POETRY MAGAZINES
Far more print magazines will take your work than you might suppose, provided
that the poem enhances the publication and adds to readers' enjoyment. Your
first step is to research the print magazine market carefully, starting
with well-known guides, the first of which may be in your local library
or community centre:
The Writers Handbook edited by Barry Turner. Pan. 800 pp. £9.
Publishers, professional organizations and advice.
The Poetry Business by Peter Finch. 1994. Seren. Bridgend, Wales.
131 pp. £6. Now dated but well-night comprehensive account of the
UK poetry scene. Includes self-publication, competitions, workshops, poetry
organizations.
Lights List 2000 The Lighthouse, 37 The Meadows, Berwick upon Tweed,
Northumberland, TD15 1NY, Great Britain. £2-$7. Lists 1450 small presses
in English-speaking world, approx. 600 in the USA.
Poet's Market. 1507
Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207 $24. US markets.
Writer's Notes. Markets and information
for Canadian writers.
Writers Net. Internet directory
of writers, editors, publishers and literary agents.
The Poetry Machine. Excellent
directory of poetry magazines in USA, Canada and beyond. Focuses on small
presses and not always up to date.
The Poetry Resource. Extensive,
including poetry publishers.
Poetry Kit. Good listing
for the UK, USA and elsewhere.
Lollipop. Listing of
UK small presses, news and publishing advice.
About.
Some 40 small presses listed, not specifically poetry.
General Print Directories
Yes, a lot of work, and it will help to be systematic. Make an extended
table in which each possible outlet is assessed with regard to style,
poem length, theme, quality and payment (if any). There should be dozens,
perhaps hundreds.
But you haven't finished yet. All serious poets know these poetry magazines.
To steal a march on the competition, you'll need to go through the more
general directories:
Books in Print.
Bowker's listing of US publishers.
Gebbie's. All U.S. print and broadcast
media, including newspapers, trade and consumer magazines.
Gale Directory. Educational publishing
for libraries, schools and businesses.
Parrot Media Network. Extensive
listings of US media sources.
SRDS. Thorough coverage of USA media
outlets.
MediaPost. Excellent information
source: 35,000 listed in media people finder, and 3,000 articles.
Media Finder. Database of print
media in Canada and the USA.
Media UK. UK media community with
extensive independent directory.
Yahoo. Magazines
listed under 50 odd headings.
Open Directory. Hundred
of directories listed: worldwide.
Specialist Outlets
And then turn your attention to specialist outlets. Many of your poems
are on flowers and pets? Think of gardening magazines and those catering
for cat and dog lovers. Your poems are set in a specific place or time?
Consider regional and house magazines, or possibly a history or local
history journal. Your library can help, and prolonged Internet searches
even more. You'll be surprised by how varied are people's interests, and
the range of publications set up to cater for them.
Of course you'll have to read the publications to pick up the nuances of
the markets they serve, but again your local library can obtain copies of
outlets likely to feature on your shortlist, and websites at least provide
a glimpse. Print magazine means more than magazines specially catering for
poetry, and commercial outlets may actually pay you.