Occasionally I (Jane Reichhold) get e-mail from people saying they have written a poem and are wondering how they can sell the poem or begin making money from the poem or even from a book of their poetry. Recently in the magazine Feelings, (Anderie Poetry Press, POB 85, Easton, PA, USA), the editor Carole J. Heffley, wrote her editorial on just this subject. I thought it might be helpful for those of you who have thoughts of 'getting rich' with your poetry to read her words:
Dear Friends,
... It's been a long time since I've received one of these gems. In my nearly nine years as a poetry editor, I've never quite gotten used to letters like this. The letters I am referring to go more or less like this:
"Dear Editor, Here is my wonderful poem; how much will you pay me for it?" Believe it or not, some letters simply say: "Send my check to ______."
I have developed a form letter in reply that goes something like this: "Dear Would-Be Poet, If you are expecting to be paid for poetry, you are sadly misinformed about the genre. You are wasting your time writing poetry because you have missed the point of the entire effort. You have failed to understand that poetry doesn't pay, it costs. Writing poetry costs your heart and soul. It costs years of study, of reading, and of listening. Poetry costs going to readings not only to read your own work but to truly hear the work of others. Poetry isn't a paying job; it is a way of life. If you expect to get paid for your work, dear poet, look elsewhere. Poetry pays infinite intrinsic rewards and few, if any, external ones. Sincerely, the Editor."
Friends, you've got to love poetry to be a part of it. What else but a love of the art (and make no mistake about it, poetry is art) could explain endless hours spent on one poem -- or even one line -- squeezing it, rolling it, shaping it, into something that makes the connection between heart and paper via pen? Or driving an hour to stand with shaking knees behind a podium (or worse yet, just standing up in front of a group with no "prop"), to read one two-minute-or-less long poem? Or sending out submission after submission in hopes of publication; not in payment, but in publication.
You've got to love something that gives such small repayment for devotion: the ink on a sheet of printed paper that spells out your heart with your name attached. And yet, friends, I've got to tell you that after more than 30 years of writing poetry, just seeing a poem of mine in print, with my byline, is worth everything, nothing more required. Funny, isn't it?
Carole J. Heffley
So you wish to retire on the profits
made from selling your poetry?
made from selling your poetry?
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Thanks for sharing this.
This could as well be said about most of the fine art, and many of the crafts as well. I can't tell you how many of these I and others I have known have explored turning into profit making enterprises. In the crafts, I have gotten to where I was pleased to be able to have a self-supporting habit.
In a way, I've more wished for a patron who would get first selection of the bulk of my creations. What I want most is to be able to create. With my visual arts, I then keep my creations around for a bit to admire them. Then I need them to go out into the world, to make space for new creations.
At least with poetry and other writing, I mainly have the initial investment of the infrastructure. After that it's just paper and ink cartridges and ISP access.
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us poor penniless poets. But so right. I feel reinbursed every time I see my name in print though. Thanks for sharing this column.
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Go ahead and ruin my fantasy!
Tuh
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Wouldn't that be a dream - making money while doing what we each love?
Thanks.
Paul -
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Yeah it would be pretty damn fantastic
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I have had a few poems published, but beyond one copy in print, have received nothing in return. Nothing that is, except the approval of the editor and a few hundred readers.
Jane Reichold is correct, "poetry doesn't pay, it costs." Time, thought, emotion, inquiry, research - mostly time. Poets are the ultimate amateurs - writing because we love it.
Who is Carole J. Heffley, at the bottom?
Thanks Paul for bringing this column to AP. -
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"Who is Carole J. Heffley, at the bottom?"
I'm sorry, the article is sort of an editorial inside an article that I posted so there are two credits here - a little confusing.
This is written the first couple of lines: "...Recently in the magazine Feelings, ..., the editor Carole J. Heffley, wrote her editorial on just this subject..."
Thank you for your comment Sandal. -
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Ah, thanks. sometimes I am impatient and careless in reading.
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Thank you for sharing this with us
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Wow, you truly sound like you love what you do. That's quite the thought out answer you have there. I've never received such an answer from a magazine editor (not that I've ever asked for money like that either, but...) I wish more editors were like that.
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Well, I hold the same sentiment but I'm only the one who posted the article. The woman mentioned cat the top is the editor/writer.
Thank you for commenting.
Paul
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Publishing for pay.
The key is not in publishing, that's easy, any quick printer can publish a book. It distribution of books to venders who in turn resell them that's where the secret lays. I have self published several books, not poetry, in the professional beauty business and even though I knew the market it was a struggle to find buyers. I wrote, edited, had printed, made sales calls, shipped books and lastly collected the money and after expenses there was damn little left. Selling is a tough business with some exceptions and your assessment of poetry is correct - it's a labor of love. Happy trails. -
ahhhhh.... the truth is out! I always enjoy getting published.... it's really quite rewarding. But, other than the Kusamakura, I've never been paid a cent!!! hahahaaaa... and I love it.
Great points here.
Don -
Amen! I sell my short stories and such, but the poetry is sold only occasionally. I do it for the love of words. A small bit of recognition is the fee paid by most poetry.
Great column!
Wolfie
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