on poetry, talks, seminars, etc, are good, but do poetical aspirations relate to ambition?
I see poets heading to the poorhouse when they get older. University pensions? Tenure? Not exactly avocation/vocation, is it, if you can get it?
Poets seem so anxious to be published they let 'editors' push them around.
Don't almost all of the other arts pay? I happen to know a couple poets who would like to make it happen.
What should a poet do, and how can they make poetry pay?
If you have any good ideas, PM me.
TJ