Poetry

[Unregistered]

I am a poet and a nonfiction writer.
I have been told that most literary agents don't like handling poetry. Is this true? And could anyone tell me where I might be able to find someone that may be interested? Thank You!

Expressively Me, Laura

[Unregistered]

Think you'll have better luck getting your foot in the door if you publish in a few literary journals, mags, and things like that first. There's a Poet's Market book which serves as a list of publishers and lit agents for poetry. www.Writerswrite.com offers a list of markets for poetry. also, you might just browse your way through names of journals (Dogwood, North American Review, Mid-American Review, etc.) These are the best places for poets to get a foot in the door.
What sort of nonfiction do you write, if you don't mind my asking?

[Unregistered]

Hello Laura,

Almost no literary agent handles poetry unless it is for a big name client or a client they have handled for years. Even then it would only be for a book of poetry.

If you're looking for a way to handle getting a single poem or a few poems published then you don't need an agent anyway.

Your best bet for establishing a poetry career is to submit to various places until you find someone who purchases your poems. Then submit to them regularly. Once you develop a regular publication of poetry you might look into have a chapbook published. A chapbook is a smaller book of poetry. Most publishers don't make any money on poetry books or chapbooks. You may want to consider going the self publishing route for this but unless you have a ready market for your work it probably won't be profitable for you either.