Thread: Chances of Getting This Published?

I have this poem that I really want to try publishing, but I'm a little worried about it's chances...

a) It's historical fiction narrative poem.
b) Three stanzas out of thirteen have a rhyme scheme, and are the same length; the other ten are written in free verse of varying lengths.
c) All of this, and it's YA.

Does it even have a glimmer of a chance? I can't find a publisher with work like this, and I don't want to waste my time submitting it and getting my hopes built up, just for it to never get published.

You could publish that on a blog yourself. That is what I did in the past.

Originally Posted by sunaynaprasad

You could publish that on a blog yourself. That is what I did in the past.

I've thought about self-publication, but I really want this to be traditionally published in a magazine to help me out on down the road when I'm trying to publish my novel I'm working on. Thank you for the suggestion, though!

I know "doodly" about poetry and even less doodly about publishing it. But, is it something that a YA magazine might like as a sidebar inclusion somewhere? I've never thought much about how the poetry-publishing biz works, but maybe something like "Seventeen" (Not exactly YA, though.) would have submission guidelines for something like that? "Cosmopolitan," perhaps? As you can see, I know doodly about YA mags, too.

Considering the topic, perhaps a history-based mag would like it? Even scholarly publications sometimes may accept such work. I know "Nature" has its own Science Fiction submission guidelines, for instance. Perhaps one of the many quarterly mags that focus on history and warfare might like it if it's truly a period piece.

The objective is to get it published, yes?

Originally Posted by Morkonan

I know "doodly" about poetry and even less doodly about publishing it. But, is it something that a YA magazine might like as a sidebar inclusion somewhere? I've never thought much about how the poetry-publishing biz works, but maybe something like "Seventeen" (Not exactly YA, though.) would have submission guidelines for something like that? "Cosmopolitan," perhaps? As you can see, I know doodly about YA mags, too.

Considering the topic, perhaps a history-based mag would like it? Even scholarly publications sometimes may accept such work. I know "Nature" has its own Science Fiction submission guidelines, for instance. Perhaps one of the many quarterly mags that focus on history and warfare might like it if it's truly a period piece.

The objective is to get it published, yes?

Thank you for your response!

Yes, the goal is to get this published,but I don't think I'm even near good enough to publish in a non-literary magazine. By magazine, I meant something like this: The Blue Pencil Online - Walnut Hill School for the Arts This is my first time publishing anything in the 8 years I've been writing seriously, so I don't really know what publishers lie or don't like.

Thanks again!

I dunno where you live, but in the UK we have two writing magazines that run poetry comps every month... usually they are open themed. Might be worth a pop? You will get rejected when you start out, but if you don;t submit you wont get published at all. Best to just let the rejections pile up I've got my own pile that I keep adding too.

Hi newkid,

welcome to WF.

Originally Posted by newkidintown

I have this poem that I really want to try publishing, but I'm a little worried about it's chances...

a) It's historical fiction narrative poem.
b) Three stanzas out of thirteen have a rhyme scheme, and are the same length; the other ten are written in free verse of varying lengths.
c) All of this, and it's YA.

Does it even have a glimmer of a chance?

To answer that question, you would first need to ask: Is it good? Does it do what it's supposed to do? Would anyone, other than your mother or your best friend buy it?

Originally Posted by newkidintown

I can't find a publisher with work like this, and I don't want to waste my time submitting it and getting my hopes built up, just for it to never get published.

Not finding a publisher with work like yours could be a plus or a minus. On the plus side, it might suggest that your work is indeed original enough to inspire interest; on the minus side, it might simply suggest that you've not looked around enough.

Getting published means getting an editor to believe that the work is worth publishing, which is the single most common reason people opt for self-publishing or open-slather publishing (usually offered as a community voice section within a publication, where any empiric standard of quality is not a criterion). Although many would deny it, editors are human, and this means that they have their own ideas about what is good and worth the risk of job or reputation. It also means their filters can vary from day to day, depending upon other factors (like traffic, cold coffee, toothache, unpaid bills).

Now for the bad news.

Your hopes will get built up, and knocked down, many times. Overnight sensations are rare, and almost always have unpublished rejections they don't want to talk about. The appearance of instant success for first-timers can happen, depending upon how one defines success, but again is rare and often later regarded as one-hit-wonders. Finally, broadly recognised serious success in poetry usually requires the poet to do something serious, like devote decades of life to poetry, or die.

Chances of getting a publisher is slim. That's why I recommend self-publishing. Plus, you can make more money.

I didn't know that self-published authors make more money.

Originally Posted by sunaynaprasad

I didn't know that self-published authors make more money.

Of course. They don't have to provide commission to publishers and don't have to pay an agent.

This forum has a private section, Writer's Workshop, only visible to members, you could put it there and ask for opinions. It is impossible for any of us to give advice on the merits of a poem we haven't read.

Originally Posted by jakeocallaghan

Of course. They don't have to provide commission to publishers and don't have to pay an agent.

And get the benefits of neither.

Thank you for your responses, everyone!

To the person who mentioned the Writer's Workshop, is it still okay to post there if some publishers specifically say that they don't accept pieces that have been posted on forums? Or do they mean forms that are public?

Writer's Workshop is a private forum, much as a poetry group would be - If you don't tell them, we won't...

Originally Posted by newkidintown

Thank you for your responses, everyone!

To the person who mentioned the Writer's Workshop, is it still okay to post there if some publishers specifically say that they don't accept pieces that have been posted on forums? Or do they mean forms that are public?

Mostly, they do mean anywhere that is publicly accessible. Private areas are the virtual equivalents of writers' groups, where works can be tested (in readings) and honed (in workshops) before publication.