Looking For A Publisher II: Your Poetry
A short while back, I listed publishers for novel submissions which pretty much covered where to submit your work.
This time around, the focus is on poetry.
First, I want to debunk a myth. Granted, you will never become wealthy writing poetry, but you can make a decent living from it. A Poet, Lyricist or Creative Writer can get an average wage ranging between $48,000 to $72,000 based on tenure—just don’t expect that kind of money right away. It takes time, perseverance, and patience, yet alone writing some of the best damn poetry on the planet.
Now, you think, wow—that’s more money than I make now, but keep in mind all the expenses, bills, rent, food, hospital bills, car and gas allowance and incidentals—well, it doesn’t last long.
My advice: self-publish.
Thankfully, self-published books have a much, much higher royalty rate than traditional publishers because you get to keep anywhere from 50—70% of your book’s profits. With a traditional publisher, they take much more, and you only end up with 10% maybe 12% after years of proving yourself as an author.
But let’s say you are ready to submit your work finally. Another bit of advice: their guidelines on what they expect. Do they want to see a completed poetry book(65—110 pages)? A chapbook (20—50 pages)? Perhaps only submit 2-3 pieces? They may have a specific agenda or a specific theme each month?
It is never and I highlight—never a good idea to submit something to a publisher you have not looked into first. To not do so first, will practically kill your chances of just not being published but also where an editor won’t even take the time to read what you submitted. Research them, find out what they like, what they print, what they want.
Later on, I will have a post on previously published work, but for now, I want to share with you a dozen of the best places to submit your work—but remember, research them, get their guidelines, ask them questions.
Keep in mind one thing: be it poetry, short story, or a novel, each time something you write goes into print, like a job, you are building a resume. The more this happens, the better off you will be, when possibly one day down the road, you strike the moment you have been waiting for to have that novel or collection of poetry listed on the New York Times Best Seller’s List.
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Thrush Poetry Journal is a bimonthly publication of “eclectic, moving, surprising” poetry. Named after the thrush, a bird with “the most beautiful voice in the world,” the magazine sponsors poets both new and established — just let your poems sing.
3Elements Literary Review posts a call for submissions each quarter. All poems have to involve the three elements that the journal chooses; as an example, from the Summer of 2020, the elements were “trapeze, pinprick, calico.” 3Elements publishes poems that combine these elements in effective and unusual ways, and this publication provides a great and challenging prompt.
Poetry has never been nerdier than over at FreezeRay. This journal specializes in pop culture poetry, publishing anything inspired by modern media, making it a unique place to submit poetry online. From video games to horror to modern film, let today’s media landscape prompt you into writing FreezeRay’s next great poetry feature.
Barren Magazine publishes monthly issues of literature in all genres. Their preferences lean toward poetry that is introspective, original, and participates in a larger literary conversation. Barren also puts out a fun selection of merchandise and has plans for future online poetry and fiction contests.
Ghost City Review, an offshoot of Ghost City Press, is regularly accepting poetry submissions from new and established writers. Their tastes are eclectic and embrace both the contemporary and the experimental. Ghost City also sponsors the literary community and remains active in uplifting other publications and keeping money inside the publishing world, so be sure to check out their online poetry submissions process as well as their free e-book series.
Rising Phoenix Review loves poetry that is “visceral” with “stunning, concrete imagery.” Their tastes lean toward the contemporary, sponsoring poetry that uplifts diverse voices and imagines a better world. They are an offshoot of Rising Phoenix Press, which occasionally publishes poetry chapbooks as well.
Eunoia Review may be the fastest poetry journal on the internet, as it responds to all submissions within 24 hours. Their poetry tastes range from the eclectic to the storytelling, and they are always open for online poetry submissions.
Little Death Lit puts out quarterly publications with unique themes. They enjoy poetry that is macabre and gothic, as well as poems that are unconventional and play with the quarterly prompt. This is a great journal for seeing and interacting with new and emerging voices in poetry.
