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Writing Poetry

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Does anyone know if it is possible to make money from writing poems? and if so, where are the best places to submit them too?

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  • Hermia
    Hermia Posts: 4,473 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I think poetry is generally not a great money spinner. I think even professional poets struggle to make a decent living. I was at a conference last year and got talking to someone who had won a national competition and had a book of poetry published by Faber as a result. She still couldn't give up the day job!

    If you write humorous poems you could send them into the letter's page of a woman's mag. Or you could try some competitions http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/competitions/
  • antrobus
    antrobus Posts: 17,386 Forumite
    McFilly wrote: »
    Does anyone know if it is possible to make money from writing poems? and if so, where are the best places to submit them too?

    There is no money in poetry. The supply of poetry far exceeds the demand.

    But then there's no poetry in money, so it evens itself out.
  • Ultimately if your volume (and quality) is high enough then you could run a blog (with advertising), compile into books (self publishing via Kindle/iBooks etc if necessary) etc.

    As has been said though, there is not much money in it and can be somewhat soul destroying to try and sell your art and find there are no buyers.
  • Pretty much the only way most people make any money is by winning competitions - not that easy, then. Even some of our major poets rely on this sort of thing for their income. It's not something people do for a living.

    Anyway one of the biggest pots is now open: the Bridport prize - £5000. Google it.

    Some people earn small amounts by selling verses to greetings card producers, or by selling personalised 'event' poems (for weddings/funerals etc). You see some people doing this on ebay, don't know how successful they are with it.
    Cash not ash from January 2nd 2011: £2565.:j

    OU student: A103 , A215 , A316 all done. Currently A230 all leading to an English Literature degree.

    Any advice given is as an individual, not as a representative of my firm.
  • phizzimum
    phizzimum Posts: 1,712 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    antrobus wrote: »
    There is no money in poetry. The supply of poetry far exceeds the demand.

    But then there's no poetry in money, so it evens itself out.

    just fabulous...
    weaving through the chaos...
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,913 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Does anyone actually read poetry? Haven't read any since I left school back in the 1960s.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Does anyone actually read poetry? Haven't read any since I left school back in the 1960s.
    I read one poetry book in 2012 (but all the rest were fiction).

    There are other ways to make money with poetry if you *really* want to be a poet, for instance you could apply for "writer in residence" positions, perform your poetry at events (doesn't always pay).

    Most of the poets I know (within 2-5 years of starting out) also have another part-time job, often as mentor or project manager on other poetry projects.

    Another avenue could be to do poetry workshops in schools.
    Saving £10,000 in 2013: £4491.48/£10,000
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