| Author | Message | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 30151 Registered: 11-1998 |
. Dearest All – in my work as an associate poetry editor for Stirring: A Literary Collection, it’s often apparent to me that many are unaware of or misinformed about the proper way to format poems for submission and how to write cover letters. While poems will probably still receive attention whether you botch the formatting, fail to include a cover letter, or write an inappropriate one, it never hurts to make sure your submissions look as professional as possible. To that end, I’m including information at the bottom of this note to help you in this regard. The text and the illustrations come from Poet’s Guide: How to Publish and Perform Your Work by Michael J. Bugeja. While the book was published way back in 1995, the information in it is still relevant today. In the event you are only submitting to internet journals, not print publications, please don’t assume this information does not apply. Although e-mail communications are typically more informal, sending e-mail to an editor is different than sending e-mail to your friends. Attempts to make your submissions look professional, whether you are submitting to electronic or print journals, will always be appreciated. This will only lend you more credibility and give your submissions a leg-up over those who don’t take this kind of care. And do always address your letter to the editor specifically, using his or her name, whenever possible. You should be able to find the name of the Editor-in-Chief or the Poetry Editor on the journal's masthead. Taking time to learn about the publication you are submitting to instead of just addressing your letters to "Dear Editor," will go a long way toward proving that you care enough about the journal to have read it. And do read the journal to which you are submitting. Sending sonnets to publications that only print free verse is just going to net you a mailbox full of rejections. Remember -- your work is important; it should look that way. I hope this information proves useful to you. Love, M ------------------------------------------------- From “Poet’s Guide: How to Publish and Perform Your Work” by Michael J. Bujega: “When a poet commits words to a page, the act itself suggests a desire to share vision and verse with an audience. Composing a poem is half the battle. Publishing it completes the process, putting the muse in the public domain. Publication has three phases: 1. Researching the markets. Purchasing basic directories, identifying publications, requesting sample copies, reading magazines in the libraries and on the internet, purchasing journals in bookstores. 2. Preparing a submission. Printing standard manuscripts, composing brief cover letters, using proper paper and envelopes, and maintaining files of poems and logs of mailing dates. 3. Dealing with editors. Querying magazines, filing and deciphering rejection slips, following etiquette, composing contributor’s notes, and proofreading galleys. Many poets waste time making mistakes as they learn about the publishing process by trial and error. That often results in feelings of inadequacy as a poet. However, by following standard procedures, you can decrease the number of standard rejections. Every poet has an obligation to publish verse. Other than doing readings, this is the only way for your work to reach an audience.” Line spacing directions are given in [brackets]. ------------------------------------------------- Illustration #1: Typed Poem in Standard Format Michael J. Bugeja E. W. Scripps Hall Ohio University Athens, Ohio 45701 (614) 555-3737 The Carpe Diem Blues The lover’s complaint yodel-lady-hoos in the Alps. He would like to clear the air but has a case of the carpè diem blues. He envisions his Lorelie in lederhose, oblivious of clothes that sirens wear. The lover’s complaint yodel-lady-hoos. Amid vast mountaintops of spruce and snow, hardly an oracle to lament an affair: He has a case of carpè diem blues. This alarms him like a roost of cuckoos in the shops and chalets tolling the hour. The lover’s complaint yodel-lady-hoos And cracks the ice the way Valkyries do in Valhalla, warbling arias there. He has a case of carpè diem blues. Voices come back to him, haunting the hollows of his hickory-dickory heart, beyond repair. the lover’s complaint yodel-lady-hoos. He has a case of carpè diem blues. ------------------------------------------------- Illustration #2: Brief Cover Letter Michael J. Bugeja E. W. Scripps Hall Ohio University Athens, Ohio 45701 January 5, 2008 Hilda Raz, Editor-in-Chief Prairie Schooner 201 Andrews Hall University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0334 Dear Ms. Raz: I read the Fall 2007 special poetry issue of Prairie Schooner and particularly enjoyed the poems of Ted Kooser, Marnie Bullock, and Rafael Campo. I thought I would send you a submission of five poems from a book-length manuscript in progress entitled Talk. My work has previously appeared in The Kenyon Review, Poetry, Triquarterly, and The Georgia Review, among others. I teach writing and ethics at Ohio University and once worked in Lincoln as a reporter for United Press International. So I know your city well. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Michael J. Bugeja (614) 555-3737 ------------------------------------------------- . | ||
| Rania Watts
