Previous Submission/Inspiration Tips from the Markets page
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As I approach the five year marker for writing the Markets Column, I would like to thank all those who have given me feedback over the years and say a public thank you to the staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Special Collections for their helpful assistance. I am stepping down from this position and hope that someone will come forward to take my place in time for the February Museletter deadline. All the journals that have been listed with a website and are on the WFOP website as of now have been gone over and I have used this column to update the information. At the last WFOP meeting, October 31 and November 1st, 2008 in Marshfield, I talked with four members about what they would say to other WFOP members about getting their work published. What did they think was important? — Judith Zukerman Michael Kriesel said, “Persistence and revision." He has a thick folder with submissions at all times. "Grow
as a person. 99% sweat and persistence like licking stamps.” |
In my constant search for markets to share with WFOP members, I look not only at literary magazines that have been around for a long time that I haven’t shared in this column yet or magazines which have published the work of WFOP members but I also watch closely to see if any new magazines are beginning that show promise for WFOP members to explore. |
| This spring poetry and healing were bound closely together in my personal life so imagine my surprise to find a journal called The Healing Muse whose founder, Dr. Bonnie A. St. Andrews, had been a poet who worked in the field of bioethics. In the first issue she said her intent was to “show how the arts and the sciences can balance & sustain one another for the good of both patient & practitioner.” |
NEWN final publication will be in Fall 2008 after 14 years of publishing. They have enough submissions for the Summer and Fall issue. Note that the correct website for Greatcoat is greatcoat.org. |
| With Wisconsin almost continuously covered with snow, this is a good work time for us writers. Keep up the good writing
work and share your work by sending it out. I love to read journals and see other WFOP members poems as a part of a
beautiful literary journal or to read their work in an online journal. For this issue, I had the pleasure of reading the first issue of a new journal, Greatcoat, which is published twice a year in Bellingham, Washington. The University of Wisconsin—Memorial Library Special Collections is subscribing to this new journal but I have had difficulty accessing their website and an email I sent was returned. Submission information published in the journal is as follows: Unsolicited submissions of poetry and creative non-fiction are welcome year round. After reviewing guidelines at www.greatcoat.net, submit to submissions@greatcoat.net The editors are Elisabeth Whitehead, Stephanie Walkenshaw and Scott Hartwich. The mailing address is: Greatcoat, 3228 Peabody Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. |
| If
your mailbox is like mine, rejections come. Is there anything we
can learn from them? First, it acknowledges that we are submitting
our work. Second, when a particular rejection hits us hard, it
is important to remind ourselves that rejection is part of the
writer’s life, certainly the poet’s life where many publications
take 1% or 1/2 of 1% of the submissions they receive. For example,
one editor wrote that they had almost 10,000 submissions this year.
They accepted 100 of them which is 1% of the total. Third, I look
closely at the few where the editor has handwritten a few words
or sentences. I study those notes and what I submitted carefully
knowing for the most part that one or more of the poems came close.
