Avoiding Mistakes in Poetry

So you've written your poetry and are ready to send them to publishers and enter contests. Hold on a second, there are some things you need to know before you send them off. A lot of mistakes are made frequently. Editors always mention that these mistakes are made over and over again. Make sure that you don't do any of these things.

Submitting to a publication that you've never read
Before you send anything to a publication, you should read it. Check out a copy at your library, or buy a sample copy by mail. Read the market listings regularly, see if you can obtain the guidelines by e-mail, or better yet online. Websites are very helpful in gathering information about a publication.

Submitting the wrong work
If a magazine only publishes experimental poetry, don't send traditional poetry. Really read, know and understand what each magazine publishes before you send it. It wastes not only the time of the editors, but yours and money sending it.

Submitting too many Poems
If a publication asks for 3 poems, don't send 7 and tell them to pick the best three. If they don't give a specific number, that doesn't't mean to send 50, either.

Not using the specified format
Whatever the editor says is law. Do what they ask, keep it neat and professional. Pay attention to how the editor wants submissions sent by e-mail also. If you ignore what they want, your email may never get read at all.

Forgetting The SASE
Most editors do say it, unless they say something else. If nothing is said, send a SASE anyway.

Forgetting cover letters, or writing a terrible one
Some editors think it is in bad taste not to send a cover letter. Unless the editor gives you a direction to do something different, send a nice, short paragraph of yourself and what you are sending. Don't list everywhere you've been published, don't tell them how good you are, don't tell them how to print or do whatever to your poem, don't use a copyright symbol or tell them the poetry is copyrighted. All the work you do once it is written down is already copyrighted. Editors are aware of this.

Not having a good relationship with your editor
No matter what type of problem that you are having with your editor, play it cool and stay professional. They are not someone you would argue with like a customer sales representative. Most of them are not paid for what they do, and they have to use their own money to keep their magazine going. You can feel angry about it, just don't lose your cool.