1) In September, I wrote about the advantages of poetry?anthologies?for writers, readers, and educators in my monthly e-newsletter (give me your e-mail address if you’d like to subscribe–I haven’t yet figured out a Subscribe button:>) One writer wondered, How do I get in to anthologies?
Be very visible in the online poetry community. Blog.?Or at least Comment on other poetry blogs. Take part in challenges where you share your poems. Many anthology invitations come about as a result of being out there with your poetry.
Contact anthologists directly. Find a public listing of a snail mail or email address for an anthologist whose books you admire, send a brief intro letter and express interest in submitting for anthologies. Ask if you can send a sampling of your poems.
Keep your ear to the internet ground. Sometimes on blogs, you’ll see references to “an anthology I’m submitting to” or other similar phrases. Some people directly name what anthology they’re submitting to. I don’t, because I never know if something is public or not.?If you start to see references, contact the poet (who you already know because you’ve been Commenting regularly, right?)?and ask if she has any info she can share. Or maybe she’d be willing to pass along a note from you to?the anthologist. You also might set up a Google Alert on some phrases like “poetry” and “children’s” and “anthology” and “submissions,” for instance.
2) Everyone knows November is NaNoWriMo. But what if you don’t want to write a novel? I’m participating in two challenges next month, and I can’t wait.
PiBoIdMo – Come up with a picture book idea every day. Orchestrated by Tara Lazar.
PAD Chapbook Challenge – Write a poem every day in November, and then revise it into a chapbook in December. Through Writer’s Digest.
What are you doing in November? NaNoWriMo? One of the things I’m doing? Something else entirely? I’d love to hear about it!
Great advice, Laura. I figured this out over the last few months and just received my first invite to submit to an anthology – thrilling! When you get down to it, it’s really just about asking and, like you say, keeping your ear to the ground. The kidlit community is so open and supportive, there’s really no reason NOT to connect with people. I would add to be generous and genuine and, as Katie Davis always says, practice reciprocity.
I’m in for PiBoIdMo, but hadn’t heard of PAD. I actually NEED to write a poem a day to keep up with some projects, so I think I’ll join that too!
Please add me to your newsletter list. Thanks!
Congratulations, Renee (did your invite come from a certain anthologist with the initials of JW?)! You are absolutely right–all this interaction has to be based on a spirit of interest, generosity, and reciprocity! If you go in and try to do this based just on “I’ll participate just to try to network and get invitations,” it’ll never work.
I only heard of PAD a few days ago, and I always write a poem a day, but they’re just little 1-minute freewriting poems, nothing “real.” I have an idea for a poetry collection for grownups, so I’m going to put the images and situation in my head and try doing more thoughtful, purposeful poem-a-days in Nov and see what happens!
Added–thanks:>)
Yes it did. Shh… 🙂 And fingers crossed.
Great advice, Laura. I figured this out over the last few months and just received my first invite to submit to an anthology – thrilling! When you get down to it, it’s really just about asking and, like you say, keeping your ear to the ground. The kidlit community is so open and supportive, there’s really no reason NOT to connect with people. I would add to be generous and genuine and, as Katie Davis always says, practice reciprocity.
I’m in for PiBoIdMo, but hadn’t heard of PAD. I actually NEED to write a poem a day to keep up with some projects, so I think I’ll join that too!
Please add me to your newsletter list. Thanks!
Congratulations, Renee (did your invite come from a certain anthologist with the initials of JW?)! You are absolutely right–all this interaction has to be based on a spirit of interest, generosity, and reciprocity! If you go in and try to do this based just on “I’ll participate just to try to network and get invitations,” it’ll never work.
I only heard of PAD a few days ago, and I always write a poem a day, but they’re just little 1-minute freewriting poems, nothing “real.” I have an idea for a poetry collection for grownups, so I’m going to put the images and situation in my head and try doing more thoughtful, purposeful poem-a-days in Nov and see what happens!
Added–thanks:>)
Yes it did. Shh… 🙂 And fingers crossed.
Well, I am learning all sorts of new things. I have no idea what a chapbook is. I, also, didn’t know about the PAD challenge. I think I will give it a try. I would love to be a part of an anthology and I appreciate your advice. Thanks!!!
I am participating in PiBoIdMo! I did it last year and it was an exceptional experience for me.
Here’s a definition of a chapbook, Penny: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/questions-and-quandaries/what-is-a-poetry-chapbook Basically like a short poetry collection for adults. Usually themed, but not as tightly so as kids’ poetry collections are.
