By Nadja Maril
For many decades, my poetry writing was a private pursuit. By limiting word selection and phrases to focus only on what really mattered, poetry served to capture my observations and innermost thoughts and months later I could revisit those thoughts and perhaps develop them into a story or essay.
On special occasions and for friends, I would write poems, but these were personal gifts.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought about sending poems out to be published. I’d had some “Beginner’s Luck” in college and had a few poems published in a small local magazine, but when I started sending poetry to national publications, all I received were rejections. The pre-printed rejection forms were too painful to read. I packed away my poetry manuscripts and kept my poetry to myself.
I could consider myself in good company. After her death in 1886, Emily Dickinson’s family found 1800 unpublished poems compiled into booklets, amongst her things. The very first volume of Emily Dickinson poetry was published in 1890.
Statistically, the majority of literary magazines publishing poetry only accept approximately three percent of the poems they receive for consideration.
Old Scratch Press Collective member and published poet Virginia Watts says, “I consider myself more of a prose writer who turns to poetry to express creatively in a less structured way.” She has been writing poetry for over sixteen years.
“I believe it is very important for those new to poetry,” Virginia says, “to learn as much as they can about the craft of writing. For poetry, that means taking as many classes at locale universities as you can, attending workshops and getaways where a person can study traditional forms of poetry such sonnets, pastoral poetry, haiku, ode. Try your hand at these. Learn about meter and rhyme scheme, enjambment, alliteration, and so on. The more you know about poetry the better it is for finding your unique voice and style as a poet.”
So, what made me decide years later to send a few poems out for publication consideration? I realized that perhaps the short flash pieces of prose I’d successfully published might be considered by some to be prose poems. I decided to challenge myself to revisit other poem forms I’d tried in the past and be brave.
Virginia says, “When I select poems to submit, I generally give my poems some time to sit on the backburner without me. When I return to them a few months later, I can see where final revisions are needed. I submit a batch of poems that reflect where my poetry is at the moment. That simply means ideas that came to me that I couldn’t shake until I had written them down.”
“Read poetry.” says Virginia Watts, “Listen to poets read their work. When you are ready join a poetry workshop where other poets will read and offer honest suggestions for editing your work.”
So here comes the tricky part, if you decide to start submitting to publications. 1) Read as many literary publications that publish poetry as you can. If you like what they publish and you think your work would be a good fit, submit your best. 2) To find data bases of publications check out Poets and Writers, Duotrope, Chill Subs, and Submittable. Some publications charge submission fees and some don’t. Take into account how many writers statistically they are known to reject and keep that in mind when you submit. 3) Keep good records with dates of submissions, responses, and any feedback. While most rejections are form letters, some will invite you to waive the waiting period for resubmission or even in rare instances invite you to re-submit with revisions. 4) Expect to submit as many as thirty times before you achieve success, depending on where you are sending your work. Good luck and if you are over forty and have poetry that fits the current theme, check out our sister publication ( published by Devil’s Party Press) Instant Noodles Literary Magazine.
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