Intermediate Member Username: cementcoveredcherries Post Number: 508 Registered: 04-2008 |
Wow! Thank you M, Rania Watts "You will hardly know who I am or what I mean" ~ Walt Whitman Cement Covered Cherry | ||
| Fred Longworth
Senior Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 4028 Registered: 05-2006 |
Thanks for this, ~M~. There are a number of sources out there that tell you NOT to address the cover letter to a specific editor by name, the implication being that this constitutes arrogance on the part of the poet, that it implies a faux chumminess. I am frankly a bit confused on this issue. * * * * * A recent issue of Poet's Market, as I recall, advocates 1/2" margins top and bottom, for the poems themselves, while retaining 1" margins all around for the cover letter. * * * * * There seems to be disagreement as well as to where, on a submitted poem, the poet information appears. I, for example, put the following in the upper-right-hand corner -- Fred Longworth 3401-F Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 (619) 459-865 stereo1@cox.net 24 lines But upper-left-hand corner has its following. Some will say include the number of lines; other will say, leave this out. Fred Unofficial Forum Pariah -- recent victim of alien abduction -- I'm running out of places to store the bodies. | ||
| brenda morisse
Advanced Member Username: moritric Post Number: 1925 Registered: 04-2007 |
Dearest M, mi hermana, I know that I will never be successful at this submitting stuff. Thank-you for showing me what to do. I am so overwhelmed by the process. Really, the thought of it gives me the measles. Yep. I get red spots all over my body whenever I think about submitting. Last month or maybe two months ago I sent some work out and they never got back to me. I knew they wouldn't like my work. I was so nervous sending out the email that I don't know if I included my name or the poems. I know I didn't include my phone number. I didn't use the right line spaces either. I have the brain dead poetry submission disease. Also, there are so many poetry magazines, i don't know where to begin. Submitting my work is on par with going to the dentist. It hurts my feelings. Is there novacaine for my poetry submission problem? You know, I'm a gutsy gal about some things, hermana, but about this, I'm a wimp. Wimpy brenda, whining about submissions. Swiiiinka, I have problems. After reading your directions, maybe I'll try again. love, love, borrachita sniveling again (Message edited by moritric on June 03, 2008) | ||
| SarahJ
Intermediate Member Username: sarahj Post Number: 455 Registered: 02-2007 |
That's nice of you to share, M. Thanks. Like Fred, I never know if I should address an editor, and usually bend over backwards not to. Who knows if I'll make it past the intern screening the subs? On the other hand, some guidelines say explicitly, "address to Mrs. X." So, rule is, follow the guidelines. cheers the rain in my purse | ||
| Fred Longworth
Senior Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 4030 Registered: 05-2006 |
Oh come on, Brenda. If a Borderline like me can get over 200 publications in ten years of submitting, a Normal like you can score 400. Here are two plain, simple suggestions to guarantee submission success -- (1) include a centerfold with scratch-'n'-sniff; (2) include sufficient funds with every hardcopy sub to purchase their current issue and back-issues as far back as 2004. And here's a tactic I've tried with 100% success. Fly to the editor's town and find out where he or she lives. Note anything that is awry at the neighbors' houses on either side of the editor's residence. Then include a P.S. at the bottom of your sub, saying things like -- Think about the recent damage to the picket fence at the Wilson house. Or -- That little brushfire on the Rodriguez property nearly took out their garage. Hope this helps. Fred Unofficial Forum Pariah -- recent victim of alien abduction -- I'm running out of places to store the bodies. | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 30152 Registered: 11-1998 |
Dearest Freddie -- yes, there will always be conflicting information out there. It's inevitable that everyone has their own opinions. What I've offered is simply one standard format that should not be offensive to the majority of editors. A half-inch difference in margins is pretty irrelevant (I'm not standing over the submissions with my ruler *LOL* ). Where the poet's information appears on the page is not so important as that the name and address do appear somewhere on the page. Poems often get separated from their cover letters and if the sheet with the poem on it does not include the poet's contact information, it can then unfortunately become an anonymous submission (unless the cover letter listed the poem titles). As to those sources that tell you NOT to address the editor by name for fear of appearing arrogant, I disagree with them. The majority of editors I know would prefer to be addressed by name. As do most poets. I know I'd rather receive a rejection letter addressed "Dear M," rather than "Dear Poet." It at least makes me feel that the editor might have actually read my submissions and the blow of a rejection form letter is softened a bit. Editors are just like any other business people. I think most prefer their correspondence personally addressed to them, rather than to "Hey you." To be addressed as "Dear Editor" makes it seem that I am just one in a long line of