Glad you found this helpful–I’ll see you on the PAD and PiBo posts:>)
Well, I am learning all sorts of new things. I have no idea what a chapbook is. I, also, didn’t know about the PAD challenge. I think I will give it a try. I would love to be a part of an anthology and I appreciate your advice. Thanks!!!
I am participating in PiBoIdMo! I did it last year and it was an exceptional experience for me.
Here’s a definition of a chapbook, Penny: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/questions-and-quandaries/what-is-a-poetry-chapbook Basically like a short poetry collection for adults. Usually themed, but not as tightly so as kids’ poetry collections are.
Glad you found this helpful–I’ll see you on the PAD and PiBo posts:>)
You are such an inspiration, Laura. I sometimes write poems for educational testing places — great fun work. But it’s such a Catch-22 to give away all rights and credit of a poem I like, knowing I would not have written it if it hadn’t been assigned! I need to give myself an assignment 🙂 .
I do lots of that kind of poetry writing, too, Sheila. I find assignments can be a GREAT poetry inspiration!
You are such an inspiration, Laura. I sometimes write poems for educational testing places — great fun work. But it’s such a Catch-22 to give away all rights and credit of a poem I like, knowing I would not have written it if it hadn’t been assigned! I need to give myself an assignment 🙂 .
I do lots of that kind of poetry writing, too, Sheila. I find assignments can be a GREAT poetry inspiration!
Thanks for all the information, Laura!
I’m hoping to work on a novel I’ve been writing ~ October’s been crazy and I haven’t had much time, but hopefully November will be a little better. I like the Poem a Day idea ~ I challenged myself to do that back in June, and had a lot of fun with it! I also had seen you and others mention PiBoIdMo recently ~ I might try to do that, too. (Okay, so maybe it’s not very realistic to plan on doing all 3 — and still do all my “mom jobs” — but we’ll see…. 😉 )
Yeah, doing more than one can be tough! And I’ll be traveling in Nov, too. The only reason I’m trying 2 challenges is because both are short. The PiBo ideas are a sentence or two, and my poems I’m envisioning are probably 10 lines or less. Still–I go into it knowing that it might not work. PiBo is my top priority. Then PAD if I can manage it. Good luck! I’ll look forward to hearing what you do!
Thanks for all the information, Laura!
I’m hoping to work on a novel I’ve been writing ~ October’s been crazy and I haven’t had much time, but hopefully November will be a little better. I like the Poem a Day idea ~ I challenged myself to do that back in June, and had a lot of fun with it! I also had seen you and others mention PiBoIdMo recently ~ I might try to do that, too. (Okay, so maybe it’s not very realistic to plan on doing all 3 — and still do all my “mom jobs” — but we’ll see…. 😉 )
Yeah, doing more than one can be tough! And I’ll be traveling in Nov, too. The only reason I’m trying 2 challenges is because both are short. The PiBo ideas are a sentence or two, and my poems I’m envisioning are probably 10 lines or less. Still–I go into it knowing that it might not work. PiBo is my top priority. Then PAD if I can manage it. Good luck! I’ll look forward to hearing what you do!
Hi Laura,
We’ve had the last two days off due to the hurricane. It was a little scary, but it’s been so nice to slow down. I might try to the PAD challenge, but they won’t actually be poems. I’m still also thinking about a project for children, but I haven’t found a topic yet. I’ll email more about that in a few days. Please add me to your newsletter list!
Hi Linda, Glad to hear you’re ok! I’ve been worried about all my East Coast friends. So far, so good! My PAD poems definitely won’t be finished poems, that’s for sure. Just hopefully a touch more thoughtful than my usual 1-minute stream-of-conscious daily poem:>)
Will do on my newsletter list!
Hi Laura,
We’ve had the last two days off due to the hurricane. It was a little scary, but it’s been so nice to slow down. I might try to the PAD challenge, but they won’t actually be poems. I’m still also thinking about a project for children, but I haven’t found a topic yet. I’ll email more about that in a few days. Please add me to your newsletter list!
Hi Linda, Glad to hear you’re ok! I’ve been worried about all my East Coast friends. So far, so good! My PAD poems definitely won’t be finished poems, that’s for sure. Just hopefully a touch more thoughtful than my usual 1-minute stream-of-conscious daily poem:>)
Will do on my newsletter list!
You always have such good ideas, Laura! I started PAD last year but didn’t finish. I might try it this year though I’m trying to finish the WIP in November too. (I am so optimistic in the middle of life messes – hahaha.) I’m trying to figure out how to locate the best places for adult poetry too. Another hard one. But lately I’ve been reading where poets I like are being published and keeping a list from there.
