There are many paths to becoming a published poet. This article will outline three of the most common methods on how to publish a poem: submitting your work to literary journals, self-publishing, and publishing with small presses. Each has its own set of pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the path that’s best suited to your goals and abilities.
10 Things to Know Before Publishing a Poem
1. Literary journals are a great way to get your work seen by editors and other writers.
2. Submitting your work can be time-consuming, but it’s worth it to get feedback from established writers.
3. Self-publishing is a great way to control the design and marketing of your book.
4. It can be expensive to self-publish, so make sure you have a solid marketing plan in place.
5. Small presses can offer more personal attention to your book than larger publishers.
6. They may also have smaller print runs, so your book may not be as widely available as books published by large presses.
7. If you’re looking for wide distribution, a small press may not be the best option for you.
8. Publishing with a small press can be a great way to build relationships with other writers and editors.
9. It can also help you gain exposure in the literary community.
10. Whatever route you choose, be patient and keep writing. The best way to become a published poet is to write poems and submit them to journals, publishers, and contests.
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How to Publish a Poem in 3 ways
Aspiring authors often ask me, “How can I get published?” Well, there are three paths you can take to becoming a published poet. The method you choose should be determined by the type of work you produce, your writing background, and your goals for publication. Here is an overview of each path:
1. Submit Your Work to Poetry Contests
One way to get your poetry into print (and earn money while doing it) is by submitting to open competitions. There are hundreds of websites that list poetry contests; however, please remember that not all contests out there are legit. Some may not even read the entries they receive or award cash prizes without actually publishing the winning entry. Before submitting your work, do your research and find a reputable contest.
Poetry contests don’t generally pay for the rights to publish accepted entries, but they can provide exposure and money in the form of honorariums, gift certificates, or sponsorships. Many of these contests are free to enter and some charge a small reading fee (ranging from $5-10).
You may need to submit multiple times before winning; that’s okay because you’re getting feedback on your writing and maybe even receiving an award! When I first started writing poetry I had no clue what I was doing…I entered every contest I could find and received feedback on my submissions as well as several awards (along with publication credits). If you choose this path make sure to keep a record of your contest wins and submissions; you may need it later when querying agents or publishing houses.
2. Submit Your Work to Literary Journals
Another way to get published as a poet is by submitting your work to literary journals. Unlike contests, many journals are happy to publish un-contestable poems (that is, poems that haven’t been entered into a contest). The process for submitting to journals is generally the same as submitting to contests: research the journal, find their submission guidelines, follow the instructions and wait for a response.
Most journals don’t offer payment for publication, but some do (generally $50-100 per poem).
In addition, most journals offer one or more of the following: Publication credit
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If you’re published in a literary journal, your poem will be in print and (hopefully) archived online. This is great for your writing CV and can help when querying agents or publishing houses.
3. Self-Publish Your Work
The third way to get published as a poet is by self-publishing. This option has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the ease of publishing online and the growing number of independent presses. If you choose to self-publish, there are a few things you’ll need to do:
1. Choose the right platform: There are a number of ways to self-publish your work, but the most popular option is to use an online publishing platform like Amazon Kindle, CreateSpace, or Barnes, and Noble. These platforms allow you to upload your manuscript, set your price and track sales.
2. Design a cover: The cover of your book is important because it’s the first thing people will see. Make sure to choose a design that represents your poetry and catches people’s attention. You can hire a professional designer or create the cover yourself using free software like GIMP or Adobe Photoshop.
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3. Market your book: Once you’ve published your book, it’s important to market it to potential readers. There are many ways to market your book, but here are a few ideas:
- Ask for reviews from friends and family (they don’t have to be professional reviewers).
- Add your book to free promotional sites like Goodreads.
- If you’re selling paperbacks yourself at poetry readings or other community events, make sure to include them on the flyer.
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- Give away ebooks as prizes (for example, hold a poetry contest that includes publication in an ebook collection). Make sure everyone who enters receives a free copy of your ebook.
If you’re self-publishing online using Amazon’s platform, they’ll give you some marketing tools for free; however, because these ebooks are listed in categories alongside traditionally published books, you’ll have a difficult time making your book visible.
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If self-publishing online isn’t for you, consider printing paperbacks and selling them at poetry readings or other community events. You can sell these copies yourself or set up a table at local venues and ask the owner to handle sales for a commission.
Regardless of how you choose to publish your work, remember that sharing your poems is the most important part of being a poet!
How Much Does it Cost to Publish a Poem?
The cost to publish a poem can vary depending on the platform you choose. If you self-publish online, there are a number of free platforms available, but if you want to use a more professional platform, the costs will be higher. For example, Amazon Kindle charges $2.99-$9.99 per book, while Barnes & Noble charges more for a paperback. In addition, if you want to hire a professional designer to create a cover for your book, the costs can range from $50-$200.
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Today, a regular literary journal submission price for submitting (generally) 3-6 poems is approximately $3, and a book-length submission is around $25.3.
How Much Does Poetry Foundation Pay for Poems?
For poems that are published, all writers will be rewarded. They pay $10 per line for text poetry, with a minimum honorarium of $300 per poem. They offer $300 per poem for visual poetry, audio poems, and video poems. They pay for each format if a material is published in various mediums, such as print and video. For more information check their submissions page
What are the Odds of Getting Published in a Literary Journal?
The odds of getting published in a literary journal depend on the journal, but there are many journals that publish between 1-10 poems. So, if you were to submit 10 poems to 10 different journals every month, the odds of getting at least one poem published would be about 9 out of 10.
Conclusion
There are many paths to becoming a published poet. This article has outlined three of the most common methods: submitting your work to literary journals, self-publishing, and publishing with small presses. Each method has its own set of pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the path that’s best suited to your goals and abilities.
