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What poets can do to develop their writing
Practical advice to develop links with publishers, reprinted from Free Verse:
Publishing opportunities for Black and Asian poets.
- Research:
read magazines, and learn about their submissions policies and what they’re
looking for. Read as much contemporary poetry as possible and ask yourself:
what is being written at the moment? Are there prevailing themes, styles and
forms that are in fashion?
- Network:
get out there, attend readings and festivals, try to meet poets, editors and
anyone working in poetry publishing.
- Submit your work to magazines:
be persistent, follow up submissions and ask, politely, for feedback. Take
on board advice and don’t be discouraged., learn from it and keep trying.
- Learn:
attend poetry workshops, courses and writing groups. Sharing your work is a
good test of how well it works and of the progress you are making. Seek
constructive criticism and use it.
- Develop:
if you can find a mentor, or an informal writing buddy or
online tutor to give you feedback, do so or join an established scheme.
- Advice:
seek advice from established poets. Most are approachable,
especially at events, and as long as you don’t bother them too much, they are
keen to help.
- Print a chap-book or pamphlet and use it to submit work to presses and to
sell at events.
It will convince people there is an audience for your
work. Set up a website and advertise your work.
Free Verse
Reprinted from Free Verse: publishing opportunities for Black and Asian
poets. To see the full report, go to
www.freeverse.org.uk
the progress you are making. Seek constructive criticism and use it.
• Develop: if you can find a mentor, or an informal writing buddy or online
tutor to give you feedback, do so or join an established scheme.
• Advice: seek advice from established poets. Most are approachable, especially
at events, and as long as you don’t bother them too much, they are keen to help.
• Print a chap-book or pamphlet and use it to submit work to presses and to sell
at events. It will convince people there is an audience for your work. Set up a
website and advert-book or pamphlet and use it to submit work to presses and to
sell at events. It will convince people there is an audience for your work. Set
up a website and advertise your work.
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