Publishing

[Angeline]

How many of you are actively trying to publish your poems? Where are you sending them? Are you succeeding?

I thought it would be cool to have a thread where we can share information about our submissions, acceptances and rejections (rejection being something I can address ) and list links to sites that have submission info or are likely candidates themselves. I'll be focusing on sites in the USA (Lauren, you take Portugal, ok? lol).

Here's one of my favorite places:

The Poetry Society of America

I like to read the poems that won awards--gives one a good sense of trends in modern poetry and what kind of stuff is winning. And check out their resources page: a treasure trove of links!

 

[_Land]

A, is that the same org. as poetry.com or international society of poets. If it is, they are a rip off..............they offer to publish, but then want you to buy. I found out the hard way. I am trying to get published, and have made several submissions to a variety of places. I have gotten rejections too. Lotus has a considerable resource for places to submit. Also is a great place to refine your work. E-mail me if ya want some of the places that I am aware of for submissions. I dont want to graffitti this site with links to other sites

 

[Angeline]

Not Poetry.com!

_Land my friend this is most definitely not poetry.com, which IMHO is the equivalent of those art schools that used to advertise on matchbook covers! PSA is one of the best-known and respected organizations nationally. Their supporters and past judges of the chapbook contest awards include poets like Billy Collins, Jorie Graham, and Anne Waldman.

Also, I'm not concerned about overlapping with Lotus Blooms or any other site. I'm a member there, but not everyone who posts at Lit also posts at Lotus, after all, and there are so many different magazines. journals, ezines, and other venues, I doubt there's that much overlap.


P.S. This ain't graffitti is it? I think it's more along the lines of professional development!

 

[_Land]

Re: Not Poetry.com!

Well, I almost feel like a schmuck, because I havnt recognized your poetry over there. :O

I will post some links later though when i have a little more time.

_Land my friend this is most definitely not poetry.com, which IMHO is the equivalent of those art schools that used to advertise on matchbook covers! PSA is one of the best-known and respected organizations nationally. Their supporters and past judges of the chapbook contest awards include poets like Billy Collins, Jorie Graham, and Anne Waldman.

Also, I'm not concerned about overlapping with Lotus Blooms or any other site. I'm a member there, but not everyone who posts at Lit also posts at Lotus, after all, and there are so many different magazines. journals, ezines, and other venues, I doubt there's that much overlap.


P.S. This ain't graffitti is it? I think it's more along the lines of professional development!

 

[dragonhearted]

Re: I'm afraid

My stuff isn't good enough to be published. I know this. I am just happy people in here like it and it got posted here. I would never try to get it published. I would be laughed off the planet by a publisher!!!

Demon

Sweetie....don't let it stop you from TRYING!

 

[JUDO]

Angie,

No, I have never submitted a poem for publication. How does one go about it? Are most of these publications approached through a contest? Or can you send them things that you've written already? How does it work? Perhaps, they are all different? Who have you tried to contact? What have you submitted?

Thanks.

- Judo

 

[Angeline]

JUDO Baby

that AV! OMG! lol

anyway.

On Publishing

There are contests and there are straight submissions. And most importantly, as Land points out, there are rip offs. Many journals, mags, and web sites will gladly accept your submissions for a price: anywhere from about 5 bucks up. Some of these places are otherwise well-respected publishers and they will defend the practice, saying it defrays their costs. So it's really up to the individual: some folks may find it fine to pay 20 bucks to submit a poem or two. Personally, I can't afford that and I know there are places that take submissions without fees, so that's where I will consider sending stuff. If it's a small struggling journal where I think my work will really fit I might pay, but it's important to remember that you are paying only to submit--no guarentees.

You can even pay to publish your own chapbooks--small softbound poetry books, usually with between 20 to 40 of your poems. Obviously this is expensive and then you have to convince stores to sell them or you have to advertise in the poetry marketplace. I know a few people who do this and, hey, they're happy. Generally though it's a lot of money and effort on your part and if you do find a bookstore to accept your book, it's most likely an independent or used bookstore--chain stores mostly don't have the authority to take your stuff on consignment. There aren't many independent bookstores left either, unfortunately.

So say you've decided whether you are paying to submit and are unwilling to pay to publish on your own. You now need to do something very important: know your market.

