Should I Publish a Book of Poems?

[AllyWoof]

Hi guys!

I am wondering if I might be able to get some opinions. Recently, I switched from writing novels and short stories,(which I was failing to complete), to inspirational poetry. My plan is to submitt one of them to the chicken soup series. However, some of my family members have encouraged me to send in all of them at one time and turn them into a book. I only have six or seven that are ready for publication. I am not sure that is enough to constitute a book. Over the years,I have read several how-to books on various writing topics. They all say with a novel you can send in a summary, or one or two completed chapters as samples to publishers. Would the same thing go for a book of poems, as well? Or would it be better for me to go with my original plan and write more before I make them a book> Moreover, if I need to write more, how many should there be? I know I am starting to sound like a babbling idiot. It's just that I want to do this right. I know I may very well be rejected multiple times but the more information I gather the better a chance gain of seeing my words in print.

[William Haskins]

it's highly unlikely that any publisher will take on a book of poems unless that poet already had an established track record of publication.

and, even then, you would almost certainly need to submit the full manuscript.

[SinK]

it's highly unlikely that any publisher will take on a book of poems unless that poet already had an established track record of publication.

This seems like a Catch-22. How would a poet go about breaking into the publishing world if they didn't write prose first to gain themselves some credibility?

[Wordcaster]

How about publishing your poems in magazines, and when the rights revert back to you, publish them in a collection?

[kborsden]

This seems like a Catch-22. How would a poet go about breaking into the publishing world if they didn't write prose first to gain themselves some credibility?

There are magazines and reviews, poetry contests and public reading events - heritage events and even commission work for funeral homes and wedding chapels that offer 'alternative marriages' - there's radio call in competitions, public tv access -- there are walls you can write on.

Where there's a will, there's a way...

Having said all that - I am a reasonably successful poet with a decent following and a good name amongst UK magazines and reviews both online and hard copy. I do a tidy amount of request readings and the like and have had work solicited. I still can't get an anthology published - not likely to either.

[Kitty Pryde]

If you've only written seven poems in your young authorial career, you probably haven't reached the point of being ready to try to publish a collection. Why not keep writing and working on your craft and submitting your work to journals and such?

If your friends/family/church peeps/whatever would be really delighted by a small printed collection of your poems, you could always self-publish and sell/give those away. TBH with only 7 poems, you might be best served by printing it at home, printing a cover on heavy paper, and binding it by hand--looks cool and makes a neat gift.

[shelleyo]

I second that. It's highly doubtful your poems are publication quality, just given the time alone. Work on your craft, submit your poetry to small press magazines and up, and you'll quickly find out if they're publishable or not. Once you have some credits, then you can look for a small press who might publish the book.

Or you can publish one yourself and give it to family and friends. But you'll probably still want the poems to be as high quality as possible. If you have them accepted for publication, nothing would stop you from doing what Kitty Pryde suggested and making a homemade gift for family or friends with the published poems and some others.

Shelley