How to get Poetry published and am I right to stick with it?

Affable

How did good poets get published?

What kind of output, quantity wise, do you need?

Am I right to stick with poetry if I want to get published?

Reason I ask is, because I have so much I want to express and wanted to write a novel, but have a mind that races and have given up on trying to write a novel because of the patience required, and my problems structuring it or getting all ideas down or any order. Poetry seems much more of an accessable method of self-expression for my cast of mind. I can produce a lot less and express more feelings, but it doesnt have the same sense of journey. This leads to the other things I want to ask-

Is it correct to assign different types of mind to different artforms? Some writers and comedians have been bad musicians, some musicians bad artists, some musicians bad actors, some actors bad singers etc. Does this mean we are 'meant' for one artform more than others? Is my vague instinct correct? Or have I arrived at this position because I am actually 'doing fiction' wrongly?

Any help much appreciated.

Richy165

http://www.trobar.org/prosody/publishing/

I suppose that there is no such thing as a professional poet

Affable

Richy165 wrote: »

http://www.trobar.org/prosody/publishing/

I suppose that there is no such thing as a professional poet

I take that with a pinch of salt.

I think most fields are meritocratic.

pauline fayne

hi Affable , you ask a lot of questions there ! First , both good (and bad !) poets get published by submitting their work to magazines and having built up a collection of published poems are then in a position to approach a publisher with their collection .
I think the most important question to ask yourself is why do you write poetry ? Is it because it is the most effective way to express what you want to say ? Do you feel driven to it ? i may be taking you up wrong here but you said "Am I right to stick with poetry if i want to get published ?". This suggests that you are concentrated more on the goal of publication than the act of writing . perhaps you are still looking for the form of writing that suits you best , - have you tried the short story ? Do you read a lot of poetry ? Now I'm beginning to sound like a lecturer here so i will stop ! I have answered with almost as many questions as you asked and I look forward to your response .

Affable

pauline fayne wrote: »

I think the most important question to ask yourself is why do you write poetry ? Is it because it is the most effective way to express what you want to say ? Do you feel driven to it ? i may be taking you up wrong here but you said "Am I right to stick with poetry if i want to get published ?". This suggests that you are concentrated more on the goal of publication than the act of writing . perhaps you are still looking for the form of writing that suits you best , - have you tried the short story ? Do you read a lot of poetry ? .

Thanks. No, I'm more concentrated with writing but I would like to produce something of substance and make a difference to the world so publication is a goal but not the sole one. If I could find a way to write online and copywright it without it being stolen I'd love it. I feel driven to write because I feel and percieve things that are intangible, mysterious and enigmatic and I want to convey them as best as I can, which of course is massively frustrating. Because you cannot find an ordered way to do it and there is always more you want to convey, getting close to conveying what is intangible, is by definiton hard to attain. So there's a gulf between the desire and the productivity. ATM poetry does seem the best form to say what I want to say as I flit betwen things I find beautiful but they are not structured and I can;'t find the patience to detail and structure a novel, although it would produce something of substance and possibly be more meaningful.

However, I'm asking if this is a misperception, and that actually novel writing is just as possible as poetry, it's just I have been approaching the technique wrongly?
As I said above-

Affable

Poetry seems much more of an accessable method of self-expression for my cast of mind. I can produce a lot less and express more feelings, but it doesnt have the same sense of journey. This leads to the other things I want to ask-

Is it correct to assign different types of mind to different artforms? Some writers and comedians have been bad musicians, some musicians bad artists, some musicians bad actors, some actors bad singers etc. Does this mean we are 'meant' for one artform more than others? Is my vague instinct correct? Or have I arrived at this position because I am actually 'doing fiction' wrongly?

willy wonka

Affable, have you ever tried NaNoWriMo? If you've never heard of it, it's an online community that attempts to write a novel in a month (NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth). If you stick with it you end up with a 1st draft (a messy 1st draft but a 1st draft nonetheless!)
I have always wanted to write a book but like you, lacked organisation. And so I tried NaNoWriMo in November and I am now editing a 55,000 word manuscript!

