How to Publish Your Poetry: A Complete Guide to Finding the Right Publishers for Your Work (Square One Writer's Guide) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If how-to books are supposed to be opinionated, informative and sophisticated, this guide from Ciaravino (How to Pray: A Practical Guide to Prayer) is less a beginning poet's guide than a gentle and repetitive initiation for the completely cluelessAbut, blessedly, they're out there. The target audience of 20,000 (the book's first printing) seems to be those who come to poetry through self-help programs or sui generis verbal implosions, or who are otherwise completely out of the loop of periodicals, presses and academic programsAindeed of poetry of any sort: "This poet, whose full name is Thomas Stearns Eliot, has influenced history with his work." Almost none of the actual presses, magazines and programs that make up the current scene are described, evaluated or even mentioned hereAalthough the publications that list them areAand the ones that do show up make for a highly skewed selection. (The University of North Dakota Writers Conference is one of three discussed. The Tennessee Mountain Writers Conference is another.) Some of the initiated may find the sample cover letters, submission packet suggestions, "tracking chart[s]" and glosses ("QuarterlyAfour times per year") useful, but those looking for a Baedeker to the current lay of the land will not mistake this map for the territory.--" and glosses ("QuarterlyAfour times per year") useful, but those looking for a Baedeker to the current lay of the land will not mistake this map for the territory.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This encouraging, motivational, up-to-date and practical guide is pure poetry for lyrists with a yen for print."

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Square One Publishers; 2nd edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757000010
• ISBN-13: 978-0757000010
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,681 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide for poets!, February 25, 2001

By	Shirley Jump, Romantic Comedy Author (Midwest, United States) - See all my reviews

Helene's book is comprehensive and filled with tips for beginning and experienced poets. She walks the writer through all the steps necessary to get a poem published and provides lots of great information and tips along the way. It's the perfect book for anyone interested in publishing their poetry.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A veritable gold mine of practical, useful, time-tested information, ideas, and instructions., February 5, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Poetry is an especially difficult field in which to be published. An ideal instruction manual for aspiring poets seeking to have their poetry published, "How To Publish Your Poetry: A Complete Guide To Finding The Right Publishers For Your Work" by book editor, freelance writer, and published poet Helene Ciaravino has compiled a step-by-step 'how to' instruction manual that will materially assist the complete novice to publishing to have their poetry put into print and made available to as large a readership as possible. Writers of poetry seeking publication will be able to maximize their chances for becoming published; will learn how to create an effective submission package; avoid common mistakes in their attempt to become published; learn how to craft a cover letter for their manuscript that will attract the attention of acquisition editors; utilize a simple but practical seven-step system for becoming published; minimize the time, effort, and financial costs of becoming published; take advantage of available resources for the aspiring poet; learn about a diversity of outlets for poetry; and benefit from honing their skills at the craft of writing poetry. Of special note is what Helene Ciarvaino has to say about self-publishing with respect to poetry. Especially recommended for academic and community library Writing & Publishing reference collections, anyone contemplating becoming a published poet should give "How To Publish Your Poetry" a very careful reading. It is a veritable gold mine of practical, useful, time-tested information, ideas, and instructions.

21 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poetry Publishing (...), November 5, 2001

By	"authorssociety" (UK, Club Member) - See all my reviews

This collection covers a lot that new and established poets will find useful.
It saves you many hours of needless research - spend more time writing poetry; and then take the advice on publishing it.