Getting published... - Writers Forum

Brightside · 02-11-2006, 07:03 PM

I am looking for some advice about getting published. I have never had anything published, as yet, and i was wondering what the best (or most successful/sane) way to enter the market is. I have been told to send short stories into magazines and try to build up a portfolio, then try to get an agent, before writing a novel.

I have set a target to get one thing published by the end of the year - be it a poem or short story, but to be honest i do not really know what i am doing!!

Please help!

Achilles · 02-11-2006, 07:11 PM

I don't know much about publishing prose, but I'd be happy to help you with publishing poetry. First off, you'll need to pick up a copy of Poet's Market published by Writer's Digest. It's got hundreds of markets with all the descriptions you need to send the right stuff to the right place. After you've selected some poems you want to send, find publishers that are looking for that type of writing. When you've found a possibility, send 'em off!

I suggest not sending one poem to multiple publishers at the same time. Though some may not have a problem with it, many do and it can lead to some embarassing situations.

If you have any more specific questions on publishing poetry, feel free to pm me.

Good luck!

Achilles

Brightside · 02-11-2006, 08:42 PM

Thanks Achilles, I'll look into Poets Market and think on any questions i feel need answered! Right now i have had no 'official' teaching on poetry, and didn't see it as an option for me. But, over the last few months i have jotted down some random musings and posted them on this very forum - and some of them have had good replies. to be honest, i don't know how good they really are - if you know something about the market, any chance you could look over them and comment - it may save time and embarrassment!

Achilles · 02-11-2006, 09:11 PM

Brightside, check pm.

mammamaia · 02-12-2006, 06:41 PM

among other things, i'm a poet myself, brightside, and i mentor lots of budding poets, as well as all other breeds of writer, so feel free to email me if you want any help or just an assessment of any of your work...

as for agents, you don't 'get an agent' till you have a completed book for them to represent... they're only paid when they sell your work, so they're not going to commit to represent you if you have nothing to sell, right?... even the most impressive 'portfolio' of published short stories, articles, whatever won't give an agent any reason to take you on as a client, because they don't sell your talent as a writer... they sell books...

you're right about needing to hone your writing skills on shorter works before tackling a novel, though... the novel is the everest of the writer's art, and is not something that should be attempted till one has the requisite expertise to survive the exercise...

as for what to start with, i strongly suggest perfecting your writing with stories and other prose, and/or non-fiction, before trying to write poetry that will be marketable... if the novel is the everest of the written arts, then poetry is the cathedral version of a house of cards... if every word/card is not placed perfectly, with the greatest care and precision, the edifice won't stand... it's like decorating a wedding cake, or painting a great work of art... every drop of icing, every stroke of the brush is important to the whole... and it takes artistry of the highest order to do it well...

so learn to write well, period, before tackling either poetry or a novel... get your work published in as many reputable paying venues as possible, so when you do write that novel and have it finished and are ready to query agents and publishers, you can point to a body of published work that make them take you seriously and take a serious look at your novel...

besides which, poetry won't make you any money... the few venues that do pay for it, don't pay much and most pay only in magazine copies... plus, it would take you years, and much well-published work to establish yourself in the literary world as a 'poet'...

hope this is helpful...

love and hugs, maia
maia3maia@hotmail.com

ampersand · 03-22-2006, 01:19 AM

Mamma, if poetry does not pay any money, how do poets make a living?

Mike C · 03-22-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampersand

Mamma, if poetry does not pay any money, how do poets make a living?

all bar about 0.01% don't. The majority of novelists never make a living from their books either.

Mike C · 03-22-2006, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

you're right about needing to hone your writing skills on shorter works before tackling a novel, though... the novel is the everest of the writer's art, and is not something that should be attempted till one has the requisite expertise to survive the exercise...

I sort of almost agree, but short fiction and novels are different beasts. To write short stories well doesn't mean that you'll ever be able to write a successful novel; conversely I regularly compete against a couple of published novelists in writing contests and often beat them. They wrote novels first off, bypassing the short.

The novel is the everest as par as potential earnings are concerned, but the perfect short story is just as much an art.

ampersand · 03-22-2006, 02:40 PM

Mike, I suppose they hold regular jobs then. Now gotta wonder how many people I see in my commute are published fiction writers...

Mike C · 03-22-2006, 03:57 PM

Regular jobs or supplement their writing earnings writing reviews, articles etc.

Terry Pratchett wasn't able to give up the day job until after the publication of his third novel.

mammamaia · 03-25-2006, 01:53 AM

mike...
i meant to use short stories mainly for honing one's writing skills... to start right out with novels isn't good way for that, because it's such a long term process... but short stories can be written and scrapped, until the new writer has attained some expertise in writing, period... then, the novel can be tackled with at least a slim chance of writing one that will be marketable...

Brightside · 03-27-2006, 08:31 PM

Hey all,

thanks for you belated comments on this topic! I'll be sticking to my short stories for now, and once i'm happy enough i'll write a novel; and such...!

I have no befiefs that i'll become a great authour over several months, it'll take a God-inspired lot to get me smacked into writing!!!!

Ah, well...,