Is there anyone else out there who is starting to think of sending a collection of poems out - or indeed is already trying?
The fiction-ites chat a such lot about their experiences, I just wondered if there were any poets with stories to tell, tips to pass on?

One thing I was wondering about were Regional Arts Councils. Do they ever help one get published, offer grants or services? I looked at the London site yesterday and it wasn't very illuminating, but I'm sure I've heard of people getting published by the Arts Councils?

x
tc

Just me, then!!?
Surely its not THAT impossible?
x
tc

No tc, not just you. However, I would welcome some feedback on others' experiences. You're right - it seems to be the short-story/novel writers who chat about being published, never poets!

I'm just too scared! Perhaps a few words of experience would calm my fears.

joanie

Well, Joanie, a quick look at the WW Directory is enough to make anyone head for the hills!!
Only 4 Poetry agents, of which one seems to be in flux...and looking directly at the publishers wasn't much better - 2 not taking any, one saying "we can't be expected to look at everything", one lesbian, one Welsh, (nothing wrong in those per se, of course, just frustrating right now as I happen to be neither!)

Hmm! talk about giving up before I start!

But what I've decided to do is spend the rest of this year building up as good a record of publication as I can, entering as many comps as I can just in case....and then perhaps starting to explore getting a collection together in 2006.

Did you have any strategies?
x
tc

As a short-story/novel writer, I can tell you that most of the discussions are about not being able to get published!!!

I would say that it’s virtually impossible for new novelists to get their work published nowadays. Short story collections are much more difficult. After that comes poetry collections.

I went to a talk last week given by three authors, all published by HarperCollins, and they discussed short stories. They all said they loved reading them. So did many members of the audience. There was a representative from HC with them, so she was asked why there were so few short story collections published – and she said because the reading public didn’t buy them. (!) I wanted to point out the flaw in her argument but the discussion moved on and I missed the chance.

Possibly the same attitude prevails regarding collections of poems. Maybe you should start a campaign to bombard publishers/bookshops/libraries with demands for more poetry collections?

Dee
x

Oh, Dee, Its that age old circular thingie 'bout allegedly no-one wanting to read poetry, so no-one publishes it...but then of course with not much new stuff coming out, we can't attract the readers....

And then that ole chestnut (thAt we even get on WW) about poetry being difficult and people not reading it cos they don't understand it.....yet those I show my stuff to, once I've got them over intial fears, and giggles 'cos they're reading poetry...all seem to enjoy it and get something out of it.

It's dispiriting. At least you fiction-ites know there's that wonderful possibliity of a best-seller, exposure, acclaim...us poets have to face the reality that even if we can get published, we're part of a minority market

God! wish I'd never started this thread, now! You still hanging in there, Joanie!?
x
tc

Tinyclanger,
I would suggest this to you: get as many individual poems published as you can in small presses and magazines(send me a WW mail and I'll pass on some contacts). This is almost the only practical way of building up the portfolio you need to approach a publisher. Almost all poets such as Simon Armitage or Tony Harrison started on magazines first.

Once you've had half a dozen to twenty (sounds a lot but who said being a published poet was easy?), you can expect to get some serious attention from a publishing company. As for the whole 'publishers attitude to poetry discussion', I worked for a short time at Picador and was amazed at just how small the department was. Literally one person. So it's hard to get a major house to consider your work if you're well-known. Impossible if you're not.

good luck!

Luke

Thanks, Luke, I'm trying to build up my publishing record at the moment - only another 15 or so to go......:-)
I'll certainly get in touch for contacts, it's a long job trawling through the directory.

The latter part of your post makes it sound truly impossible..if I'm not 'known' i'll never do it, I'll never get known until I publish (even then it seeems a long shot) Baffling.
Seems you have to know someone 'in the know'....but how long do I have to wait for one of my mates to get a job at Faber & Faber!

Fun this.....
x
tc

I know, it sounds unfair and paradoxical, but it's for you to decide how hight to aim. Bloodaxe and Faber or a 'slim volume' paper-bound edition with a small press?

Unfortunately, poetry is a niche market for many publishers. Remember how much fuss was made when Hughes' 'Birthday Letters' made the top ten bestsellers list? It's just very rare for many large houses to take on previously unpublished poets.

But keep going, and don't forget why you're writing.

Luke

You might think of trying 'PubishAmerica' I have just received a good clean contract from them for a book of poetry. Publish America is -todate- proving very professional. The contract is for 7 years and pays royalties which start from 8 and rises to 12.5% depending on sales. The Publisher incurs all the expense in relation to marketing etc so it is 'mainstream'

I believe they advertise on the writewords sight (Google ads). It might well be worth checking out their website and dropping them a line. Can't do any harm anyway can it?

Luke,
I'm conceited enough to want to aim high, but realistic enough to temper that somewhat!!
I suppose I'm a bit of a snob and if Faber ever bit I'd just feel it was SUCH a vindication of my talent that I'd be utterly over the moon. If it was a very small press, I'd also be delighted but a bit less so....does that make sense or make me sound like a status-hunrgy idiot? I'm not, but you just assume that really famous publishers know what they're talking about, and only publish the best...

Basicallly I'd be seriously chuffed if I could ever get any publisher/agent interested in my work. I'd feel it was such a massive vindication of what I'm trying to do.
But, you're right, I don't forget why I'm writing and if it can bring pleasure to family and friends, folk on WW, and garner the odd 'hit' in a magazine, I'll still be happy, and certainly still continue. Can't imagine life without poetry, now.
x
tc

Felmagre
I have to say I worry a bit about Publish America - though I realise for some they are the answer. I wish you luck with your publication and hope YOUR experience is a good one.
Had you tried other publishers before you approached them?
x
tc

Strangly, I was approached by them. They wanted to publish one of my poems then asked if I would send them a larger selection, after which came the contract.

Yes, to sending out the manuscripts to others, Faber and Faber, and Random house. Very polite said they liked what I had written etc but felt 'they would not be able to do it justice in the current market'
Tell me about your concerns. Certainly, I checked out the contract and it came up clean, was not 'vanity publishing' etc but would be interested to hear your thoughts on the issue. Please!

Hi Felmagre.
Well, I suppose its reading things like:
http://www.badbusinessbureau.com/reports/ripoff104646.htm

Things like their lack of marketing, expensive copies, not stocked by shops etc.
I don't know if any of this is true, but I've read it in several places.

I guess if you go into it with your eyes open, then all is well. I just wonder if people don't get a bit of a shock when they realise the implications....

BUT, given what we've said in this thread about the virtual impossibility of attracting traditional/mainstream publishers to poetry, it doesn't surprise me that folk turn to PA. Perhaps is more of us did, and challenged the smugness of main publishing houses, we'd grab more power and things would even out a bit more and give more of us a chance ?
x
tc

TC,
I don't know if it's fair to call mainstream publishers smug or assume (as many seem to in here)that they are the evil empire or Satan incarnate. It's just that big houses are, well, big businesses. In the end it's about margins of profitability and keeping various shareholders happy.
Put yourself in their position: do you publish a small beautiful book of Ukrainian poems that might do, say 300 copies or do you publish a celebrity ghost-written memoir that will net a couple of million? As a business you have to opt for the former.
My experience of small presses isn't extensive but I've had a couple of poems published and each time I've wondered the same thing: who is the audience for this? The Poets themselves? A few close friends and family? It is somewhat depressing to think. But we must be positive. It is worth the struggle.

Keep going.

Luke