How to Sell Your Poetry & Books
- 1). Submit your poetry to a national publication. You can usually find lists of publications that accept new work in books like the yearly "Writer's Market" book. This is one of the more traditional methods for getting new work published. You may be rejected, the editor may provide you feedback or you might be published. This method also is good for publishing excerpts of books. Publishing a chapter or section from your book can generate publicity and may land your work in front of someone who can help you publish the rest.
- 2). Try a public reading. Find events in your area that feature local authors and poets and perform a staged reading of your work. If you are uncomfortable with this, you also could try getting a few volunteers together to act out a critical chapter or read poems. You can sell copies of poems or your book at the end of the event to people who liked your work.
- 3). Self-publish your work. Several companies on the Internet offer self-publishing services to new authors, and can help get your book listed on major online retailers such as Amazon.com. If your book is available in an online store, it will be easier for people to buy.
- 4). Start a website. When beginning your writing career, the more familiar you are to people, the more you will sell. A website allows you to interact with your community of readers as well as keep them updated on new work or publications. You also can keep a weekly blog of new work. The more visitors you have, the better your sales will be.
- 5). Speak with local bookstores. While the large, corporate booksellers stick mostly to bestsellers and common authors, local bookstores often have a "new writer" or "local authors" section. Ask the shop owner if he would be willing to stock your book with the rest of the new and local writers.
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