Explore Market Possibilities

By

Mona Hodgson

 

 

Whether the poem flows onto the page (It's happened once or twice for me) or whether we have to work at it, we'd like to think our work is done. We've written the poem, we've edited it, and polished it.

 

I know I don’t have editors showing up on my doorstep begging to rummage through my notebooks or computer files so they can find my poems and publish them. Consequently, a significant amount of a poet's time is spent researching possible markets.

 

Without a market, our poetic babies have no place to voice their coos and cries. That leaves us with the task of market research. Where do we find markets for our poems?

 

 

START SMALL

 

Many opportunities do exist for getting our poetry published if we’re willing to work at our craft, engage in market research, and start small. It’s all about your target market.

 

Periodicals Versus Books

 

Consider individual poem placements first, rather than a book of poems. Poetry books are a hard sell to the general public and, therefore, to a publishing house. So unless you plan to self-publish your poetry collection, consider first marketing them as individual poems to various periodicals. Most magazines have a much wider readership than the average book enjoys in sales.

 

Small Circulation Markets

 

Don't neglect markets small in circulation numbers. Most of us see more "slicks", usually high circulation publications named for their slick covers, than we do the lesser known markets. These more prominent magazines occupy space on our coffee tables, in bookstores, and in our waiting places. Because they are more likely to gain our attention, we target the name-brand publications and ignore those that may be more realistic possibilities for someone still in the getting-started-phase of writing for publication.              

 

It's good to dream big, especially if we're willing to start small. Don’t shun the first few rungs on the ladder. Taking it one step at a time may help to insure your equilibrium as you climb.

 

Community Possibilities

Don't overlook community markets. Your poem may be topical or seasonal and fit into your local newspaper. Does your poem address a regional topic? Think about newsletters or magazines within your state or region. And don't rule out organizations or business possibilities.

 

Would your poem fit into the local hospital's publication for staff or local residents? Or would your poem speak to those involved in Alcoholics Anonymous or a support group for families of Alzheimer’s patients?  

 

While these markets may not pay, they will provide you with experience and byline credits while you reach readers.

 

Church Markets

 

Your poem may be just what the church secretary needs to fill that hole in the church newsletter or bulletin. My poem And Then God Created Mothers was printed in a Mother's Day bulletin.

 

Are any of your poems devotional in style? They may be appropriate for Christian markets. Take a look at the poetry markets available within the Church.

 

Church take‑home papers and denominational magazines can be great markets for your poetry as well. Care to take a guess at how many denominations there are?

 

Most denominations publish several periodicals for many different age groups as do several non-denominational publishers, providing readers from pre-school to senior adult. The take-home papers are published weekly. Fifty-two issues a year requires a lot of material. If they publish poems, and most do, that's a lot of poems for the editor to find especially when many print several poems in each issue.

 

My poems Fall and Updraft serve as examples of  poems I’ve had printed in church take-home papers and denominational magazines.

 

                     FALL

 

Like a quaky October aspen

   I shudder in the winds of change

         stirring my soul,

    bending my will—

   May I fall before You, Lord.  MH

                                 

UPDRAFT

                               

       Superficial masks 

          shed, caterpillars explore

     their dormant airfoils.

 

      In triumphant flight,

    color-splashed butterflies soar

      on brisk hatching winds.

 

     Lord, help me shed my

          masks of pretense, embrace growth,

     and glide in your breath. MH

 

 

If you have membership in a denominational church, that denomination’s church take-home papers and magazines may offer you a great place to begin your market research. Also, ask friends and family members from different denominations to save back copies and issues of their publications for you.

 

These smaller markets offer another big bonus (in addition to their more frequent publication than others)—the opportunity to build editorial relationships. Many of them have published several of my poems and articles. As the editor becomes aware of your writing style and abilities, you get to know their publication—what they like and need for their readers. 

 

 

YOUR TURN

 

Gather your poems or a computer listing of their titles and topics and categorize them.

Separate out your poems that might fit in community publications or in church markets.

 

For church-related markets, pull out your copy of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide by Sally E. Stuart and check her listing of the various denominations’ publications.

 

Study the various possibilities, mindful of their line count restrictions and poetic form preferences.

 

Polish the appropriate poems and send them out.

 

Market research doesn’t have to be a dull exercise so get out there and lift those periodicals and don’t forget to fan the pages of the market guides as well.