Getting Published
Once you’ve accumulated you’re collection of poems, you may think it simply a case of popping them into an envelope and sending them off to publishing houses; and while it’s true some authors do get published this way, it is very difficult. Faber and Faber recieve around 50 poetry manuscripts a week, so you can see the competition you face in this area. However there are many more options available to you, and in many cases the best place to start is with poetry magazines.
Choosing a poetry magazine to send your poems into can be difficult, and there is no guarantee of acceptance. In order to find which magazines you should be submitting to, you need to start reading. It’s a sad reality, but there are more poetry writers than readers. You need to be reading appropriate magazines that you feel will accept you poetry. For example, a poetry magazine specialising in satire might not be ineterested in your heart felt odes (unless they’re bitingly satirical of course).
You can find these magazines in the poetry area of a library, or specialist poetry bookshops are also likely to have them on display. You can also contact the Poetry Society (which you might also consider joining) which should be able to provide you with a list and you might want to consider subscribing to magazines that take your interest.
Poetry magazines come in an assortment of shapes and sizes, and look increasingly professional thanks to the advent of computer publishing. Though magazines with a smaller circulation cannot pay handsomely, they are generally easier to get into and the exposure will be very useful to you.