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 | How to Publish Your Poetry - Some AdviceThis page answers some questions I often receive. Please click any of the questions below to read the answers. Though my focus is on poets & poetry, most of the tips below are appropriate for writers of fiction and nonfiction as well.Publishing Your PoetryWriting Advice & Getting Feedback
Where should I publish my poems?Poet's Market 
My best suggestion for locating publishers - and the most important advice on this page - is that you get your hands on a copy of Poet's Market, published annually by Writer's Digest. The 2012 edition has already been published.
(We don't have it in our store, but it's available at a discount from Amazon.com Poet's Market includes detailed information about over 1200 publishers of poetry (book publishers, magazines, newsletters, journals, etc) including contact information, what they're looking for, deadlines & submission guidelines. Whether you would like to publish individual poems or a book, Poet's Market has the information you need to find the right publisher. In the book, publishers are categorized by the difficulty of getting published and the type of poetry they publish (e.g., formal, experimental, sonnets, inspirational, nature, love, poems by young writers, etc.). So, you can easily find publishers which are suitable for the type of poems you write. It also lists publishers in many different countries. Also included are many pages of advice on the process of publishing poetry. It will explain how to determine which publishers may be right for your work, and how to go about sending your poems to them for consideration. This book is used by novice & experienced poets alike to find places to publish. It's widely considered the "Bible" for publishing poets.
Poet's Market is available at your local library, bookstores, and at a discount from Amazon.com Poet's Market is essential equipment for any poet who publishes, would like to publish, wants advice, or would like to know about the current poetry publishing scene. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's essential equipment if you're serious about publishing your poetry. other helpful booksIf you have some money left over after buying the 2012 Poet's Market, you might consider checking out these books:
And, if you write fiction, non-fiction, lyrics, or other types of writing, you may find these books helpful:
Where else can I publish my poetry?While Poet's Market is the easiest way to find publishers who may be receptive to your work, there other publishing opportunities out there, too. Here are some suggestions on how to find them.online publications (e-zines)In addition to print publications, there are also thousands of online poetry magazines - a Google search for "poetry ezines" will turn them up. (Also, see the "helpful websites" links below.) This is a great way to expose your poems to a worldwide audience!Some print publications also have websites where you can read work from past issues. investigateGo to your local library, school, bookshop or newsstand to pore through the poetry journals, literary magazines, etc. See which ones resonate with you. Which ones might be a place to submit your work now, or to aspire to in the future?local publishersAlso, don't forget publishing opportunities close to home.Are there any local literary publications, magazines, or small weekly newspapers which sometimes publish poetry? How about your school literary magazine or newspaper? Are there local flyers, newsletters or magazines? How about a publication associated with your workplace or one of your hobbies? (Your poems about roses might be just right for the gardening club newsletter.) Does your church publish poetry in its newsletters or other publications? Publishers close to home are often very receptive to beginning poets and can be a very satisfying way to get your work out into the world. self-publishingWhy not publish your own work? We've written an article explaining how to self-publish your chapbook, book or broadside.important: on publishing individual poems, versus an entire bookThe usual method of publishing poetry is to get individual poems published in a number of literary magazines. After you have an established publication record and have built a loyal readership, you may submit a book or chapbook manuscript to a publisher. This is because most publishers do not want to invest in publishing & marketing poets who have no track record and are unlikely to sell many books.This is the long-established order of things, the way reputations are built in the world of poetry and publishing. The books and other recommendations above will help you find the right places to publish your individual poems. Though these books do contain book publishers, if you haven't yet published any individual poems, you'll likely have a hard time finding a publisher for a complete book. If you'd like to publish a book of poems without first having established a reputation amongst readers and editors, then you'll want to self-publish your book. Doing so isn't too difficult; there are many resources and businesses which can help you get your book published. Please read our article, Self-Publishing Your Poetry Book, for details. How can I publish my own poetry?
Why not publish your own chapbook, book, or broadside? We've devoted a whole page to Self-Publishing Methods & Resources.
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. Published by Dustbooks, who since 1964 has been a resource for information about small press publishing, it includes information on 1800 publishers of poetry.
