Publishing Poetry in Australia

[Mod35tBabe]

I have a few poems I think are polished enough to submit, but am unsure of the whole process. I borrowed the 05 Australian Writer's MarketPlace from the library and found a couple of places. I checked out the website of one and the guideline's don't specifically mention poetry, although in the Marketplace it says it does.
This is what is in the guidelines
NOTE: No queries, by phone, post or email. - so I obviously can't just ask.
Fiction - general short fiction, mainstream, literary, genre; up to 1,000 words. Good writing is the main criterion. No explicit sex or violence. Payment is up to $50.00 on acceptence.
Articles/Features - Instructive or motivational articles that could be of genuine help to writers; writing/selling to specific market areas, interviews with established authors, publishers, editors or agents, techniques you use or have seen used (good or bad). Length up to 1,000 words. Payment is up to $50.00 on acceptance.
Personal Essays - A strong, thoughtful, first-person essay of 250-500 words, related to writing. May be humorous, philosophical or motivational. Payment is $12.50 - $25.00 on acceptance.
Are any of the above poetry? Also, they require a description and word count. Do I give a short synopsis on what the poem means and a word count or stanza count? Any other advice on places to submit a poem to and how to go about it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Mod35tBabe]

Another question - how do I write a short bio if I've not had much experience or previous publications? I have a day workshop with author Jane Carroll, I'm the member of a few online places like AW, and I did well in HSC for english - is any of that any use? Or can I say what I like writing eg poetry, short stories and am in the editing stages of a novel? All the guideline says is include name/address/etc and a short bio.
Thanks for any advice

[drachin8]

From those guidelines, it doesn't look like this mag buys poetry. Perhaps hitting the library and checking out a sample issue will verify that. A synopsis, etc, just wouldn't make much sense for a poem (unless it was a monstrous epic!). Probably the guide is a bit outdated or something since the online current information always trumps the written last known information.

[pdr]

following the guidelines not the market book.

Are any of the above poetry? Also, they require a description and word count. Do I give a short synopsis on what the poem means and a word count or stanza count?

No, none of the above are poetry. You need a description and word count for fiction (short stories and novels) and non-fiction like essays, NOT for poetry.

Do you know how to format your poems on the page correctly for submission?

A magazine would normally mention what it wanted in the way of poetry in the guidelines if it published poetry. This one doesn't mention poetry therefore it's a safe bet that it doesn't publish poetry.

Market books do make errors. Magazines do change what they publish.

It's a long time since I wrote and published poetry so I can't give you much useful advice on submitting except to say that you must read a copy or two of the magazine you'd like to submit to and follow the editor's guidelines exactly.

[__VeNoM__]

Sounds practical. Good advice.

[Mod35tBabe]

I wanted to check and make sure rather then waste my time submitting to a place that no longer accepts poetry, but Ill see if theres any issues in the library - the marketplace I have is a little outdated because its the newest the library has and I cant afford to buy one myself. No I dont know how to format my poetry - its really hard finding information on poetry but its what I can do well enough to submit at the moment. I did find another one that specifically says they print poetry, http://www.ilurapress.com/Etchings.html and they are the ones they request a short bio. I've checked out a lot of the sites in the book and some still exist but weren't really what I thought I wanted. I'm also using duotrope which gave me the Etchings one. Thanks for the answers guys :)

[Jenny]

University presses often have a journal that accepts poetry. Established magazines/journals like Quadrant, Overland (er?) also take poetry. You might want to build up some publication credits with online zines in and out of Australia. I like editors who say "NO cover letter" - since it saves those of us who lack wow-factor writing resumes. I wouldn't mention HSC English (even if I was young enough to remember those days) in a bio. I think some people do mention workshops.

[Mustang]

I'd try getting some credits with some ezines first :)

Good luck!

[Mod35tBabe]

A lot I've found are online but I don't know whats good bad or otherwise. Not to mention a lot still ask for cover letters.

[Jenny]

Apart from posting the occasional nonsense verse here, I don't often put my poetry out for editors or anyone to read, however, if I were braver (and a better poet!) I think a place I'd start are the ezines that publish poetry I love. Even if they don't pay (yes, I'm materialistic - don't shoot me), having my poem up on a site with those of poets I admire - very cool.

[Mod35tBabe]

I'm not fussed on if they pay. I just thought Etchings was a quite nice looking magazine, and they say unsolicited must be unpublished so I figured they were a place to start. Obviously they expect if you're previously unpublished you might'nt have qualifications etc. All the ones I've looked at so far request some kind of bio - Im thinking I'll just enquire as to what a bio entails - no harm in asking is there? And that way ill have an idea of what to put in future submissions, I can write a bio and send it a while after I ask because it's doubtful they'd remember I'd asked what was required anyway.