Sunday, March 11, 2007

My Quick and Dirty Reference Guide for Poets

The Quick and Dirty Reference Guide for Poets

Let’s face it between rejection letters, overwhelming hours at your day job, and writer’s block getting your poetry out to the world can feel difficult and upsetting. I feel you as I write poetry myself.

So I created myself a quick reference guide of helpful books, publishers, magazines, contests, and so forth I want to share with other aspiring poets. I also highly recommend How to Publish your poetry: A complete Guide to Finding the right publishers for your work by Helen Ciaravino. I took a lot of my reference from that but this book is great for all parts of the process. It even has examples of cover letters!

I also recommend joining http://www.writerscafe.org/ . You can get your poetry AND stories out to the public for free and even receive feedback. The site also features groups, contests, and even a special section to search for publishing.

Recommended Resource Books (Check your local library; much cheaper ^_~):
-The Complete Guide to Literary Contests 2001
by Literary Fountain
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Literary-Contests-2001/dp/157392850X/ref=sr_1_1/103-5145212-8001452?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173649981&sr=1-1
-Every Writer's Guide to Copyright and Publishing Laws
by Ellen M Kozak
http://www.amazon.ca/Every-Writers-Guide-Copyright-Publishing/dp/0805073787/ref=sr_1_3/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173645643&sr=1-3
-Making It Legal: A Law Primer for Authors, Artists and Craftspeople
by Martha Blue
http://www.amazon.ca/Making-Legal-Authors-Artists-Craftspeople/dp/0873584708/ref=sr_1_6/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173645788&sr=1-6
-Successful Syndication: A Guide for Writers and Cartoonists
by Michael H. Sedge
http://www.amazon.ca/Successful-Syndication-Guide-Writers-Cartoonists/dp/1581150512/ref=sr_1_1/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173645863&sr=1-1
-2007 Poet's Market
by Nancy Breen (Editor), Erika O'Connell (Editor)
http://www.amazon.ca/Poets-Market-Nancy-Breen/dp/1582974330/ref=sr_1_3/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173645915&sr=1-3
-The International Directory Of Little Magazines And Small Presses 2006/2007
by Len Fulton
http://www.amazon.ca/International-Directory-Little-Magazines-Presses/dp/0913218383/ref=sr_1_2/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173646220&sr=1-2
-The Literary Press and Magazine Directory 2007/2008: The Only Directory for the Serious Writer of Fiction and Poetry
by Council Of Literary Presses and Magazines
http://www.amazon.ca/Literary-Press-Magazine-Directory-2007/dp/1933368586/ref=sr_1_1/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173646286&sr=1-1
-The Poet's Handbook
by Judson Jerome (Author)
http://www.amazon.ca/Poets-Handbook-Judson-Jerome/dp/1582971366/ref=sr_1_2/701-6898988-4092352?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173646392&sr=1-2

RECOMMENDED MAGAZINES:
-The American Poetry Journal:
Seems mainstream but a good source
http://veenet.value.net/~dbear/apj.html
-The American Poetry Review:
Also seems mainstream; feels like they take more contemporary style poetry
http://www.aprweb.org/
-Cthulu Sex Magazine
Sensual Horror Magazine only submit your darkest stuff
http://www.cthulusex.com/

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE SITES:
~*~Web Del Sol~*~
Posibly Everything you love and need to know about writing and publishing
I CANNOT RECOMMNED LOOKING AT THIS SITE ENOUGH!
http://www.webdelsol.com/
-The Poetry Society of America
Go see their amazing resource section!
http://www.poetrysociety.org/
-I love poetry
Excellent Site for Amateur/unpublished poets
http://www.ilovepoetry.com/
-Acdemy for American Poets
Nice resource section also a good pivoting point for promoting published works
http://www.poets.org/
-National Federation of State Poets Society, INC
Excellent Resource for Poetry Groups and Poets
Check out their Contests
http://www.nfsps.com/
-National Writers Association
Great Site you can even get online reviews
http://www.nationalwriters.com/
-Poet’s and Writers
Another Great Site
http://www.pw.org/
-Writers Network
Contests, help, and forums enough said
http://www.writers-network.com/
-Electronic Poetry Center from Buffalo
They even have a Poetry Radio!!
http://wings.buffalo.edu/epc/
-Lit Line
For the Indepenting Literary Community
http://www.litline.org/links/index.html
-The Underground Who
More for underground authors and artists but worth a look!
http://www.undergroundwho.com/
-The Gathering of the Tribes
Great online site for writers
http://www.tribes.org/tribes


SELF-PUBLISHING COMPANIES:
-Book Surge
paired with Amazon.com allows you to get your stuff out for a cost
http://www.booksurge.com/
-Writers Network
Yes they also do Self-publishing for a fee
http://www.writers-network.com/
Lulu Press
To help Promote female artist especially in the comic book field you can get books self publishe thru here. The books can get pricey but you don’t have to spend money till you wish to buy the actual book
http://www.lulu.com/
-Writers Write
Good Resource for more publishers
http://www.writerswrite.com/

Friday, March 9, 2007

World Love

Create a world of inspiration and you can inspire a world of creation.