If you are serious about seeing your work published by reputable publishers, there are a few points you should consider. Firstly and most obviously, you need to determine if you have poetry worth publishing. This assessment can be done by doing something that will not only help you gauge the competitiveness of your poetry, but will give you some viable options for publishing it. Subscribe to literary journals and buy books of poetry. If you do this, what you are doing is searching out the market place. Read the types of poetry that many publishers are publishing and see if the quality of these poems surpasses or is on par with the quality of your own poems.
Read Literary Journals and Poetry Books
Not all literary journals are going to publish the same type of poetry. Some journals will only publish poetry that rhymes, most will not publish poetry that rhymes, and some journals will focus on specific themes such as humanity, nature, or locality. After having perused your bookstores and the many available literary journals, you will more than likely find a publisher who publishes poetry that your very own poetry would compliment. You can find reputable literary publishers by doing a search online, by reading the biographies of respected poets, and by checking out your local universities and colleges. When you find these publishers, write down the name, the address and keep a log, because these are going to be your potential publishers.
Improve Your Chances
The next vital aspect of publishing that you will need to consider is the actual process of getting your works accepted by the publishers. Each publisher will have very specific guidelines for submissions. Read these guidelines carefully and be sure to follow them precisely. Some online publishers will accept submissions via attachments while others frown upon attachments. Following the guidelines is crucial because whether your poetry is Pulitzer Prize quality or not, if you do not follow these guidelines, there is a good chance that your submissions will never even get read.
Be Savvy
Also, do a little research before submitting your work to a publisher. Invest in resource materials for poets such as The Poet's Market. The better educated you are with regard to the publishing industry, the better your chances of avoiding the hassle of fighting scams and vanity presses. Because poetry is a hard market to sell, most publishers are struggling to stay afoot. Since there is such a small market for those seeking to buy poetry, vanity presses capitalize on the overwhelming desire of the public to become published.
Cover Letters
Aside from researching the market, you should sharpen your skills at writing cover letters with the same intensity that you sharpen your skills at writing poetry. You can search online workshops and information sites about poetry, or you can refer to The Poet's Market for more information on writing cover letters. Not all publishers will necessitate cover letters, but a good cover letter will improve the chances of the editors actually reading your poetry.
Expect Rejections
Finally, expect a few rejections. As I previously mentioned, there is an overwhelming imbalance between the number of people who are looking to buy literary journals and books as compared to those who wish to publish it. Do not be discouraged if your work is rejected. Try revising it and sending it out to another publisher. Also, despite the fact that a rejection can make you want to send out your piece to several different publishers at once, you should never send your work to multiple publishers.
When a publisher accepts your work, enjoy the pride that comes along with such esteem. You will be on your way to building a portfolio. Getting your poetry published by various publishers is sometimes a slow and arduous adventure, but it is well worth the time and work.
Devrie Paradowski has been published by several literary journals such as Adagio Verse Quarterly, Eclips e-zine and Meeting of the Minds Journal. She has also published articles with Poetry Renewal Magazine. She is the editor of LE Quarterly: http://www.literaryescape.com/journal/
no-contract cleaning service Glenview ..Let's follow the poet to his Hell and heaven! Count... Read More
Black Blood, in Jeremiah's Vines [A Dream Poem]And I heard... Read More
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
I am not the one I was before yesterday.I cannot... Read More
You make me smile like I've seldom done before You... Read More
I get up in the morningAnd want to stay in... Read More
The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile, Then... Read More
War bombs may explode demolishing man and land. Hurricanes may... Read More
Is poetry too complicated for the average reader? Is it... Read More
My life has changedin so so many waysIt seems to... Read More
I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times. Stores were closed... Read More
Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More
The Poet's Corner [Three poem/ see review of poetry under... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More
Four Poems: Katrina's PathwayHarvest of Apoplectic Horses ((Dedicated to: Katrina))... Read More
Delicately, my mind was selecting a muffled tune, out of... Read More
"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More
In this modern age of technology, busy lifestyles, and obsession... Read More
In the quiet of the arctic night- In its deep... Read More
Kamalakanta was born in Burdwan India in the late 18th... Read More
Daybreak at Pikes Creek [Summer of 2005]Daybreak by Lake Superior... Read More
The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More
house cleaning company Glencoe ..Supernatural PoetryHere are five poems,-what I call-death and supernatural poems.... Read More
Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More
No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More
Like a cat I slumber, blissfully unencumbered, Through eighty per... Read More
Atahualpa's Game [Peruvian]Sometimes, it's not wise To share your wisdom... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
"For this reason poetry is something more philosophical and more... Read More
Burning Autumn Leaves [1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]My long steel... Read More
It was not me as I am now. It was... Read More
I never met a man, who could shake my hand,... Read More
I am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More
Tale of the Brick Maker, Of San Jer?nimo, Peru... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
In this modern age of technology, busy lifestyles, and obsession... Read More
If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile, Then... Read More
The Poet's Corner [Three poem/ see review of poetry under... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
1) Do?a Leonor's Revenge [1627 AD]Rafael Ortiz's fate Was... Read More
1.Night in Jamaica [Peruvianism: 1810]It was a rainy night... Read More
Ole Bulky JeepsThrough late summer's heat These bulky shaped jeeps... Read More
How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
Learn about love by reading poetry by a long dead... Read More
When I hear your voice inside my head it makes... Read More
Poetry |