"Your opinion on getting published" - Shakespeare's Monkeys

Mercieca, Andrew 2771 posts	on Feb. 25 2008 Well, I wish they'd knock on my door! Or is it that I have a different interpretation of the meaning of "talent". :P
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Feb. 25 2008 There are publishers who'll take on poetry, but they're not wandering the internet looking for people because there are far, far too many poets already flooding their in-trays with submissions and begging to be published. Poetry is not a profitable genre, so most publishing houses will only take on one title per year, maybe two. That's a lot of poets competing for very few spots, so you have to be outstanding AND proactive to get your work seen by them. Why would they go looking for more work when they have far too much on their plates already? Thinking you'll be "discovered" is fairly idealistic. If you're confident about your work, submit a sample to publishers and then prepare for many, many rejection slips -- not necessarily because your writing isn't worth publishing, but more likely because they've already filled their quota (probably for the next five years). If you do get accepted, you'd better have 200-300 publication-quality poems ready, because the publisher will whittle those down to 60-100 and publishers like to have a lot of choice. Also, publication credits in magazines and such will go a long way toward getting you credibility as a writer. Publishers want people with a bit of a track record so that their job of marketing is a whole lot easier. Good luck, but you can have all the talent in the world and nobody's going to knock your door down begging to sign you up.
Mercieca, Andrew 2771 posts	on Feb. 25 2008 looks at Leanne and gestures with thumb towards her What she said. Mos.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	inspired from Mosquitobyte on Feb. 25 2008 Networking also helps. It's smart to get out in your local community and meet other artists, poets, and boosters. The connects you make there can lead to collaborations and relationships that build an artistic resume.
Jasmine Mann 263 posts	on Feb. 27 2008 As usual, Leanne hath laideth the smacketh downeth. Everything I was going to say, she already did. I would also echo Stephan's post as well. Local poetry communities are dying because nobody joins them! Get invovled in one. Or if you can't find one, stop by at your local university. I know sometimes their literary zines lack poetry submissions and sometimes they'll take outside submissions. "Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer." - Arnold
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Feb. 27 2008 Right... join groups. The internet has made poetry very antisocial, even selfish. Get out and feel the pulse of your own community. And one very, very important thing I forgot to mention. Before you even consider submitting manuscripts, proofread and edit. I can promise you that if you submit a manuscript with typos and spelling errors, it will be rejected. Those things glare at a publisher and say "I can't be bothered making this worth your while." If you're not confident about your own editing skills, there are professional editors who will do it for you. No matter how small you think the publication is you're submitting for, no publisher will bother reading something that shows a lack of care.
Ruth Elliottfrom Neverwhere Associate, 763 posts	on Feb. 27 2008 I'm all about the networking. it has been, for me, the best way to communicate with like minded individuals and to improve my writing. the chicago area has a yearly publication called Rhino that is all individual submissions, the twist is every new submission must relate back in some way to a submission in the previous year. gets you purchasing and reading the book. there is some excellent writing in it, and it seems a great way to get a foot in the door, so to speak. and this is just me, but I think I write better when I am just doing it for me, most of the time I'm the only one who reads what I write anyhow! ----- Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing. Z'nourrwringmm
Walker, Kathleen 156 posts	on Feb. 27 2008 And I would strongly recommend visiting the webpage for "Poets & Writers" mgazine....."www.pw.org"......it's a great site with lots of resources listed......showing names, dates, and details about submitting your writing to different literary magazines and small presses.......there's also various forums, and lots of other information......like different seminars and retreats offered for poets and writers -- mainly through colleges and universities......I get the magazine at home, and have read some great articles about the writing life......including discussions about the whole MFA thing
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	inspired from Kat on Feb. 27 2008 Kat: I thought everytime you said "MFA" you were supposed to spit over your right shoulder?
Walker, Kathleen 156 posts	inspired from Kat on Feb. 27 2008 Anstey: I did.....after I offered the gods of academia my left pinkie......the finger I wanted to give them was [fill in the blank with something irreverent]