How do I go about turning my poetry into a book?

Question

I have been writing poetry for a short period of time now. I have a lot of poems and I'm still coming up with new things. I was wondering how do I go about getting my poems published into a book? What kind of company should I turn to (name of companies are great), how much would it cost (because I really don't have any money), just what to do. If someone could give me step by step instrutions or advice that would be great. Thanks

Answer 1

Rule number one: Money flows TOWARD the writer, not away. If someone asks you for money to publish your own work, run like the wind. It is a scam. And there is no other way around it.

Now that is out of the way...

First, you need to do research. It bothers me immensely in this day and age that people don't know how to use the "search" function. The question "How do I publish..." has been asked and answered about a million and four (million and five now) times. In order to get your work in front of the right people, you need to actually familiarize yourself with the industry, not rely on a bunch of strangers to do it for you.

What that means is, GO READ SOME POETRY. Hit your local library or bookstore and read poetry. See which publishers are publishing it. Visit the publisher sites and see if they have submission guidelines posted. If they don't, ASK FOR THEM. Familiarize yourself with publishers that publish work similiar to what you are doing, and then query accordingly.

Get a subscription to Writer's Digest, The Writer. or Poets & Writers. All of these publications have a wealth of information for aspiring writers. Join writer forums and take about the craft with other writers. That is how you go about finding a publisher.

Answer 2

Ok, I'll be harsh. There is no market for new poetry outside of academic circles, and even there no one reads it without a motive. And I can't say that I blame them either, as most of it is self-centric trash. I'm not saying yours is that, as I haven't seen any of it, but I have seen what gets published in The Atlantic or The New Republic.

There may still be such things as "vanity" presses, which turn out a few hundred copies in return for several thousand of your dollars -- actually, several acclaimed modern poets who weren't professors got their start this way. Anyhow, you don't have the cash to do this.

But that was before the internet. Now I think the way to go is self-publishing. I don't know where to find them, but there are programs available to help you do this. If you google "publishing" I'm fairly sure they'll find you.

I don't mean to discourage you exactly -- for all I know I could be discouraging the next Emily Dickenson -- but even if you are that good, you need to be aware of the obstacles.

If you want to, email me something, and I'll read it and give you an opinion. But I warn you it will be an honest opinion and might well be crushing.

Answer 3

In reference to Poetry.com, I was a member for many years when I was younger. I was so excited to get my poem published in the different books each year, costing me a fortune for the one poem each year, then the price for the book just to prove to others I was indeed published. Poetry.com kept sending me mail saying that I was one of many chosen to read my poem at this massive convention, the trick was I had airfares, accommodaion, food to pay for and also had to pay for the plaque which I was to be awareded at this convention in the states. I was then told half of it was a scam, they send you mail saying they had people wanting more of my work, and if I paid a certain amount I could have a professional voice record my poems onto a cd. I am no longer a member, but have several of the books they published each year with tonnes of peoples poems in. Rewarding in many ways, but costly and sometimes can be disheartning.
Good Luck, I wish you much success

Answer 4

There are many ways to go about publishing your work.
One way to get started with no money is to use the Internet.
Check out the website lulu.com. This website for example allows you to upload a document, select options for how it will be printed and then sell your book online. The book is printed by lulu after someone orders it so there is no investment required to print or publish your work. When you sell a copy of your book lulu will print and deliver the book then take a percentage of the sale and give you the rest.

Answer 5

Checkout poetry.com