There are so many places to submit; it's like looking for scholarship money. If you can't hit the bloody ball with the bat, don't waste your time on the baseball scholarship application! Find the journal or whatever that you think is more likely to publish your poems. I think one of the best ways to find the right place for you is to invest in the following:

2003 Poet's Market

This book lists about 1,800 different places to submit, with lots of information about each.

There are poetry magazines and newletters, too, that have loads of publication info, and most publishers now have web sites. You'll quickly find out that some places don't want unpublished poets while others focus on them; some want poems in traditional forms, others free verse only; some will only accept poems about calf-roping written by Bulgarian midgets (ok not that, but you get the idea). So know something about where you're sending your stuff. There are two related points on this.

1. Make sure you understand the publication's copyright policy before you send anything. You may not like it. Most reputable publishers will say that they retain copyright for a limited time--say a year. Don't sign away permanent rights to your poems! If you wrote the poetic equivalent of the Ode to Joy, you don't want it owned by the Lower Podunk Poetry Bulletin and Coffee Klatch Klub.

2. Understand the publisher's policy on multiple submissions--the practice of submitting the same poem to more than one publisher at the same time. Some publishers don't care; others have strict rules about it. And you need to weigh the pros and cons before submitting. Magazine X's policy may be no multiple submissions and they also take 2-4 months to get back to you. Do you want to tie up your poem for that long? Maybe you think Mag X is the best place for it, maybe not, so it should be a considered decision.

Ok, you figured out where to send, what to send them, now what? You need a cover letter (or email if it's online). Needless to say, your cover letter should be clear and concise and both it and your poems should be totally (and I do mean completely) free of typos or other errors. (Will you buy something that looks shabby, like the manufacturer didn't care? Neither will they.)

Then you wait and wait and wait. And you don't give up. And most important you keep writing, because being published is great, but you want to publish cause you love to write, right?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I'd just like to state my disapproval of this flagrant case of discrimination!

OK, I'm just joking. This thread is a wonderful idea, Angie. Too bad there aren't that many opportunities for publication around here. I mean, probably there are a few. I just lack the drive to pursuit them... lol... I'm such a lazy ass. But you guys are all the audience I need for now. In a few years, when I grow up who know...

 

[Angeline]

Hmmmm

Maybe there's a career opportunity is suckering in (I mean um helping) poets in places where there are few publishing opportunities. Hmmmm.

Oh.

Hi Lauren.

Nice hypnotic scrolly-rolly thingy ya got there.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Thanks!

Look at the hypnotic scrolly-rolly thingy! Feel the hypnotic scrolly-rolly thingy! Become the hypnotic scrolly-rolly thingy! Now find a way of getting my work published! And give me your credit card number. Resistence is futile

 

[Angeline]

Scrolly-rolly thingy is good...good...good

Visa or Master Card, O poetic one?

 

[JUDO]

What scrolly-rolly thingy? All I see are a bunch of Lauren's poem titles linked in her sig line, and they aren't moving. (Is this another Mac thing?)


- Judo

 

[Lauren Hynde]

You mean you can't see my scrolly-rolly thingy? Damn it... How else am I going to entice you?

Angeline: All major credit cards accepted

 

[JUDO]

Nope, no scrolly-rolly. And Angeline, you mean, you don't embroider your name on your panties? I have to. I can't tell you how many times I've left parties and worn someone else's home by accident.


- Judo

 

[Angeline]

Panties

I only have days of the week. It's the only way I can remember what day it is. Oh, it's a little embarrassing that I'm always looking down my waistband, but I do like to be organized.

Let's see, today is um....wait a sec...Thursday!

Works like a charm.

 

[JUDO]

Dedicated to the one, the only...

Angeline, Angeline!

(sung to the tune of the old Spiderman cartoon theme song)


Angeline, Angeline!
Writes whatever to get serene.
Is she smart? Listen, babe --
If she can't write it, then it can't be made.

Look out, there flies the ink tureen!

In her own sweet way,
She gets others to play,
And if you just wait --
Just stand back and she'll create , Oh…

Angeline, Angeline!
Jazz and blues riffs will make her queen.
On the boards, she gets down.
Words she makes up to earn her crown.

Look out, there comes a metaphor --
What will she use it for?
There goes our Angeline!

 

[Angeline]

My Dearest JUDO

It's rare for me to be speechess, but I'm close, LOL. I got a JUDO poem; I done arrived, ascended even. (giggle.)

By the way, do you know my daughter was Spiderman for halloween? She is gonna be seriously impressed by the picture!

