I read of a woman who has written a collection of 800 original poems and she wondered how she should get them published. What would you do if that was you?
That's prolific! I'd like to see the quality of the poetry and the range of topics, but if you are able to produce poems that liberally, maybe you ought to check into publishing them too.
Have you come to the conclusion that marketing poetry is something of a euphemism? There are few commercial outlets, and few readers will buy a book of poems. Even poet laureates have a hard time making a living.
Most of us would like to have our poems printed in handsome form in a book, and be able to give copies to our dearest friends. So why not self-publish? It's an ancient and honourable way to do it. Today, with the advent of e-books and Print-on-Demand (POD) it has never been easier or cheaper.
Note that a printer prints, and a publisher makes copies of the work public, and offers it for sale. You may hire a printer or a quick-copy shop to make up your book, but don't expect them to sell it for you. That's your role if you self-publish.
You don't need anyone's permission to publish. If all that's holding you back is the lack of know-how, then let me outline the simple how-to right here.
Let's cover print publishing steps first, and then electronic, but remember you can do both at once.
1. Think up a name for your publishing company. Design a simple logo on your computer with your Publishing Name if you like. (You can register your name too, but it's not required unless you make lots of money).
2. Decide on the format(s) you want for your book;
-- traditional hardcover or softcover
-- photocopied, stapled, or cerlox & self-bound chapbook
-- folio or folder with exquisite poem pages laid inside.
Publishing Steps for Print Books:
3. Decide on quantity of your first print run. Most poets find that 200-300 is more than they can sell or give away. I made 50 copies of my "Heart 2 Heart" chapbook as Christmas gifts and was a few short by the time I was done with my gift list. But it wasn't hard to whip up a few more.
4. Prepare your manuscript to look exactly how you want it printed. Make up a "dummy" of your book by folding 8 1/2 x 11" sheets in half. 10 sheets will give you 40 pages. (If it's less than 48 pages it is called a Chapbook). Position your poems exactly where you want them on the pages, and in the sequence you want. Paste in the pictures or graphics. If you want line drawings make sure they are dark and clear enough. Include your publishing logo on the title page.
5. Take your book manuscript/dummy around to various printers and get quotes on how they would charge for printing. Break down the costs and consider what you can do for yourself.
Better still, if you now have access to a good printer attached to your computer, you can produce your pages yourself. Just remember, printing more copies is going to mean more ink in the cartridges.
6. Another route is to photocopy your camera-ready dummy pages at a fast self-serve copy shop, or where they do it for you for .03 or .04 per page. For about $1-$2/book they will often do the cerlox binding for you. You would just need to pay extra for the thicker cover stock paper.
(I happen to have received my sister's cerlox machines when she made a big move, so I do that myself. Look around, you may know somebody who would help you too). Cerlox binding can be done in mere minutes.
7. You may prefer to have the pages laminated, and then to sew them together down the center of the open book, with your sewing machine, or, with a large darning needle, if your sewing machine won't take that thickness.
8. Perhaps the most avant guard thing you can do, if you have only a few poems, is to make elegant folders of say... hand-made paper, have your poems printed on such special papers will cost you a pretty penny -- (but your friends are worth it, right?) -- and then simply lay the poems inside the folder. If you make a limited edition, and number the copies, these will become collector's items when you are famous. That's how Anais Nin did it.
9. Now you are ready for your Publication Party, and your Giving, or Marketing and Distribution Campaign!
Publishing Steps for Electronic Books:
Steps 1 & 2 of above are done.
Step 3 - not necessary; in electronic or e-books once your original is done you can make further copies without any additional cost. The glory of going digital!
Step 4 - prepare your poems on pretty web pages, or in your word processing program exactly as you'd like people to see the finished pages if going for .PDF format. A bit of desktop publishing (arranging) skill is helpful.
Step 5 - instead, find a compiling software, or someone who will turn all the pages into one executable file, your e-book.
Skip steps, 6, 7, & 8 from the list above.
Step 9 - Upload your poetry e-book to your web site, and start giving away the download URL, or prepare your sales page, your method of taking payments, and then finding people willing to buy it.
Note that people generally are afraid to pay for a book of poetry sight-unseen. You may have to offer samples. Most people think of poetry as a frill they can do without. Especially if they are wont to write poetry of their own, and they've already decided they don't like just anybody else's. If people think they can use your poems to give as gifts to others, in greeting cards or as an attractive plaque or wall-hanging they are more likely to lay out the cash. Remember to spell out if your copyright is flexible that way.
A web site is still the best way to share your poems with others, and invite people who think and feel the same way to respond to you. Your poetry can win you a bunch of new friends! Yes, even if you are doing this on a shoestring budget!
Back to Writing/Publishing (index).
Ruth Marlene Friesen
The Responsible One
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada