Me Getting A Book of Poetry Published

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Yes, it is. I recommend actually getting "Poet's Market," which is published by the same press. It has more concentration on poetry and a much more thorough apparatus with re: to chapbooks and full-length collections.

I'm not tooting a horn here, but I wanted to tell you I've had a book of poems published and am working towards the manuscript for the second. This is not as easy as it sounds. Most of the poems from my first book were first published individually in small press and literary journals. Then, once I'd accumulated a number of pre-published poems, I shopped around for the entire manuscript.

The difference between a chapbook and a full-length book is usually the difference between 50 pages or less for the former and 51 pages or more for the latter. But there's no hard and fast rule.

Whatever the case, when you publish your book, do not, I repeat DO NOT, give any of your money away. That is considered a vanity project and is usually associated with sleezy "editors" who are trying to make money off of your dreams.

If, for some reason, you're having a hard time getting your work published as a book, I recommend first putting together your own chapbook using a high-tech copier at Kinkos. Bind the pages together with staples and send them to all sorts of people. This is just as valid as anything else. And that way people would get to read your great stuff!

Awesome, thank you. We'll have to talk about this further..... About how many copies did your book sell and how much did you make from it. Feel free to pm me those stats if you'd like. ha ha

Much Love,
Ethan

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by Musicman408

Awesome, thank you. We'll have to talk about this further..... About how many copies did your book sell and how much did you make from it. Feel free to pm me those stats if you'd like. ha ha

Much Love,
Ethan

Ethan,

I have made no real money on my book. Most poets don't, unless they publish with the biggest presses. I received a box load of copies of my book when it was issued and I could sell them at full cost at readings--which I did. At one reading, I made over a $100 in an hour. But the money is not really an issue--as long as no cash comes out of my pocket, I'm okay.

The publisher has reportedly sold about 250 copies, which isn't that bad for a book of poetry, especially since there was next to no publicity surrounding its publication. If it sells more than a 1000 copies, then I'll get a small percentage of royalites. It won't!

Tony