A million thanks, Queen JUDO!

 

[Angeline]

Uh wait

my face in the pic....

is that the way it's supposed to look?

 

[Zhuk]

My suggestions (follow at your own risk)

I have got published three times, twice in national newspapers and once in a top magazine, (no poetry unfortunately, other stuff). And recently I managed to get one of my poems published in the web edition of a major TV news channel.

Here is what I feel:

1. Have confidence in yourself, other people who manage to get published are not necessarily better.

2. Keep submitting, sometimes you can just get lucky because a publication does not have enough matter to fill the pages. This happens believe me, though not often.

3. Try as many different types of publications and websites as you can. Some publications love different or extra ordinary work.

4. Try those magazine which have only recently started to carry poetry, you have a very good chance getting published there. My poem in the web edition of the tv news channel falls in that category! There were probably not enough people submitting and they had to make do with my mediocre one.

5. Last but most important, try to find someone you know who is himself/herself published or someone in the publication business. Their recommendation can come in handy


By the way all my non poetry work that got published, it was mostly because of my confidence that what I had written was worth getting published and I mailed them to all newspapers. They got accepted, just like that!

Zhuk

 

[JUDO]

Re: Uh wait

my face in the pic....

is that the way it's supposed to look?

Well, sorry, I didn't have much to work with (that's blown WAY up from your AV). If you hate it, I'll gladly redo it (just get me a better pic), or tell me to get rid of it.


- Judo

 

[Angeline]

LOL

JUDO, I just don't know my Spiderman! I was afraid I kinda looked like a a (god I hate to say it)......clown.

 

[Angeline]

Thank You Zhuck!



1. Have confidence in yourself, other people who manage to get published are not necessarily better.

2. Keep submitting, sometimes you can just get lucky because a publication does not have enough matter to fill the pages. This happens believe me, though not often.

3. Try as many different types of publications and websites as you can. Some publications love different or extra ordinary work.

4. Try those magazine which have only recently started to carry poetry, you have a very good chance getting published there. My poem in the web edition of the tv news channel falls in that category! There were probably not enough people submitting and they had to make do with my mediocre one.

5. Last but most important, try to find someone you know who is himself/herself published or someone in the publication business. Their recommendation can come in handy


By the way all my non poetry work that got published, it was mostly because of my confidence that what I had written was worth getting published and I mailed them to all newspapers. They got accepted, just like that!

These are great recommendations. I never would have thought of number 2 or 4, and knowing someone is really nice and can open doors, though not offer guarantees generally.

 

[HomerPindar]

Re: I'm afraid

My stuff isn't good enough to be published. I know this. I am just happy people in here like it and it got posted here. I would never try to get it published. I would be laughed off the planet by a publisher!!!

Demon

While I respect your own opinion on this subject, I wish to point out that if taste and quality were ever a consideration to the market McDonalds would never had made a dime.

But then, who wants to make the McDee's of poetry?

With that in mind, confidence is the major barrier (speaking for myself at least, I shouldn't presume to speak for others...that said, Listen Up!). What's kept me from trying to publish in the past is a lack of confidence that all the work it takes to make a go at publishing isn't worth it.

Wrong (and this doesn't just apply to me).

But, still, without the confidence I could tell myself (or anyone else) this as often as I like with no change ~ I still didn't think it was worth it and eventually I'd give up again. One way to deal with this is take the time to build up your confidence by writing, writing, writing, nap, writing writing writing...

OR, use rejection slips to wall paper your room in confidence.

HomerPindar

 

[lickmyboot]

hee!

Great thread Ang!

Okay...so for the first time ever. Oh wait, for the first time ever after being sucked in by a non-legit site. (Did not pay the $50 to see my work ant sized next to 5,00 other suckers, thank you very much).

So for the first time ever, I submitted to www.redriverreview.com an online poetry journal....and I got in! Whoop! The poor editor was assalted by my submissions, late one night not too long ago. I can't repost the poem here (submission guidelines) but it's called Tuesday 7:32 a.m.

And...I stumbled across a poetry contest in one of the trade mags I scour for my job. I rattled off a poem at lunch and won second place! I'm going to DisneyWorld! (Okay...I get free admission into the mag's trade show in Orlando, kinda the same thing!) So it never hurts to submit--at least to the free ones.
I'm going to check out the site you suggested Miss A!

 

[karmadog]

Congratulations, lick! Terrific poem, too.