  Poetry
This week: I've got a collection of poems-now what? Edited by: Red Writing Hood <3  
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"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."
Carl Sandburg
"Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason."
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I've got a collection of poems, now what? - Choices in Publishing a Poetry Chapbook
I know at least a few of you participated in the PAD chapbook challenge this past month. Now that you have a collection of poems, you are probably working on editing them. As you edit, you may be thinking about what you might do next. I did a some research on the subject I'd like to share.
A chapbook is a small publication--think about thirty to fifty pages in length. There are three ways to go about publishing a chapbook: traditional publishing, vanity publishing, and do-it-yourself publishing. They all have pros and cons, and which way you choose to go will depend on your own goals and priorities.
~Traditional publishing~
Just like traditional publishing for novels and other books, traditional publishing for chapbooks is not easy to break into. There are always more manuscripts than publishers willing and able to publish them. If you have the next best poetry chapbook and want to publish it with a traditional publisher, then the Poetry Society of America has a list of chapbook publishers: http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/poetry/resources/chapbook_publishers/
~Vanity publishing~
This is the same as it is when you want to take your novel to a vanity publisher: they charge you big bucks to either publish, edit, or do the art for your book. Many times all three. Also, traditionally published authors and publishers may not see you as a published author. Finally, since most vanity presses charge authors a lot more to publish their book than it costs them to have them printed, it takes a long time for authors to make money, or break even, on their book.
If these things (and the myriad of other cons of turning to vanity publishing) don't bother you, then this may be the publishing path for you. Just so you know for sure how biased I am against vanity publishers: I would open my own small press before I'd choose this route for my work. However, I know that my priorities are not the same priorities other authors have, so I have included this option in my chapbook publishing option list.
~Do-It-Yourself publishing~
This can take a couple different forms: digital or print.
Digital can mean online or on a CD. If you do print then you have a couple of different things to think about.
First you need to decide if you want to have an ISBN or not. If you want to sell it through a bookstore, even online bookstores, they will require your book to have an ISBN. If you just want to sell it yourself--or not sell it at all, then you don't have to have one. You'll also want to consider getting a copyright for your chapbook.
Next, decide if you will use a desktop publishing program or find a publisher willing to print your book for you. Each has it's pros and cons. You could even bring a finished template to a copy store and have them make copies for you. Some will even bind them for you, although these binding options are usually limited.
Here's a final DIY option if you just want a couple copies for yourself and your family: an online photo book company. I make photo books every year for family and my sisters and I created a family recipe book as a gift for my mom. A similar thing could be done to feature poetry. The main thing here would be to find a company that gave you the most freedom with fonts and similar needs.
~*~
This is by no means a comprehensive and exhaustive list of chapbook publishing information. It's just to get you started. No matter which path you choose, research it carefully before you proceed.
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Have a question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name Red Writing Hood <3 and send it through email.
Comments on last month's newsletter:
By: JACE 
Comment:
What a novel ... er, poetic idea, Red. Thanks for the heads up; I must check this PAD Chapbook Challenge out.
You are quite welcome. I hope you had as much fun as I did!
By: bertiebrite hoping for peace 
Comment:
I wanted very much to be a part of this Poetry Challenge, but the link to the site does not work for me.
I'm sorry. :( Did you try copy and pasting the link into your web browser?
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Poetry: December 06, 2011 Issue [#4756]
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