submissions that poet is making to multiple journals he hasn't even taken the time or trouble to read. Anyone who would be offended by being addressed personally by name in a business situation should probably re-think his stance as a representative of that organization. These are just standard formats useful in the majority of situations. However, if the submission guidelines indicate differently in any respect (margins, address, etc.), it's best to follow that magazine's individual guidelines. What I've provided should be appropriate when guidelines don't specify and were intended to help beginning poets feel confident enough to start submitting their work. Love, M P.S. Adding an e-mail address is also appropriate, particularly in this age of electronic submissions. The book from which this information was taken was published before communication by e-mail was so routine. | ||
| brenda morisse
Advanced Member Username: moritric Post Number: 1926 Registered: 04-2007 |
Dearest Fred, Scratch and sniff, I never thought of it. Can I do that on the computer? I wonder which scent brings success. I know! Poetry stationery sealed with a kiss. I could copy my poems with purple ink and draw little hearts over the i's. Maybe I'll send my ex husbands names as references. They know how evil I can be. Maybe bribes will work. Here's money, publish my poem. Nah, I'm broke, so, no hope. I didn't know I was a Normal. Thank-you, Fred. I love it when you talk dirty to me. love, brenda} | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 30153 Registered: 11-1998 |
Dearest borrachita -- I thought you had those red spots all the time. I had no idea they appeared only when you submitted your work. I will have to send you some red spots cream. Forgive me for not doing this earlier. I thought you liked the red spots. Oh, and here's some information about rejection letters. Everyone gets them, even if they don't get red spots. I have gotten one million of them. I was able to wallpaper every room in my last house with them. And I am now doing that here too. Rejection letters are only there to remind you that not everyone loves you, not that no one loves you. Would you marry every man who asks you? Wait a minute -- maybe that's not a fair question. I will restate it. Would you marry every man who asks you who had a nose you didn't like? Same thing with editors. They pick poems with noses they like or with noses that will fit in their journals. But even if that editor didn't like the poem's nose, some other editor will. For every nose, there is someone who will marry it. Remember that. Editors are just people. They have their own tastes. Most of them are not dentists (though some might be). They are not as scary as you think they are and most put their underpants on one leg at a time just like you do. You do put your underpants on one leg at a time, right? I never know what with your shaking legs. You just might have to jump into your underpants both legs at a time. Or maybe you even wear them on your head like I do. I'm sorry Freddie called you a dirty name. Imagine -- calling you normal. How could he be so rude? Let's just hope he never calls me normal. I would be so hurt. love, love, swinka | ||
| brenda morisse
Advanced Member Username: moritric Post Number: 1928 Registered: 04-2007 |
Dearest swinka, I didn't know I was supposed to look at the nose. i was always looking elsewhere. Maybe that's why I've been divorced so many times. The next time someone asks me to get married, I'll say Sorry, I don't like your nose. I'm an editor. He'll say, What? , I'll say, Don't be nosy! Buy me some new panties. What do you think, hermana? love, love borrachita with a nose for new husbands} | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 30155 Registered: 11-1998 |
Dearest borrachita -- I think that is very good. What you will say the next time someone asks you to marry him, not that you were looking elsewhere. How many times do I have to tell you not to look there? Men get the wrong idea when you do that, hermana. They think you are normal, like they are. Oh, I would add this: "Don't be so nosy. Buy me some new panties with red spots on them." Well -- you can't leave out the most important part. This is what gets you in trouble. Sins of omission. Just use the towelette I sent you to fix that sin. It comes in handy, doesn't it? love, love, swinka | ||
| Judy Thompson
Advanced Member Username: judyt54 Post Number: 1196 Registered: 11-2007 |
every magazine has different guidelines; by following those, when possible, it shows that you are paying attention to details, and probably read their magazine now and then. One place (offline) wants ten sheets, mailed flat. another wants cover letters, but as the editor confided to me once, we just throw em out anyway, but it shows you've been paying attention; some magazines do not, for various reasons, list their editors by name. Some insist on it. If you can find some of these editors online (and some of them do post in poetry forums) they can give you amazingly helpful information about their own magazines and what might work or not work for them. Some have a three line rule, some have a 'first line" rule. It's confusing, and frustrating. It also helps to read the masthead of the magazine youre submitting to, and see how many poetry slots there are, and how many are filled by 'famous' poets, staff members, and folks like us. It can be revealing. |