In conversation at conferences and workshops, some editors have
said that they would like to write comments on those that came
close but with the reality of all those submissions, they found
they just couldn’t manage to do it. The most helpful note for me
identified which of the poems came the closest to the work they
accepted. The least helpful note seemed inappropriate for the four
different poems submitted. Then another writer I shared the editor’s
comments with said, “the editor couldn’t have read the third and
fourth
poems.” She reminded me of what I knew and had forgotten. Editors may read only
a small part of what you submit. Fourth, as
a reader of others’ work occasionally share your appreciation with a note to
the writer. I had such a thoughtful note last week and it made my day. In this
column, I would like to acknowledge the Special Collections of the University
of Wisconsin—Madison’s Memorial Library. As our state legislature looks
at the university harshly looking for ways to cut its resources, I wanted you
to know that each of you is benefitting at least indirectly from this resource
of literary magazines which I study regularly as I prepare this column. You may
want to share your appreciation for this resource with your own legislator letting
him or her know how it helps you with your work as a writer. One of the unexpected joys of preparing this column is discovering new poems and poets I meet for the first time poring over the pages of journals in the Special Collections. |
Other comments that were made during the course of a long day in relationship to specific manuscripts:
The
following are updates: websites are added where they weren’t
included before to make it easier for you to keep updated Important correction to listing for Waterways magazine. Reference to Dr. Johnson’s work should have read “The Vanity of Human Wishes.” Here
are websites for a few journals that didn’t have them listed
before. Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest open to all, experienced or not, poem of 30 lines or less on any subject or short story, fiction or non-fiction, 5 pages max. Multiple entries accepted. Deadline, July 31, 2007. Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per short story. By mail, include title and story or\ poem, name, address, phone number, email, brief biographical info. SASE. Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest, P.O. Box 3141, Chicago, IL 60654. Visit www.dreamquestone.com for more info or to print an entry form to to enter online. Information from Andre L. West, editor. |
In
this issue, all the journals in print and on line that will be
highlighted have published WFOP members’ work. Two journals that publish speculative poetry that have published WFOP members' work are: 1) Magazine for Speculative Poetry and 2) Illumen. 1) In an editorial in Magazine for Speculative Poetry, Volume Seven Number Four, Spring 2006 issue there is a discussion of reaching out to the mainstream poetry community to support their journals and in Volume 7 Number 3, Autumn 2005, the editorial discusses what defines speculative poetry—“Is it similar to or different from SF (science fiction), fantasy or horror poetry...a poem that deals with unknowns, sophisticated, scientifically literate, beyond five senses...daily chatter...sees into space, into the soul, into matter and explores large and futurist problems...” As of early February the 2007 issues are forthcoming. Submissions are welcome. SASE with correct return postage. Roger Dutcher, Editor, MSP, PO Box Beloit, WI 53512. 2) Illumen, co-edited Tyree Campbell and Erin Donahoe, published biannually by Sam Dot Publishing, April 1st and October 1st and contains speculative poetry articles, reviews and illustrations. Poetry submissions. Defines speculative poetry as one result of application of imagination to reality one’s vision is taken from a different angle, from another perspective, perhaps from another time and place...hints of science fiction, fantasy, folklore, myth, surreal...even horror. Good speculative poetry will awaken a sense of adventure in the reader. Wants good, original speculative poetry. Considers reprints. Publishes no more than two reprints per issue. Poems less than 100 lines. Reviews of collections of speculative poetry, only original reviews of current or upcoming publications, between 500 and 1000 words. Accepts no more than two per issue. Acknowledges receipt of work within 72 hours but asks for patience for response which takes up to four months, usually March or September, one month before publication. See samsdotpublishing.com/IllumenGL.htm. Other
print journals: 4) Hummingbird, published quarterly in March, June, September and December. Submissions of original, unpublished short poems invited. Reprints by invitation only. SASE with sufficient postage. Payment, 1 copy. Editor, Phyllis Walsh, P.O. Box 96, Richland Center, WI 53581, Tel. (608) 647-8717. No website. (2/07) 5) Seattle Review. Submissions accepted between October 1st and May 31st. Read a copy first. Issues in special collections UW-Madison show featured poet with photo, bio and poems. Mail poems to Poetry Editor, Linden Ontjes (2/07), Padelford Hall, Box 354330, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-4330. No simultaneous submissions. No previously published poems. 5 poems max. SASE. For long range planners, there is no 2007 Carolyn Kizer Poetry Award, Judge for 2008 Award is Phil Levine, submissions postmarked between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2008, $15 per entry (up to 3 poems, max 6 pgs) See seattlereview.org. Other
