The following are notes from a class given by Kate Gale of Red Hen Press.
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Please leave comments and questions if you have any.
On being "publishable"
2. On being "publishable"
Before you can consider publishing, you need to make sure the most important things are attended to. The following information is provided to those poets who have already gone through the polishing and training that is necessary for their work to be considered publishable.
The most important stuff:
~ Learning the craft
~ Understanding the importance of revision
~ A thorough awareness and exposure to classic and contemporary poetry
~Reading reading reading
~Writing writing writing
These fundamental things must be completed before considering publishing.
Before you can consider publishing, you need to make sure the most important things are attended to. The following information is provided to those poets who have already gone through the polishing and training that is necessary for their work to be considered publishable.
The most important stuff:
~ Learning the craft
~ Understanding the importance of revision
~ A thorough awareness and exposure to classic and contemporary poetry
~Reading reading reading
~Writing writing writing
These fundamental things must be completed before considering publishing.
On publishing your poems
3. On publishing your poems
Of the genres of writing, it is hardest to get poems published. Agents in Boston and New York are looking for fiction and non-fiction because that sells well and can potentially be optioned as movies. Agents in LA are looking for (not necessarily good) screenplays.
Nobody is looking for a poet.
This occurs for the same reason a tall, gorgeous, blonde bombshell of a woman doesn't look for dates: dates find her. There are so many poets out there that publishing companies never go looking for poets. The "discovery" of poets doesn't happen.
So what do you have to do? You have to find a publisher.
Of the genres of writing, it is hardest to get poems published. Agents in Boston and New York are looking for fiction and non-fiction because that sells well and can potentially be optioned as movies. Agents in LA are looking for (not necessarily good) screenplays.
Nobody is looking for a poet.
This occurs for the same reason a tall, gorgeous, blonde bombshell of a woman doesn't look for dates: dates find her. There are so many poets out there that publishing companies never go looking for poets. The "discovery" of poets doesn't happen.
So what do you have to do? You have to find a publisher.
Who will publish your work?
4. Who will publish your work?
The big publishing houses are not looking for poetry. They rarely publish books of poetry unless it is from a very well-known name. Because they can't make money off of books of poetry, for the most part, they're not interested in publishing books of poems.
Some medium sized publishers do exist, but they're mostly getting crunched out by the big publishing conglomerates, which continue to eat up all the little ones. What that leaves for poets are small, independent presses (cat 2) and university presses (cat 3).
University presses are good routes to go because they have more funding than independent presses. Plus, their presses are a form of publicity for the university.
The big publishing houses are not looking for poetry. They rarely publish books of poetry unless it is from a very well-known name. Because they can't make money off of books of poetry, for the most part, they're not interested in publishing books of poems.
Some medium sized publishers do exist, but they're mostly getting crunched out by the big publishing conglomerates, which continue to eat up all the little ones. What that leaves for poets are small, independent presses (cat 2) and university presses (cat 3).
University presses are good routes to go because they have more funding than independent presses. Plus, their presses are a form of publicity for the university.
Making yourself appealing to an independent or university press, part 1
5. Making yourself appealing to an independent or university press, part 1
So, how do you make yourself appealing to the independent and university presses?
If you use a very small press, make sure they have a reputation that is respectable. You should avoid vanity presses. If the press has a reputation for printing anything, the more reliable presses that you are trying to impress will be skeptical of your talents.
Here are the best routes to take:
I.) Meet people--other writers, publishers, editors, etc. This is an important aspect of becoming a publishable poet because editors are looking for poets who are willing to get out into the world and sell their work. Publishers seek out writers that are willing to go out into the world because most small presses do not have anyone working on sales. It is also important to know other writers because if their work is published by a press you would like to be published in, you can get recommendations from the people that know you.
~ Being in an MFA program is a good start
~ Going to big things, like the AWP conference and meeting people there, especially at the after-conference gatherings, where the real connections take place
~ Other places, like the Book Expo of America, may be too large for a poet, but is worth considering
~ Go to poetry readings in your area. Some our curated by indepent person, others by libraries or universities. Keep a look out by searching postings, blogs, and newspapers.
So, how do you make yourself appealing to the independent and university presses?
If you use a very small press, make sure they have a reputation that is respectable. You should avoid vanity presses. If the press has a reputation for printing anything, the more reliable presses that you are trying to impress will be skeptical of your talents.
Here are the best routes to take:
I.) Meet people--other writers, publishers, editors, etc. This is an important aspect of becoming a publishable poet because editors are looking for poets who are willing to get out into the world and sell their work. Publishers seek out writers that are willing to go out into the world because most small presses do not have anyone working on sales. It is also important to know other writers because if their work is published by a press you would like to be published in, you can get recommendations from the people that know you.
~ Being in an MFA program is a good start
~ Going to big things, like the AWP conference and meeting people there, especially at the after-conference gatherings, where the real connections take place
~ Other places, like the Book Expo of America, may be too large for a poet, but is worth considering
~ Go to poetry readings in your area. Some our curated by indepent person, others by libraries or universities. Keep a look out by searching postings, blogs, and newspapers.
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