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Publishers of Poetry and Short Stories

Many a new author has broken into the ranks of publishing by first exploring smaller markets such as short story anthologies and poetry chapbooks. Although the payment structure of advances and royalties is significantly less than you'd get for a novel, this is nonetheless a good route for building a portfolio and establishing relationships with publishers.
  1. Resources

    • Two of the best resources for finding short story and poetry publishers are "Writer's Market" and "Poet's Market," which are published annually by Writer's Digest Books. If your specialty is writing material for children, a subscription to "Children's Writer Newsletter" will keep you in the loop on open markets.

    Non-Fiction Anthologies

    • The two top open markets for original, non-fiction short stories are the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series and the "Cup of Comfort" line. Submission requirements are posted on their respective websites.

    Poetry

    • The Poetry Society of America's website has an extensive list of publishers who are open to original material. To better your chances of consideration, it's best to have a portfolio of standalone poems that have already appeared in magazines, newspapers, newsletters or literary journals.

    Across the Pond

    • The U.K.'s WriteWords subscription-based directory includes an extensive compilation of English, Irish and Scottish fiction publishers who are interested in acquiring short stories.

    Contests

    • Never shy away from poetry or short-fiction contests that promise publication in a chapbook or anthology. Newsletters such as "AbsoluteWrite" and "Funds for Writers" or monthly magazines such as "Writer's Digest" and "The Writer" are great for their ongoing contest listings that can showcase your talents.

    Alternative Media

    • The electronic book market is burgeoning, and for the do-it-yourself poet or short-story writer who already has a built in-marketing platform through teaching, public speaking, or running a store, there's the route of going with an ebook publisher or creating/selling your own CDs and controlling all aspects of presentation and pricing.

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