online publications: 7) Rose and Thorn, Poetry submissions should be copied and pasted into the body of an email and sent to Poetry Editor with the word SUBMISSION typed in the subject line of the email. No attachments to email will be accepted. A maximum of 3 poems only per submission, per author. Pays $5 each poem published in Spring, Summer, Fall 2007 and Winter 2008 via Pay Pal. See theroseandthornezine.com for details but also to enjoy looking at the work on this noteworthy ezine. |
This column focuses on literary magazines in print or online that are open and/or encouraging to beginning or emerging writers. While you are concentrating on getting your work published and creating new work, you may want to do more readings in libraries or schools around the state. Book That Poet was started four years ago by WFOP member, Shoshauna Shy. For details on how you can participate, see bookthatpoet.com. Discovery/Nation
Poetry Contest Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest: write a poem 30 lines or less, any subject, style or form, deadline January 15, 2007. It is okay to dream, for dreams do come true…For further details on poetry and short story entries, visit website: http:// www.dreamquestone.com or to print out an entry form to enter online. Mailing address: Dream Quest One, Poetry & Writing Contest, P.O. Box 3141, Chicago, IL 60654. |
This summer I enjoyed choosing one poem each week and writing the poem in my journal each day. At this point memorizing is harder to do but by writing the poem each day for seven days, the poem becomes a part of me. I notice much that I would have overlooked otherwise. Credit for this idea belongs to the wonderful poet and teacher Myra Shapiro of New York City. Revisiting her workshop this summer at the International Women’s Writing Guild Remember the Magic Conference in June at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, I returned to this nurturing practice for lovers of reading and writing poetry. Website: www.iwwg.org; see Meet Authors and Agents, October and April, FOR BOTH WOMEN AND MEN. Savoring Stanley Kunitz’s poems this summer, “My Mother’s Pears”, “Route Six” and “Touch Me” from his book, The Wild Braid, this is the opening line from “Touch Me.” “Summer is late, my heart, ...” Listening to one discouraged WFOP poet who has been submitting work at the last state meeting, and spending time with Stanley Kunitz’s poems, I say don’t lose heart. Acceptance can be late in coming. Keep writing. Submit your best work. Read other poets. Important
Market Changes Chiron Review, last issue #81. In late 2005, this fine journal, including a book review by a WFOP member in the last issue, has stopped publishing. Although editors may differ as they look for work for their specific magazines, I hope the considerations of one editor will turn more submissions into acceptances. |
How can WFOP members help one another? Calling all experienced, published WFOP members! Do you remember the first three publications (print or online) that published your work and the approximate year of publication? Even though the publishing scene changes, I would like to list these publications as other possibilities to be explored in the next column for other WFOP members who have been diligently reading, writing, revising and submitting poems and are feeling discouraged. They still haven’t seen any of their work in print YET. Specific Markets:
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A reference librarian in the Special Collections (where literary magazines
are stored) at University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Library revealed
one of the librarians’ treasured resources, which is kept behind the
main desk, The Literary Press and Magazine Directory 2005/2006.
On the book cover, Fiona McCrae, Director of Graywolf Press says. “... The Literary Press and Magazine Directory is THE tool of choice for the independent creative writer and the independent editor.” This resource, which I encourage you to explore, is prepared by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, published by Soft Skull Press, 71 Bond Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217, www.softskull.com, and distributed by Publishers Group West, www.pgw.com or 1.800.388.3123, ISBN 1-832360-75-1, $19.95, printed in Canada. In the foreword, Grace Paley writes, “This is a hard time for publishers ... The small and not-so-small independent bookstores ... have disappeared. But if you pick up the directory published by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, you can see at once that there are women and men poets, storytellers, critics of literature and the criticized who have not given up. They have to write and they have to publish ... The Council is so fine and useful to writers as well as to small and larger presses and magazines ...” If you cannot buy the book, ask your public library to buy it as a reference book for you and other writers in your area to use. |
This column is continuing to build on members’ publishing
experiences by examining the magazines WFOP members list as publishing
their work for potential markets for other WFOP members.
