Last updated January 2025

Selling Your Poetry

Poets & Writers: Literary Magazines: Free searchable database of literary magazines; click the Genre box, select the Poetry option, and click the Filter button to list magazines that currently buy poetry.

48 Paying Markets for Poetry: Free article by Erica Verrillo, updated 2023.

21 Poetry Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts: Free article by Erica Verrillo, updated 2024.

100+ Poetry Publishers: Free article by TCK Publishing in 2018; outdated, but a starting point for research.

Writer's Digest: Poet's Market 34th Edition: 2021 book; a bit old, but comprehensive, and a starting point for research.

Finding an Agent to Represent Your Poetry

Poets & Writers: Agents: Free searchable database of agents; click the Theme box, select the Poetry option, and click the Filter button to list agents who currently handle poetry.

QueryTracker.net: Free searchable database of agents; after you join, click Search for Agents, click Search by Genre, click Fiction, select the Poetry option, and click OK to list agents who currently handle poetry.

ManuscriptWishList.com: Descriptions of types of books individual agents are seeking.

Pepperbooks.org: Unique literary agency that says it "specializes in representing clients working in modern poetry."

PLEASE NOTE: 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.)

Other Resources for Poets

Poetry Society of America: Clickable list of poetry organizations, bookstores, conferences and more.

Writer's Digest: Write Better Poetry: Poetry advice, FAQs, prompts and other exercises, author interviews, and more.

TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Threads, X, et al: Powerful social media platforms for spoken word videos, which you can use to build audiences for your books.

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 regularly discounted to as much as 50% off during special sales periods such as 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