Palette Poetry is among the best places to submit poetry online because it has options for everyone. For published writers seeking to highlight their already published work, Palette Poetry offers a “Previously Published Poem Prize.” Out of the poetry magazines that pay, Palette Poetry has the biggest pay-out, with first place being a whopping $2,500 cash prize plus publication; second place being a $300 cash prize plus publication; and third place being a $200 cash prize plus publication.
For experienced, unpublished writers, Palette regularly features poems online, and for those who are able to become “partner poets,” there is a $50 to $150 payout per poem. Palette also hosts a “Community Feedback Monthly Editorial” which gives new and experienced writers an opportunity to engage with—and get extremely valuable feedback from other poets.
Rattle: Poetry is another great poetry magazine that pays. The journal puts out several popular contests and publication opportunities, including a monthly ekphrastic challenge, a weekly news-writing challenge, and an annual best poem prize. Payouts range from anywhere between $50-$200; if you’re the lucky winner of the Rattle Poetry Prize, this year’s payout is $15,000.
Wildness Journal, an offshoot of Platypus Press, publishes a quarterly journal for well-crafted, mystifying poems. Their tastes lean toward the highly literary, preferring works that are inventive and well-constructed. In addition to its journal for online poetry submissions, Platypus Press also publishes poetry manuscripts of at least 35 pages in length.
The Adroit Journal’s mission is to sponsor the next generation of poets, so their resources are often dedicated to youth poets and college-age writers. They seek works that are bold, eclectic, obscure, and daring. In addition to their poetry publications, The Adroit Journal also offers scholarships and awards for young and emerging writers.
This is a late addition but was referred to me by MountCarnelPub (a Proser) but instead of an explanation, you can go right to their website to view the opportunities made available. https://www.awpwriter.org/
You will find helpful tips for just about any of your needs. Keep in mind that the best ammunition you can have is information to strengthen your dedication to writing at AWP.
Now once more, a quick review of what you need to do.
It’s good practice to read what the journal has published in the past. Though many online poetry journals accept a wide range of styles and forms, poetry editors still have preferences for what kind of poetry they like to read and publish. Examine the journal’s past publications with a critical eye, and consider whether or not your poem fits among the journal’s ranks.
When poetry magazines accept online submissions, they often include formatting guidelines alongside their submission rules. It’s best to follow these guidelines, as well as general MLA formatting rules. Use 1-inch margins, a 12-point serif font, and double space stanzas. Taking the time to properly format demonstrates a seriousness about your poetry, whereas unformatted poems may not receive proper attention.
The journal’s reader is looking for something that grabs their attention right away. A well-titled poem with a stand-out first line will be far more eye-catching than an untitled poem with a slow start. Remember, the reader goes through hundreds of submissions every month, so poetry submissions should stand out from the beginning.
The publishing world is tough, fast, and competitive. The internet has expanded poetry’s readership and writership; this is a good thing, but with so many other voices, it can be hard to know where to submit your poetry to add your voice to the conversation. You may encounter one rejection, five rejections, or fifty rejections before you find a home for your poem. Don’t let this deter you.
Often, a rejection of your poetry submission has nothing to do with the quality of your work. Rather, poetry editors have a limited amount of space per publication, and they look to publish poems that, when read together, create a bigger conversation. A rejection can simply mean your poems didn’t work for that month’s issue, for reasons completely out of your control.
Finally, poetry journals are subjective in their treatment of the poetry submissions they receive. After all, journals are run by humans, and although many humans try to be objective in their tastes and preferences, objectivity is impossible in the arts. Don’t think of a rejection letter as a “rejection.” Think of it as follows:
There are other places to submit poetry, and there is a better home for my poetry.
I do hope this helps you.
Links:
Previous post mentioned: https://theprose.com/post/400622/looking-for-a-publisher
My Creative Writing book/chapter link: https://theprose.com/post/229114/creative-writing-phase-fourteen (lists last known small print/magazine publishers)