Is it correct to assign different types of mind to different artforms? Some writers and comedians have been bad musicians, some musicians bad artists, some musicians bad actors, some actors bad singers etc. Does this mean we are 'meant' for one artform more than others? Is my vague instinct correct? Or have I arrived at this position because I am actually 'doing fiction' wrongly?

Don't forget there are some actors/singers who are also good at swapping careers - Cher for instance, and all those musical actors from yesteryear who were multi-talented - acting, singing, dancing.

Well speaking from a personal point of view I am a designer and am good at what I do (won prizes in college, got good grades) but I believe more in my ability to write. My writing has never been tested, so to speak, but I know I can write, moreso than design.
I am a creative person and like to try out different creative outlets. I did music for years also. Maybe we excel more at one thing but can be competent in a range of things?

merlie

Affable wrote: »

Poetry seems much more of an accessable method of self-expression for my cast of mind. I can produce a lot less and express more feelings, but it doesnt have the same sense of journey. This leads to the other things I want to ask-

Is it correct to assign different types of mind to different artforms? Some writers and comedians have been bad musicians, some musicians bad artists, some musicians bad actors, some actors bad singers etc. Does this mean we are 'meant' for one artform more than others? Is my vague instinct correct? Or have I arrived at this position because I am actually 'doing fiction' wrongly?

Hello Affable,

I have experienced the same thing as yourself. I have been writing for the past 15 years. I started out by attempting to write a novel but with emotions, expression and details too complex I decided to write poetry as it suits my 'immediate emotion' and can express better, I think, within the form of poetry better than a novel. Writing a novel can be a long drawn out process that requires creative commitment on the part of the writer and emotional investment. That is why you need dedication to your artform to achieve this.

I write in the old English dialect from time to time, which is different and also amazingly it is something that I never liked when I was a child but have found it suits me well.
I know personally the struggles I had in trying to achieve both writing a novel and seeking a publisher for my works. It is a difficult one but achievable, if you want to find the publishing route that suits you. I do not think you are incorrect about staying with poetry, but you can try short stories. I have in the past written a few but as short stories are novels without beginning or end and only a snapshot in time, can be difficult, to construct, but nonetheless achievable.

You asked about the other artforms. People have different strengths and weaknesses, bad actor great writer etc can happen. But one suggestion if I may make to you. Why not put your poetry to dance or other art/creative forms. For example: You could have someone who is in the field of dance/choreography put movement to your works on stage, while you recite your works or put audio/video work to accompany it. I know to you this suggestion may seem silly but if you can have some complimentary creative art form to accompany your works than put this on show via a small theatre/community hall. It can be amazing the results and even though it is a small setting, at least it will get you noticed.

I even have one of my poems set to music on You Tube. I did not mind putting it up there as my poem was sitting there amongst a pile of works for a long time and I had wanted to share this one with others. I know I haven't copyrighted it, but what I did was I sent the original to myself via registered post signed and dated, never opened, so if it is ever taken by someone else at least I have the back up of that.

If you want you can PM me anytime for advice.

Kindest regards,

Merlie

Affable

I woul love to put pics and music to poems. Not totally sure how to do this.
On youtube I mean.

pauline fayne

Just an aside - a lotof people seem to be worried about copyright . I know a lot of writers but I dont know of anyone who has had their poems stolen except one . She found a small magazine in a bookshop one day which contained one of her previously published poems and with no author credited . She was highly amused and said it was one of the most flattering things she had ever experienced that someone should go to the bother of stealing it in that way . It was obvious that the magazine had been produced on a budget ... The nearest I have come to it personally was when one of my poems was published under someone elses name - purely an editorial error .