A
special thank you to all the members who send in corrections on
websites, magazines, information on new journals or their |
One of life’s joys is learning. I am still learning how to make this newsletter markets column useful to WFOP members since it can’t be timely like WFOP’s website. Thanks to a member’s idea, I looked at what publications are currently publishing members' work and selected a few. Many of these journals may be explored at University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Library Special Collections (Hours M-F, 9 to 5). Thanks to all the members who continue to share their ideas and experiences with different markets. Because the Museletter only comes out a few times a year, sometimes information can’t be included in a timely way. Thanks to Ralph Murre for sharing the following: Orion Society does not review unsolicited poetry. “Poetry Motel in Hawaii has a new address, P.O.Box 202, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 and they respond more readily than some people across town!” |
Caveat—check guidelines at websites wherever possible. Markets fluctuate and requirements change. As the new person writing this column, I would appreciate information from members to make the markets column a rich resource for all WFOP. —Judith Zuckerman Sources used include 2005 Poet’s Market, International Women’s Writers’ Guild Newsletter www.iwwg.org and personal experience. My aim was diversity. Feedback is welcome. “Every time I look out the window, I see a poem passing.” —Gwendolyn Brooks HELPFUL
WEBSITES from 2005 Poet’s Market, p. 35 includes
specific information about questionable poetry publishers and awards. |
Joey recommends the book in which she found sources for this article, The International Directory of Little Magazines & Small Presses. Ed. Len Fulton. 39th Annual Edition 2003-2004. Paradise, CA: Dustbooks, 2003. It’s a bit expensive, so her writer friend shared the cost. Margaret Bean, editor of The Discerning Poet, made this suggestion: “For capturing the appearance and some of the inner essence of friends and family members—or when evoking a scene, mood, occasion, or event—a photograph or painting may be worth a thousand words. But what about a few words? Can a photo or painting top a few words, carefully chosen and distilled to capture and reflect experience? Poetry is definitely not about 1000 words. Poetry is about as few words as possible, to convey maximum impact...” |
| In the October 2003 edition of The Writer, Patrick Moran highlights Lorine Niedecker’s work, especially regarding the influence of place. “Perhaps more than any other member of the objectivist movement, Niedecker, in her self-willed isolation, produced a body of work that immediately evokes the landscape with a clarity of an almost Haiku-like language while expressing the severity of the living conditions she had chosen for herself.” Moran, in discussing her "Popcorn-can Cover," alludes to the setting, “combining necessity and humor to create a curiously familiar image of her ascetic life.” In closing the author shares one of his own workshop mantras: “Show the reader the image, but don't tell them what to feel.” |
Alexander Pope urged poets to “let the onomatopoeia rip” in his Essay on Criticism:
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| I found comfort in this quote by Lillian Smith: “Faith and doubt, both are needed, not as antagonists but working side by side, to take us around the unknown curve.” (from Writing from the Inside Out by Dennis Palumbo) In case you haven’t seen this gem of a book, it’s pragmatic and delightful, a must-read in the unlikely event of poets ever having wallowed in self-doubt. One reviewer (Earlene Fowler) had this to say: “Finally, a book that will not only help us become better writers, but better human beings”. |
| How
to know which publications take which kind of poems; check out Poetry
Daily at www.poems.com.
Often a poem plucked out of a specific journal is featured, and that's
a cheap way to get a sense of what a journal likes, especially if
you check the archives as well. Poems are archived for a year. Still,
it's a total crapshoot when it comes to second-guessing what a certain
journal will be partial to. I've had more luck submitting "blind"—and
submitting blind is the one thing editors discourage! —Shoshauna Shy |
Poet Lisa Verigin offers this advice about revivifying voice if we find ourselves stuck in self-parody. Write in a location different from where you normally write-a park, coffee shop, someone else's home. Disruptions like these often allow fresh ways of speaking to "spontaneously" arise. Or speak through a persona (historical figure, celebrity, fictional character.)
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Poetry Round-Robins offer a unique way to practice your craft and a great chance to network with others in WFOP. Contact your regional VP’s to explore possibilities. Here’s an idea from Discovering Literature, my old AP Bible: Modern audiences are said to have few heroes. Write a poetic tribute to someone you admire, trying to convince a skeptical reader.
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| My writing a column on marketing is somewhat like Attila the Hun finding recipes for Martha Stewart. A rookie in this organization, I can, however, seek a balance between finding new sources for veterans and informing newcomers about possibilities to validate their work. Here's the tip, which I found in Addonizio and Laux's The Poet's Companion: Use a word you've always loved and wanted to get into a poem. Be sure to use your word in an original or nontraditional way. As for the column, let me know if you want me to investigate other venues.
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