Poetry Manuscript
Creating, Selling and Buying Poetry Manuscripts
Just thought I would take a quick moment to post a link to Poets & Writers classified listing area. First let me say, if you do not currently get this magazine, I highly recommend it. Each issue has great interviews with writers. I always end up reading mine cover to cover in one setting – it’s that good.
Also, if you are on FaceBook make sure you check out their fan page and become a fan. They are always posting updates and online exclusives not found in the magazine. I personally know other poets who have submitted various listings in their classifieds and been accepted for publication. The nice thing about this classified section is that is broken down by which type of manuscript you want published.
Every year, right before the holidays, I go into a state of reflection over everything that happened through the year. I suspect most of us do that, as this is the time of year resolutions are often made. I’m not a huge fan of resolutions, especially long lists of resolutions, as I believe they set us up for failure.
I prefer to take a different approach. Rather than set resolutions, I try to come up with plans on how to make the new approaching year an even better one. I guess you could say, learn from my previous year’s mistakes or short comings.
When I started this blog, I had big plans for it. As a poet, I would like to pull together a manuscript and have it published. But something happened that made me slow down my process and even lose interest in the publishing pursuit. Ironically, it has to do with this blog.
I had told a friend of mine that I started this blog. He is also a poet, and despite not having his own manuscript published, he has had many poems accepted by small lit publications and even has a few chapbooks out. Right before I told him about the blog I was feeling confident about it; however, I was slightly intimidated by what he might think of my writing a blog about getting published when I have not even been published.
My confidence was deflated when he called me after looking at the blog and said something like this: Technically, after you are published, it is no longer considered a poetry manuscript. So, if it is no longer a poetry manuscript once it has been published, you can’t buy or sell it as a poetry manuscript.
Who was I to argue? The guy has a MFA in Creative Writing. It got me thinking, if I didn’t even know that a published collection is no longer considered a manuscript, how could I possibly write a blog dedicated to poetry manuscripts?
I’ve been trying to come up with topics to write about. Every time I sat at the computer to start a blog post, I felt like banging my head on the desk. The thoughts, topics, ideas just weren’t flowing. If you’ve been reading the blog, you’ll see that this went on for a while.
Today, it occurred to me that I was limiting myself. Not only by what my friend had said, but also by the direction this blog was originally pointing. I also started to think about my own poetry writing. Actually, it was the lack of my poetry writing in the last month or so.
Again, I contribute that to this blog. (The lack of writing poetry, that is.) You see, trying to come up with a topic was creating a writer’s block. One that carried over to all the other writings I do.
So, what does that have to do with making next year a better year? Basically, I need to change the direction this is going in. What exactly? I don’t know yet. But I do know this, when you have a passion for something, the work around it becomes easy. I have a passion for poetry and writing poetry. I do not have a passion for publishing.
This is likely my final post for 2009. I wish you all a happy holiday season and hope that your year ends with reflections on the old and plans for the new.
Tags : reflections, resolutions
You know the saying, “You can’t win if you don’t play.” Well, ok – it is directed primarily at winning a lottery, but many of us “poets” tend see getting our poetry manuscripts published as likely as winning a lottery. As I continue my search for the latest and greatest tips and techniques in getting our manuscripts published, I came across a few tips that I thought I’d say with you.
- Put your ink to paper. Seems logical, huh? Well then let it serve to you as a reminder that if you want to get your poetry manuscript published, you need to keep writing poetry. Even if you already have all the poems selected for your manuscript – keep writing it. And if you don’t have your poems selected, keep wriiting because they may give you inspiration to a certain direction for your manuscript.
- Timing is everything. If your manuscript covers topics that are currently popular with the general public, you have a better chance of getting published.
- Many literary agents specialize in certain types of books. Do your research and make sure you are submitting your poetry to literary agents that specialize in poetry manuscripts – otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and money.
- When making first contact with a literary agent, send a letter of query with an overview or synopsis of your book. Keep your lettter professional and concise. You don’t want a letter that is lengthy, as it will most likely be tossed aside. Also, make sure to include your resume and publishing credits (if any). If you are including a sample chapter or two of your manuscript, make sure you double space the sample. This will help the reader read it quickly and provide space for any notes they may have.
- Be persistent. Even some of our most well known writer’s of today recieved many “no’s” before getting an offer to be published, so keep your chin up and be persistent. Just remember, for every “no” you receive, you are that much closer to a “yes”.
Tags : agent, literary agent, poetry manuscript, publishing
So, you think you are ready to publish your poetry manuscript, but are you really? If you are a beginning poet, chances are that you are not ready for a manuscript publication. If you have been writing poetry for years, but have not established any legitimate publishing credits, chances are your manuscript is not ready for publication. While looking around on the web for articles related to poetry manuscripts, I found a website for the Colrain Poetry Manuscript conference which takes place in November of this year and again in January 2010. After reading over their requirements, here is what I’ve determined makes a person ready for manuscript publication.
