i am a poet...written more than 50 poems & i want to publish a book of my poems...how to proceed further?

Answer 1

The people at Writer's Market have another book, called the Guide to Literary Agents. This is an excellent way to find listings of respectable agents that are suited to your genre of writing. Finding an agent is key because most publishers will not look at manuscripts sent unsolicited anymore.

Another excellent reference is the website Preditors and Editors. It can help you avoid scams in all areas-- agents, publishers, contests, etc:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Answer 2

Almost no publisher in the world will touch poetry. And there is no-one in the universe who will publish debut poetry. No-one. Because publishers exist to make money and poetry does not make money.
The only method is this: Spend a few years aiming for publication in reputable magazines where you are, and also overseas. Expect lots of rejection slips. If anything does get published in magazines, it is likely that you will not be paid much, and usually you will not be paid anything at all. That's the breaks.

Once you have a long, long list of good quality magazines in which your poetry has been published, submit a query letter to a literary agent whom you know publishes poetry and who is currently accepting unsolicited submissions. DO NOT send your whole manuscript - send a query letter with a list of your successful publications and offer them the opportunity to look at your proposal.

This whole process takes a long time. You can believe me because I have nutted the process out for myself over several years, and have come to the conclusion that it is very very hard to get even the best poetry published. I have moved on to novels instead, which is a trifle easier. There is no quick and easy method - just the long, hard one I have outlined above. Good luck.

OR you can pay to have a 'vanity press' publish them. This means nothing to the literary world and the press will not sell your books for you - you have to do it all yourself. Not taken seriously in the real world, but the only option for bad poets who insist on having their work in a real book.

Answer 3

Poetry is nearly impossible to sell these days. I'd start off by submitting some to magazines (pick up the most current Writer's Market you can find, the 2007 edition may be out by now, for an excellent list of 'em) which will a) get you some exposure and b) pad your resume a bit when you're looking to get an agent or submitting a cover letter to a publisher.

Answer 4

I've been told this is an "urban myth," but it makes sense to me. You take the poems, mail them to yourself, so they're postmarked with a date and the envelope sealed. Never open the envelopes. This is your proof of copyright. Only open them in court if ever needed.
It will cost $2 or maybe $3 apiece depending on how you have the binding done(i.e. saddle stitch) to have a small printing company print them in booklets
saddle stitch: Bookbinding.a binding stitch made by inserting a staple through the center of folded sheets from the back and clinching in the fold.
Then decide which charity you want to raise money for, and contact the charity in person, and inform them of what you are about to do. Here's what you are about to do- Sell the booklets for $2 profit and donate 50% ($1) of the profit to the charity for each booklet sold. Even if your poems suck, people will buy them in order to help the charity. Put the money you make back into making more booklets, and save some in order to eventually have a book printed. You may even want to hire an illustrator to add some color to your book.

Answer 5

Publish them on the internet, yourself.

If you want them read by people

If you want to make money poets are not on the fortune 500

copyright them and ask your readers what they think maybe they will help you find good book binding builders, but if you just want copies to sell or give away you could simply print a hard copy on paper making your own book or probably as cheap as paper with less trees dying is to put them on a cd. This is easy to do if you know how.

good luck

Answer 6

you could self publish them. I self-published a book of poems through www.lulu.com
(my book can be seen here, if you want proof: www.lulu.com/dchooper
Lulu are free, but you do the work, you upload, choose your cover from their gallery or make your own, select if you want b/w or color, what size and binding methode you want, and then you set the price.
I found them extremely helpful, i really think you should check them out

Answer 7

Go to Hallmark - they have a writers guide which lists multiple publishers - not just on poetry but everything - it has company names, address, contact persons, etc... well worth the $50.

Answer 8

Check out poetry.com

Answer 9

go to or email a book editor or go to poetry.com should have a local editor in your area try your newspaper