Poetry submission strategies

TwistedDilettante · Jul 13, 2007

Forgive me if this has been discussed, but I couldn't find a thread on it. I've just started submitting poetry after umpteen years of writing, and I'm starting to question my submission strategy.

I have only sent one poem to each market and haven't done any simultaneous submissions. All of the places said that you could send multiple poems in at once, but I guess I had this fear that if I sent in two that they despised, they wouldn't seriously consider the third. Sort of a guilt by association thing.

Now that I'm in limbo waiting to hear back, I'm wondering if just sending one made me look like I didn't have much to send out, or maybe it was unwise mathematically speaking, i.e., I only have 1 shot with each editor instead of 3 shots.

So, when you submit, do you typically send one poem or multiple poems to each market? Or maybe it doesn't matter at all and I'm overthinking this.

Magdalen · Jul 13, 2007

I send one less than the maximum allowed.

Dylan · Jul 14, 2007

I usually send 3 or 4 and am always surprised by the editors choice (if accepted, of course).
Philip Larkin once said editors had an uncanny knack of choosing the poem he had included "to make the others look good".

Ultra · Jul 16, 2007

I doubt that an editor or reader will toss a stack of poems without reading them all. But, of course, you should make sure that you're only sending work that you feel is complete and polished.

My best advice: read an issue of the magazine before you submit to it! And make sure that you follow the guidelines carefully.

Pat~ · Jul 16, 2007

I like to get mileage out of my stamp; I send the max allowed. (The odds are more in your favor, anyway.) I also do simultaneous submissions, and state the same in my cover letter. To be honest, I rarely submit to markets that don't accept simsubs. Life's too short. (BTW, always inform other publishers right away if a simsub gets accepted.)

myscribe · Jul 16, 2007

I also send the maximum amount allowed in their submission guidelines. I've found that doing this gives more variety. I am always surprised by what is chosen, especially when the poems are on a certain subject. The ones that I think are perfect return -- but the couple that are a stretch get the thumbs up.

LimeyDawg · Jul 16, 2007

Pat~ said:
I like to get mileage out of my stamp; I send the max allowed. (The odds are more in your favor, anyway.) I also do simultaneous submissions, and state the same in my cover letter. To be honest, I rarely submit to markets that don't accept simsubs. Life's too short. (BTW, always inform other publishers right away if a simsub gets accepted.)

So, um, Pat. Can you tell us how to write poetry that stands a snowball's chance of getting published???? huh? Huh? Can you...puleaaase?

TwistedDilettante · Jul 16, 2007

Thanks so much for the feedback, everyone. I will try the shotgun approach in the future. I'm trying to get geared up for fall when the quarterlies reopen.

See, Pat, I have avoided simsubs bc I am avoiding cover letters. So here's a new question: If one has no publication or awards, what does one put in a cover letter with a poetry submission? Education? Writers I've studied under? Do you talk about your work itself, or just let the submissions do the talking as far as that goes? I just can't think of anything that doesn't seem lame since I don't have anything to brag about at this point.

Pat~ · Jul 16, 2007

TwistedDilettante said:
Thanks so much for the feedback, everyone. I will try the shotgun approach in the future. I'm trying to get geared up for fall when the quarterlies reopen.

See, Pat, I have avoided simsubs bc I am avoiding cover letters. So here's a new question: If one has no publication or awards, what does one put in a cover letter with a poetry submission? Education? Writers I've studied under? Do you talk about your work itself, or just let the submissions do the talking as far as that goes? I just can't think of anything that doesn't seem lame since I don't have anything to brag about at this point.

Before I was published I'd concentrate on the piece itself, and how it might be a fit for their publication. You could, if you want, throw in the fact that you've been writing poetry for x number of years...but that's not necessary. Your work will speak for itself.

I can't remember exactly how I wrote my first cover letter, but I think it was something like this:

Dear Mr. _____,

I am a Dallas-area writer specializing in devotional poetry. It is my hope that you will consider the enclosed three poems for publication in _________. If so, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

I understand from your guidelines that simultaneous submissions are acceptable, and want to let you know that I have submitted of couple of these poems to another publication as well.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

TwistedDilettante · Jul 17, 2007

Thanks so much for sharing your cover letter, Pat. I promise not to steal it

, but it's very helpful as a model!

Pat~ · Jul 17, 2007

You're welcome!

mjlpsu · Aug 14, 2007

I usually send at least two poems each time I submit. I don't do simultaneous submissions often because I tend to forget things even though I have a nice spreadsheet to track everything. I do tend to submit poetry in bunches... I try to keep the bundle in some sort of theme in the hopes that all will get published. So far, no luck--only a few stray poems published so far.

Poetry submission strategies

TwistedDilettante

Magdalen

Petulantly Penitent

Dylan

Ultra

Pat~

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

myscribe

Who's the ninja now?!?

LimeyDawg

Scars are poems too

TwistedDilettante

Pat~

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

TwistedDilettante

Pat~

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

mjlpsu

unidentifiable food tester