Discover New Poetry Markets and Get Published: October

By Shawn Sorensen

So far, I’ve recommend six different venues for your poems: two each of print journals, on-line publications and contests. Congratulations to any of you who have sent in work! As always, please let us know if anything happens, whether it’s a nicely-worded (or timely) rejection or a publication by leaving a note here int comments section. There could definitely be a celebration at hand! 

And when you are submitting work, why not start a submission tracker to kept abreast of which publications are getting which of your poems? A submission tracker can help you stay on top of what you’ve sent and make sure your submissions match each publication’s guidelines. For example:

• Often times a publication will allow simultaneous submissions -- poems you’ve sent elsewhere -- as long as you notify them if someone else publishes your work beforehand.
• If you have something already published, then a vast majority of publications will not consider it.
• Contests -- now that’s another story. As we have already seen with the contest suggestion from my last column, there are plenty of contests that will take poems that have already won or have been published. 

What’s in a submission tracker? Mine is an uncomplicated Excel spreadsheet that has the following columns:  “Poem Title”, “Publication/Contest”, “Date Sent”, “When Response Expected”, “Date Returned/Published” and “Comments”.  And just what information can you put in yours? Let’s try the following: 

Print Journal:  The MacGuffin Published three times per year, the MacGuffin journal simply wants “well-crafted poetry”. For reference, the MacGuffin has recently published poems by Dawn McDuffie, Lisa Siedlarz and Vivian Shipley, poetry that is slightly revelatory and/or humorous in tone, something that sheds new light on the greater meanings of making it through the world. Send no more than five poems, along with a cover letter, to Carol Was, Poetry Editor/ Schoolcraft College/18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia MI/48152-2696.

Considers simultaneous submissions and would like poems to be typed and single-spaced with the poet’s name, address, and e-mail appearing on each page. Include an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope). Pays two contributor’s copies. For a sample, send $6 to the above address.

Windfall

Windfall’s subtitle is “A Journal of Poetry of Place”. The place in question is the Pacific Northwest, of which poems submitted to Windfall must reference or be about. Having said that, though, the Pacific Northwest for this journal stretches from Alaska to San Francisco, from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. And you don’t have to be from the Pacific Northwest to get published. Submit up to five poems to Bill Siverly and Michael McDowell, Co-Editors/Windfall Press/P.O. Box 19007, Portland, OR/97230-0007. A cover letter is preferred and Windfall considers simultaneous submissions.  Deadline for spring 2010:  February 1. $5 sent to the above address will get you a sample copy.                                                      

Online Journal: Adirondack Review The Adirondack Review is open to new poets who demonstrate talent as well as established writers who have demonstrations aplenty. View their colorful, unique website for sample poems and submission guidelines. Responds in one week to four months and accepts simultaneous submissions (with notification if poems are published first elsewhere).

Contest:  Twenty-Third Annual Portland Pen Poetry Contest My idea of a good contest? One with a lot of prizes (cash or otherwise), a low entry fee and the possibility of being published if you win. This poetry contest put on by the Portland Branch of the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) does all three. There’s a deadline of November 7^th with an entry fee of $5 per poem. More details can be found at their website. 

Now get those poems out and show yourself off a little bit!  I wish you an appetizer of luck followed by a large entrée of enjoyment.  

* * * * *
Shawn Sorensen is a published, award-winning poet whose work can be viewed at manequinenvy.com, Winter 2008 edition. His poem called “The Yard” won 1st Place in the Oregon State Poetry Association's spring 2009 contest, New Poets category. Shawn's poetry submission goal is to send something in at least every other week and get published/recognized a few times per year.  He's written dozens of complete book reviews, many of them for poetry titles, on goodreads.com and braves a perilous river crossing to be the Community Relations Manager at Barnes & Noble in the hinterlands of Vancouver, WA. He plans and hosts an every-2nd-Wednesday Poetry Group event that's always at 7 pm, always features the area's best poets and always has a great open mic.

* * * * *

View all "Discover New Poetry Markets and Get Published" columns.

View the entire Writing the Life Poetic zine archive.