How To-2: "How to Publish a Poem"

How to Publish a Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you want your poem published? If so, here are some steps to help.

Steps

1. Look on the Internet for websites and mailing addresses of publications seeking poetry.
   
2. Find a good webpage listing many poetry publishers that accept email submissions.
   
3. Try a specialized journal for a specific style of poetry. Finding the right match for you will help you get published. Remember, most editors are swamped with submissions, so if you give them what they're looking for, you'll have the advantage over everyone else.
   
4. Look to newspapers, magazines, civic organizations and national contest organizations often list poetry writing contests with various awards for best submissions.
   
5. Placing your work with these sources will gain you a valuable recognition.
   
6. Peruse the publications your work might be considered by to get a good idea of what sorts of poems might be welcomed. Know your market!
   
7. Write a poem and send it in. Stop procrastinating!
   
8. If you get confirmation that they have published it, you've just begun the long journey to success. Repeat the process!
   
9. If you get rejected, don't lose heart. It happens. Just keep trying.
   

Tips

• Keep a record of potential markets in Excel or some other database management program on your computer.
  
• Track expenses, such as postage and printing costs. If you get published and earn money for your work, those expenses may be tax deductible.
  
• You may also choose to post poems yourself on poetry blogs s Blogs allow you to instantaneously post your material, have readers comment on your work and have your work searchable by search engines.
  

Warnings

• Some publishers may offer constructive criticism of your work, even if they don't buy or print your poem. Carefully consider their advice and respond with courtesy.
  
• Be aware of and avoid scam publishers, who claim that they are well-respected and will use your work to make money for themselves, usually from you.
  
• Consider whether or not you are willing to pay "reading fees" from publishers who may or may not publish your work. This is more often than not a scam.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Poem
  
• How to Write a Love Poem
  
• How to Start a Blog
  
• How to Write a Haiku Poem
  
• How to Start a Trench Coat Club
  
• How to Explicate a Poem
  
• How to Write Dark Poems
  
• How to Write Dark Poems
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Publish a Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.