Getting Published

[Achichem]

Ok I have a question... not sure where to put it but figure this is best...

I write poetry (haven't posted any yet but will do that some other day when its not 5am...) Over the last 6 or so years, I've written about 100 poems I would dub "printable"...

How/what is the best way to get a book of my poems printed? I figure mailing either a manuscript or a CD of my work to tons of publishers is probably an excersize in futility (and quite expensive).

Does anyone know what I should do? Any ideas at all? Thank you!

Hi, I work in publishing,
Yes, I am one of those people who throws out /mail back all your masterpieces.Granted it does not go to me right away,as I am at a higher level; but, still i think I can help you here.

So to your question:

No, it is not easy for poems to be published; it is a big risk taking on new clients; however, you likely can get published if you are persistent and get a publisher to request something from you.

First, never send a full or even half-length work unless requested! We have strict policies to not to even open these as it costs money to read, and it is not worth our time in most cases.

What you want to do is three steps:
1)Get a list of publishers (including the little guys, they are the likeliest to reply);

2)Send a professional email or fax asking if they are looking for a good book of: [adjective], [genre], [object: ie. novel, poems ect.]. Any credentials you may have are important at this stage and are encouraged, as well as credentials (not essential) think about posting a fragment or in your case your best short poem to give the tone of your writing. You may also want to give an outline of topics explored (only if you really want these certain poems to be published). At the bottom tell them why it worth taking a look(selling angles, audience, stats, ploys), also tell them “more information is available upon request” then give your shorten contact info [expanded should be in opener], then if there is room a short "suck up" paragraph never hurts, then end: “thank you for your most valued time”,finish.(keep it to 1 perhaps 2 pages, readable font)

3) After this you wait for a reply, if you do not get one, keep sending them no shorter then four months apart, if and when the publisher is looking they will contact you, and request somthing.


At this stage you will begin dialogue with the perspective publisher, as long as you stay professional and stay flexible, you should get the deal.

As to how to set up your poems, be sure to categorize them and group together by common themes! Themes are your selling point! Be sure to have a preface,and be ready with your first draft (to be submitted upon request)!


Shalom,
G-d Bless,
DaTsar


I know you would never of guessed I worked with literature, considering my grammar and spelling, but hey I am a recovering LD, and I am good at what I do.

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

datsar, thanks for your advice.
just wondering-how at only 19 yrs old are you already working in a "high" job at a publisher?

edit--sorry-just me being nosy/curious... ignore at will

 

[Achichem]

datsar, thanks for your advice.

just wondering-how at only 19 yrs old are you already working in a "high" job at a publisher?

edit--sorry-just me being nosy/curious... ignore at will

No prob,I see your young and you want to know how to get the edge. but anyway,It's funny you ask that,you see I edited my post to take out the explaination.

Well first,
1)it's a relatively small publisher
2)I was LD as I explained, well the lady who remedied it(for free ) introduced me to the director
3)I got them a great loan through my uncle who a VP for a bank
4)He said he get me a job
5) They started me as the business admin.(I went all over, I can't say I knew what I was doing most of the time,but I always seemed to get it right(enough so),funny now taking it in school and seeing all the mistakes I made, I am kinda glad no one made a big deal about it)
6)and when time went a little rough, I volunteered to fill in, or did a whole bunch of work for free
7) everyone in the office loved my work
8) I got offerd the job, at a reduced rate of pay as I could only work part-time as as a student + keeper of the sabbath.

It works out well for them anyhow, cause I am an effient little bugger who doesn't cost them very much.


Shalom,
Datsar

--Edit: I may have given the wrong idea when I said: "Granted it does not go to me right away, as I am at a higher level; but, still I think I can help you here."



You see that is not because I am actually high, I am just a link in the chain. I am the person who looks at the market and makes the requests (one reading ones proposals), not the first to read your work. I then submit to an editor a request (fill order) it has the names of the authors to consider, they take it from there and decide which one of the writer to go with, then that chosen writer sends his draft (perhaps not complete) to the editor who can either nix it, or red mark it (correct, mechanics, flow, syntax, plot, general comments)[may repeat this step, at the editors discretion] and when ready sends it back to my department. Then either myself or one of my coworkers then may nix it (very unlikely at this stage), or make smaller final draft comments, sends it back so author can make his final changes, after the approval it then a final draft, and the last decision made, and it then goes into production.



Is this how most publisher run shop? No, we are quite picky and active, but the writers proposals in a simlar format to what I told you are common place.

one more edit, that I did not write early in the morning hours - when you think of publishing you probably think that an author just submits their book and they get it published with very little effort, and yes we do that to, more then this way, but you have to be an established writer or recommended by one, hence the misconception on the part of new writers that they to can start in this way.

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

that sounds like fun i love proofreading/editing. you got hooked up!


oh and nice dig about being young... i'll be 19 in less than a month! *rolls eyes*

edit-checked your profile for when your birthday was... and discovered that you're barely 2 months older than i am! *rolls eyes again*

 

[Achichem]

edit-checked your profile for when your birthday was... and discovered that you're barely 2 months older than i am! *rolls eyes again*

O age isn't the kicker; you see, I almost failed high school English
Just shows how much they know.

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

heeheehee

i got A's in HS english, except senior year when i took advanced placement, then i got a B but it was weighted... I got 4's on my AP Lit and AP lang tests! (its 4 out of 5... like no one gets 5s, and only a few get 4s)

 

[oneofGodskids]

hey hey.....go for it....publish yur poems. I myself am writing a book at the moment. Go for yur dream......hopefully i will be able to too.

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

to quote tiny tim... "God bless us, every one."