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/
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareI am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More
Thank youDedicated to soldiers and their loved onesFor those who... Read More
Delicately, my mind was selecting a muffled tune, out of... Read More
Grandpa's House [The ole Real House]The house needed painting Sun-blistered... Read More
Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my wounds Let your waves curl... Read More
Memoirs of a Wasteland's RimIt still was light when she... Read More
I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
1.Evil's CreationThou knowith evil clings To tender peace-; Nor does... Read More
1) Do?a Leonor's Revenge [1627 AD]Rafael Ortiz's fate Was... Read More
The Monster Mash The Graveyard SmashHave you heard of the... Read More
Cesar Vallejo: Black RosesBow down your head ol' poet- To... Read More
Asha of DarfurCry, cry-oh little Darfur woman For your sister... Read More
Chicken Soup is good for a coldSleep is good for... Read More
I am not the one I was before yesterday.I cannot... Read More
In the quiet of the arctic night- In its deep... Read More
How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More
Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the... Read More
You can do and you can be whatever you want.... Read More
I cannot bear to think of when you will be... Read More
What do you do when you want to write poetry?... Read More
now is not the time to open open that great... Read More
What can I do to keep this world in its... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More
Kamalakanta was born in Burdwan India in the late 18th... Read More
Tale of the Brick Maker, Of San Jer?nimo, Peru... Read More
McLean, VA - "The Healing Conscious" tells the story of... Read More
Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More
Out of the eight poems provided here [all previously unpublished],... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
Take some time to stop and look at nature. Pick... Read More
Writing Poetry for TomorrowWhat does a man need to be... Read More
You've been writing poetry since that first assignment in your... Read More
The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More
"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More
How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More
If you are serious about seeing your work published by... Read More
In Poetry: Meaning of WordsWhen I write poetry, I check... Read More
1) End PoemWherever you are today- Is where you were... Read More
In the quiet of the arctic night- In its deep... Read More
Old skin, once held tight Against her skeleton- Rose no... Read More
Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More
Cesar Vallejo: Black RosesBow down your head ol' poet- To... Read More
What's a prisoner to do when justice fails and... Read More
Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
#25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More
Poetry |