That would be tough to do PAD and finish a longer WIP–wow! I’m still working on the adult poetry submissions process, too. When I read adult anthologies like Good Poems, I look to see where the ones that feel akin to mine were first published. I recently got a rejection-but-please-send-more-of-your-work from
Green Mountains and an acceptance from Christian Science Monitor. Yay! And I’ve had two in YourDailyPoem.com. Good luck!
Yep, I do the same thing with reading adult anthologies. Also I look at people winning contests and sometimes they are published elsewhere. Congrats on the sale to CSM! Yay! And the encouragement from Green Mountains.
In reality I doubt I’ll worry much about PAD, though my over-achiever brain is screaming at me – ha! I’d rather finish the novel since I seem to be on track, even with the upheaval with Cassie and my knee.
Makes sense–finishing a long-term goal is much more important than a challenge you could really do any month you want. If you have momentum going on the wip, stick with it! Hope you and Cassie feel better. Hate these ongoing, stressful health things.
You always have such good ideas, Laura! I started PAD last year but didn’t finish. I might try it this year though I’m trying to finish the WIP in November too. (I am so optimistic in the middle of life messes – hahaha.) I’m trying to figure out how to locate the best places for adult poetry too. Another hard one. But lately I’ve been reading where poets I like are being published and keeping a list from there.
That would be tough to do PAD and finish a longer WIP–wow! I’m still working on the adult poetry submissions process, too. When I read adult anthologies like Good Poems, I look to see where the ones that feel akin to mine were first published. I recently got a rejection-but-please-send-more-of-your-work from
Green Mountains and an acceptance from Christian Science Monitor. Yay! And I’ve had two in YourDailyPoem.com. Good luck!
Yep, I do the same thing with reading adult anthologies. Also I look at people winning contests and sometimes they are published elsewhere. Congrats on the sale to CSM! Yay! And the encouragement from Green Mountains.
In reality I doubt I’ll worry much about PAD, though my over-achiever brain is screaming at me – ha! I’d rather finish the novel since I seem to be on track, even with the upheaval with Cassie and my knee.
Makes sense–finishing a long-term goal is much more important than a challenge you could really do any month you want. If you have momentum going on the wip, stick with it! Hope you and Cassie feel better. Hate these ongoing, stressful health things.
Interesting post, Laura. I had the opportunity to try for one anthology, and did some revisions for it, but didn’t make it in. Another anthology that I did get in, the book never published as the publisher went out of business (It was small.)
I am trying PiBoldMo this year for the first time. Hoping that stretches me. I need to fight my “introvertness.” 🙂
I’ve not made it in several anthologies, too. That stinks that the other was never published. Keep at it–it will happen! Good luck with PiBoIdMo. I really had fun with it and can’t wait to start!
Interesting post, Laura. I had the opportunity to try for one anthology, and did some revisions for it, but didn’t make it in. Another anthology that I did get in, the book never published as the publisher went out of business (It was small.)
I am trying PiBoldMo this year for the first time. Hoping that stretches me. I need to fight my “introvertness.” 🙂
I’ve not made it in several anthologies, too. That stinks that the other was never published. Keep at it–it will happen! Good luck with PiBoIdMo. I really had fun with it and can’t wait to start!
Hi Laura! Thanks for the info. I have done PiBoIdMo two times and would like to try PAD. Sounds like fun. Please add me to your newsletter list!
Will do, Tabatha! Hope you have fun with PAD:>)
Hi Laura! Thanks for the info. I have done PiBoIdMo two times and would like to try PAD. Sounds like fun. Please add me to your newsletter list!
Will do, Tabatha! Hope you have fun with PAD:>)
That’s great, Renee. Good topic, Laura. I wonder that myself sometimes. And what a good idea doing google alerts to see too. Thanks!
Sure thing, Catherine. Be visible, participate (like I know you do on several blogs), and keep at it! Good luck. With The Poetry Friday Anthology, it was fun to see some online poetry friends whom I think had their first poetry publications in that anthology. Sweet!
That’s great, Renee. Good topic, Laura. I wonder that myself sometimes. And what a good idea doing google alerts to see too. Thanks!
Sure thing, Catherine. Be visible, participate (like I know you do on several blogs), and keep at it! Good luck. With The Poetry Friday Anthology, it was fun to see some online poetry friends whom I think had their first poetry publications in that anthology. Sweet!