- You have a book-length poetry manuscript.
- You’ve been submitting your poetry to contests and presses for publication.
- You’ve had poetry and publishing professionals review your work for honest, unbiased feedback and you’ve used the feedback.
Personally, I have not yet entered my poetry into any contests. While I have submitted my works to presses for publication, I’ll be honest and admit I’ve only done that once or twice. So by the standards listed on their website, it would appear I’m not ready for publication. But, despite that, I think I would be a good participant in their conference, simply for the fact that I am genuinely interested in an unbiased evaluation and feedback of my work. It may be worthwhile to look at attending the conference, especially if you are going after a first time full-length publication. I suspect their feedback would be worth the time and cost.
It is a limited group in size, so I suggest you contact them soon to be accepted into their conference. At the very least, by attending you will walk away with invaluable feedback that you can apply to making your poetry manuscript the best it can be.
Tags : manuscript, poetry, poetry manuscript, publishing
Tags : poetry manuscript, publishers, self-publishing
Anytime I step foot into any type of bookstore, I immediately go to the poetry section. When it comes to used bookstores, I’m often disappointed at the lack of variety in poetry manuscripts. That is until a recent trek to Madison, WI. Downtown, just off of State Street you’ll findAvol’s – a bookstore that carries literally thousands, I might even dare say a million, used books, including poetry manuscripts. In fact, when I went to their poetry section and found that it was the largest I’ve ever seen – I almost cried. Seriously. I could have spent an entire day in that section alone, but hunger ended up winning.
I didn’t leave empty-handed though. There are always three poets I try to find when I’m in a used bookstore : Plath, Sexton and Carver. I find their particular writing styles and voices to be very different and even though I may not particularly care for the actual words, it’s how they write them that pulls me in. Anyway, I’m never able to find poetry manuscripts by these poets. I’m not sure if it is because I live in a more rural area or if they are just the types of books that people don’t get rid of, but I was so excited when I found a manuscript of Anne Sexton: The Complete Poems. As suspected, Plath was not found, but I also managed to snag Raymond Carver’s A New Path to the Waterfall. I was floating above the clouds when I walked out of that store, just imagine what I felt like when I noticed that my Carver manuscript is a first edition.
After this experience, I’m going to have a very difficult time going to a bookstore that sells only new books. Nothing against them, there’s just something about buying a book that has been held, read, loved, or even hated, by another person.Well, that’s how I feel about poetry manuscripts anyway – because when I think about reading a novel, nothing beats the feeling of being the first person to turn that first page. Getting back to poetry – it’s a way to connect our humanness. As much as I like theInternet for gaining access to creative writing pieces I may not have normally found, the simple act of holding a poetry manuscript in my hands allows me to feel so much more of the energy behind the poem. Strangely though, I only feel that when I’m holding a used one.
Maybe it’s the residual energy from all the others who have held it, read it and cried or laughed over the words. Maybe it’s the invisible fingerprint of their connection to the writing in the manuscript. All I know, is that if you are only reading poetry online, tear yourself away and go to a used bookstore and read some of the manuscripts they have there. I’d be curious to see if you feel differently and what you felt.
Tags : books, manuscript, poetry, poetry manuscript, used poetry manuscript
I’ve been writing poetry since I was 7 and I think the time has come for me to put together my first printed poetry manuscript. I started sharing my poetry online several years ago, but after reading articles on the value of publishing through journal websites and portals which feature poets and writers, I discovered that in the printed literary world having your poetry online – even if on your own website, was considered published. That’s good, right? Well – it depends on whether you want to be considered for publication in printed materials other than your own self-published materials. I personally decided that I would prefer to remove my online profiles where I had my poetry for others to read; however, at the same time I established my YouTube channel where I recite my poetry as a way to get it out there.
As I put together my first manuscript, I am suspecting that many of the publishers will lean towards accepting new poets that have had at least a poem or two accepted for publication by someone other than the writer or the writer’s affiliations. If this is the case, I will also be sharing how to find places and the process of submitting. In essence, you’ll be witnessing what I do, where I do it, how I do it and whether or not the steps I take lead to success. While ultimately my end-goal is to create a poetry manuscript and have it published, I will also be sharing many topics through this blog. Over the years, I have built myself a nice toolbox of online writer’s resources. Reviews, recommendations, and how-to guides will also be featured in order to help other writers in their quest to become better writers and seek publication. Basically, if it is related to poetry and poetry manuscripts, I will be sharing it with you.
Eventually, this blog will also have reviews of poetry manuscripts by new poets, as well as recommendations of manuscripts published by established and well-known writers. If you would like to have your poetry manuscript featured on my blog, or would like to recommend a manuscript, tool, or resource for me to review, please contact me, as I am always open to new ideas and suggestions.
Tags : manuscript, poetry, poetry manuscript, publishing, writing
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