How do Poets earn a living?

MalahideMullet

Not sure if this is the right place.

How do poets earn a living.Does anyone actually buy poetry?

Antilles

McDonald's and Burger King are usually hiring.

pickarooney

I should lock this but I am kind of wondering now how many poets are making a living in the world today. 7?

andy1249

You write your stuff , get in published , and hope it sells.

Its not easy ,as its very much a specialist interest these days.

Pat ingoldsby writes poetry , and sells it himself on the street , Leonard Cohen would officially consider himself a poet , indeed he was exactly that at the outset , and got himself noted by picking up a guitar and reciting it to music.

Youve got to be especially inventive if your going to succeed as a poet.

Qualitymark

Look up some living poets on Wikipedia; you'll find many are academics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaney
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eavan_Boland


and occasionally they make their living in other ways, or live hand-to-mouth by bits and pieces

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Logue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Hughes

hcass

Most poets don't make that much money form their poetry. A lot of the well known poets might lecture. If you're well known you could give talks on poetry and readings at book shops, writing groups that type of thing. You could lecture if you have a recognised qualification? You could also do workshops for schools both primary and secondary - if you play an instrument this helps hugely. But yeah workshops, poetry courses/classes that kind of thing. If you are inventive and creative (which lets face it - you should be if you're a poet!) then there are ways directly connected with poetry for you to make money.

FishBowel

Birthday cards?

pauline fayne

I could count on one hand the number of poets who are making a living from their poetry in Ireland ! Poetry books are usually bought by other poets and probably sell fewer copies than any other kind of book in your local bookshop . I have a part time job and any money i earn from poetry usually comes from readings and workshops . I have noticed a considerable drop in invitations to read and/or direct workshops over the last two years . I would like to think that that is because of the economic crisis !:)

Victor

Some of them claim to be disillusioned by the whole commercial poetry thing and just eat their words.

pauline fayne

Victor , having a fit of giggles here at your use of 'commercial' and 'poetry 'in the same sentence ! The family members who have been roused from their sleep by the noise think I have finally 'lost the plot '

FishBowel

pauline fayne wrote: »

Poetry books are usually bought by other poets and probably sell fewer copies than any other kind of book in your local bookshop .

Usually more poetry books than plays in Irish bookshops.

keepkeyyellow

When was the last time you bought a poetry book?

mathepac

FishBowel wrote: »

Birthday cards?

Yes, good old Hallmark Cards. They sacked me recently, I can't think why:-

There was a young lady from Gwent
Who liked to sex in her tent
She met a young fellah
Strangely named Arabella
And the next thing they new they were up in court for outraging public decency in the park and their dog was taken into care.

DublinWriter

The answer is - they don't.

Seamus Heany's day job is in academia.

One particular current and farcically over-rated Irish poet whose name I won't mention comes from a moneyed family of barristers and judges.

Poor old Pat Ingolsby (nicest guy you'll ever meet) sells his books every Saturday down College Green.

It's a tough gig.

PurpleBee

I would say poets need a strong system of patronage behind them given the commercial market doesn't seem to be there. If only poems could be made into Hollywood blockbusters there might be a chance of it being more lucrative.

sallywin

Aosdána for some of the well connected and/or talented!! Ahem.