Last updated January 2022

Resources for Poetry

Top Resources for Poetry (updated 2021)

Poets & Writers: Literary Magazines

Poetry Society of America

Writer's Digest: Write Better Poetry (numerous articles, poetry prompts, etc.)

Writer's Digest: Poet's Market 2020 (outdated, but a starting point for research)

20 Magazines Paying for Poetry (from 2018; outdated, but a starting point for research)

100+ Poetry Publishers (via TCK Publishing from September 2018; outdated, but a starting point for research)

PublishersMarketplace.com (tops for research on agents; $25 for 30-day access)

QueryTracker.net (free agents database)

ManuscriptWishList.com (descriptions of types of books individual agents are seeking)

TikTok (powerful platform for spoken word performance)

Agents Who Have Represented Poetry Books Over the Past Few Years

NOTE: Please always first check an agent's website for that person's specific interests and submission guidelines. For example, an agent might not currently be open to submissions, and/or the agent may no longer rep poetry, and/or the agent may rep poetry for only select clients. When in doubt, email the agent; it does no harm to query, as long as you ask politely and gently. (If you don't hear back within 8 weeks, it probably means the agent isn't interested.)

See also July/August 2021 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine, which focuses on agents

Erin Hosier: Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Last Updated: May 25, 2021
Title(s): Self Love Poetry; The Shift by Melody Godfred
Publisher: Andrews McMeel

Chris Calhoun: Chris Calhoun Agency. Last Updated: Jan 28, 2020
Title(s): Whale Day; Poetry 180; Poetry 360: A Circle of Poems by Billy Collins
Publisher: Random House

Mark Falkin: Falkin Literary. Last Updated: Nov 26, 2019
Title(s): Angel of the North by Kristina Marie Darling
Publisher: Salmon Poetry Press

James Debono: Pepperbooks Literary Agency. Last Updated: Oct 22, 2019
Title(s): Nocturnal by Wilder Poetry

Pepperbooks: Agency That Focuses on Poetry

According to website at Pepperbooks.org: "Pepperbooks was founded in 2017 by Courtney Peppernell in association with her business partner, James DeBono. Pepperbooks specializes in representing clients working in modern poetry."

Submission Guidelines: 1. A synopsis. Please provide a concise and comprehensive summary of the work you are submitting to us.
2. Sample material. Please submit at least 10 poems or 20 pages from your completed manuscript.
3. A literary CV. Please indicate if you have had any works previously published (self-published included), your social media following across all platforms, or any other notable literary recognition.

If you are interested in publishing a poetry book, then we commend your aspiration and dedication. Currently, publishers are primarily looking for poetry authors that have established social media followings. Therefore, before submitting a manuscript to us, we recommend that you start to post your poetry on a social media platform and build an audience that resonates with your work. If you have already taken this step and have at least 10,000 followers on one social media platform, then you are welcome to send your manuscript to us.

We accept all poetry manuscripts, both traditional and modern. Please keep in mind; however, our focus is modern poetry or otherwise known as pop poetry, instapoetry.

We welcome the opportunity to work with new writers.

On average, our response times are three to eight weeks. However, due to the high volume of submissions we receive daily, we cannot guarantee a response. If you haven't received a response within 8 weeks of submission, please assume that we are not interested in your project. Unfortunately, we receive a high volume of poetry manuscripts which forces us to be extremely selective.

For publishing related inquiries: submissions@pepperbooks.org

Agents Who Represented Poetry Books in the Past

TCKPublishing.com/poetry-literary-agents: This webpage from December 2018 lists 19 agents who have previously represented poetry. Please be sure to check each agent's website, as the agent might not currently be accepting submissions, and/or might not be representing poetry any longer, and/or might rep poetry for only select clients.

Jennifer Gates
Aevitas Creative Management

Emma Paterson
Aitken Alexander Associates

Harriet Moore
David Higham Associates Ltd (UK)

Dorie Simmonds
Dorie Simmonds Agency Ltd. (UK)

Julia Eagleton
Janklow and Nesbit Ltd (UK)

Katelyn Dougherty
Paradigm Agency

Reid Boates
Most recent deal: February 25, 2009

Lisa Halliday
Most recent deal: April 7, 2005

Poetry Editor and Two Imprints

Roland Pease
Fiction and poetry editor
Steerforth Press
603-643-4787
roland@steerforth.com
25 Lebanon Street
Hanover, NH 03755

DA Poetry (Imprint)
Most recent deal: September 17, 2018
International rights: Fiction

Salmon Poetry Press (Imprint)
Most recent deal: November 25, 2019
International rights: UK Fiction

A Few Tools for Poets

PowerThesaurus.org: My favorite free and quick-access super-thesaurus. I use this almost daily.

Rhymer.com: The best rhyming dictionary I know of; and it's free.

MasterWriter.com (Songwriter option): 33,000 phrases, sayings and word combinations; 100,000 rhymes and 36,000 rhyme phrases; 12,000 icons and sayings in a Pop Culture feature. Words are grouped into word families, synonyms, phrases, rhythms, definition and alliterations. Filter by word type, parts of speech, number of syllables, etc. Brainstorm by selecting a noun and looking at phrases. This is a commercial product, but you can get a free trial here.

ProWritingAid.com: Top tool for helping writers edit and see their work from different perspectives. You can use it for free for text under 500 words, or buy it; a lifetime license is currently on sale here, and an even bigger discount of 50% is expected during Black Friday (sign up for the free version to be emailed discount offers).

For help with any kind of book, please visit BookProposal.net.

Email: hy@hyreviews.com