Honestly if you are worried about copyright just post the poems to yourself as mentioned previously . And remember most magazine editors consider putting your work on-line as publishing and wont consider them for publication . However there are plenty of good sites where you can post your work if that is the way you want to publish them .
Check out "The Red room -where the writers are " for example . best of luck , Pauline

Nevyn

I would suggest you set up an online journal and store you work there keeping the entries locked until you have someone ready to publish them.

http://www.insanejournal.com

getz

Affable wrote: »

How did good poets get published?

What kind of output, quantity wise, do you need?

Am I right to stick with poetry if I want to get published?

Reason I ask is, because I have so much I want to express and wanted to write a novel, but have a mind that races and have given up on trying to write a novel because of the patience required, and my problems structuring it or getting all ideas down or any order. Poetry seems much more of an accessable method of self-expression for my cast of mind. I can produce a lot less and express more feelings, but it doesnt have the same sense of journey. This leads to the other things I want to ask-

Is it correct to assign different types of mind to different artforms? Some writers and comedians have been bad musicians, some musicians bad artists, some musicians bad actors, some actors bad singers etc. Does this mean we are 'meant' for one artform more than others? Is my vague instinct correct? Or have I arrived at this position because I am actually 'doing fiction' wrongly?

Any help much appreciated.

stick to it,other people have been in the same boat as you ,and have made it big--my most favorite poets are the bronte sisters ,when charlotte first sent their poems to the then ,queens poet,he returned the poems ,saying ,woman should stick to making puddings, she in the end ,had the last laugh, as the three bronte sisters became second only to the bard in english literature

Affable

getz wrote: »

stick to it,other people have been in the same boat as you ,and have made it big--my most favorite poets are the bronte sisters ,when charlotte first sent their poems to the then ,queens poet,he returned the poems ,saying ,woman should stick to making puddings, she in the end ,had the last laugh, as the three bronte sisters became second only to the bard in english literature

Thanks/ troible is I produce **** all and don't know if I can do a novel as I'm so slow, I do like what I do and get inspired, juts very slow progress.
Think i'll end up with veery few poems

getz

Affable wrote: »

Thanks/ troible is I produce **** all and don't know if I can do a novel as I'm so slow, I do like what I do and get inspired, juts very slow progress.
Think i'll end up with veery few poems

i hated poetry as a school boy ,i could not understand why the likes of wordsworth,keats ect were stuffed into my brain by my teachers it all seems, to be poetry without personal feeling. it is only in the last 10 or so years that i found the bronte poems,the girls,wrote poetry with feeling and when i read , how still,how happy! by emily bronte,i feel as if i am into her mind, remember none of the poems were everment for others to read

lmtduffy

Hi Affable Im gonna suggest things that have worked for me to quiet satisfying success,

Find either a writers group near you, attend this show them your work learn from their comments and also pay attention to their work to and take note of things you dont like and check to see if you do any of these things.

If you cant fins a writers group, attend a writing works shop there should be one in your local arts centre, these are good as they offer you direction will keep you working and focused and will able to help you deciding on form and steps to getting published.

Type up your work save it, and look back over it again and again and each time you will probably make edits, when your satisfied start picking the ones your think are the best (not your favourites), the ones you think are the most professional and readable.

Begin sending these works to literary magazines, focus on sending them in Ireland. Sign up for the poetry Ireland mailing list here http://www.poetryireland.ie/index.php once a week you will receive an email that contains among other things a list of magazines looking for submissions and also a list of events in your area.

Send your work to these magazines, do not send the same pieces to different magazines until you hear back from them, keep at hist sending stuff out every 3 months or so(depending on how long it takes for them to get back to you). Prepare for a lot of rejection.

Also go to events in your area, if there are open mike events or poetry slams go to these, whatever your interest in reading allowed it is very important to take advantage of this exposure and to get to know the scene in your area.

Id advise against submitting things on-line as the web is generally to big to gain notice, and a lot of the websites offer very little credentials.

any other questions just ask, its not a romantic thing to do, and it requires an lot of work on your part but its is rewarding to get published and like anything else your going to have to work your way up from the bottom.

seopositive2

I also search this way that you ask in your qustion so this also help me.