How to Publish Poetry Online

Inspiration is the means to writing any poetry. Publishing a poem online offers an immediate sense of accomplishment. It instantly transports your creativeness to the world. Most Websites welcome amateur poets. If you are looking to reach a greater audience, publishing online brings world wide appeal. Find the right market and submit!

Instructions

1. Prepare and revise poem. Proofread for mistakes in style, content and grammar. Correctly format the prose according to submission guidelines which can be found in "Poets Market" or online directly from the publication to which you wish to submit your poem. Pay special attention to any unusual requirements by the publication.

2. Study potential e-zines and contests. The e-zine might only accept acrostic or free verse. The poem contest might be looking for narrative poetry along the lines of Longfellow. Check the age of the e-zine's audience. To make certain your poem is suitable, purchase a copy or download a sample. Compare your poem to ones published in the prospective publication. Having a group of poems to submit is better than one.

3. Write a brief cover letter if submission guidelines ask for it. Explain who you are, what your poem is about, the intended audience, and why you chose the particular publication. Put your name, return address, email, and phone number. State what type of rights you are considering such as 1st North American rights. Print a hard copy for your records.

4. There are poetry publishing sites where experience is not a requirement. For the novice, this is the starting point. A beginner will receive instant feedback and have the opportunity to join a poet community. Poets meet fellow writers, critique work and seek advice from peers. These sites usually post poems for free. On these writing sites, the writer maintains control of the poem, enabling him to edit and make corrections over time.

5. After submitting poem, keep a submissions log. Using Excel or a ledger, record the title of the poem and the date when it was submitted. Also include the name of the publication and editor. Keeping track of submissions is important. If you hear back from the publication, write accepted next to the title of the poem. If you do not hear back, query the editor you sent your poem to find out its status. Make a notation in your log of the date queried. Waiting times range from near immediate response to several weeks. The response time is usually indicated on the Website's guidelines.

6. Keep working. Submitting a poem online is gratifying. In a very short time, the poet has reached a wide audience. Don't be idle. Start writing another poem. Follow the same process as above. Keep up daily writing to polish your talent. Challenge the poet within! Submit your next poem to a higher caliber e-zine or contest.

Tips & Warnings

• When seeking out e-zines and contests, make sure that submissions can be sent electronically. Note if the publisher prefers the poem in the body of the email or as an attachment. When submitting to a contest, read all rules to see if you agree to the terms stated.

• Watch out for online publishing scams. Never pay out of pocket fees unless it is a legitimate contest in which you are prepared to pay. Always read the fine print before deciding if the market is right for you. Don't be discouraged with a rejection. Learn from it. It happens to the best.

Resources

• Writers-Network
• Poetry Pen
• Publishing Poetry
• Online Lit Zines & Poetry Anthologies