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Markets
Journals, magazines, ezines, agents, and other publishers of literature
Improve Your Writing
Online writing workshops, discussion forums, grammar help, and writers' publications
Warnings
Potential publishing scams
Writer's Rights
Definition of rights (first, reprint, one-time, etc.) and copyright information
Print on Demand
Resources for learning about the use of POD technology to publish your book
Other Writers' Resources
Postage rates, advice on getting published, etc.
Suggest a Site
Submit information on a website you'd like to see listed here
Please report broken links or corrections to ssburris@cox.net.
These resources are brought to you by Ancient Paths Literary Magazine
[ Ancient Paths Website Contents | Editor's Website ]
If the site you wish to include is a publication seeking submissions or a website listing markets, please see the instructions on the markets page. For all other resources, please e-mail the following information to ssburris@cox.net:
- Name and URL of website
- Website owner or webmaster (primary contact person) and his or her e-mail
- A brief description of the site
- Choose the most appropriate category for your site from the list at the top of this page
Appropriate sites will be listed free of charge. All links subject to approval. I reserve the right to edit or abbreviate your site description, or to reject any submission for any reason.
Grammar and Usage Resources (aids for the technical improvement of your writing): Guide to Grammar and Writing | Common Errors in English
Writing Workshops and Discussion Forums: Cayuse Press | Albany Poetry Workshop | AbsoluteWrite | Writer's Net | Today's Woman
Poets and Writers Magazine provides information and advice. You can also use the publication to find markets currently seeking submissions.
Very few markets can afford to pay writers (especially poets), but you should expect to get a free copy of the publication in which your work appears. Markets that require reading fees or that do not provide published authors with a free copy of the publication are (if not actually scams) unfair to writers.
Be suspicious of all anthologies that do not offer you a free copy upon publication, as anthologies are more often the perpetrators of publishing scams. The most famous anthology money-making operation is The (Inter)National Library of Poetry. The (Inter)National Library of Poetry is so infamous, that humorist Dave Barry has even written a column about the organization's acceptance of his intentionally bad poetry.
Anthologies/Publishers to avoid: International Library of Poetry ~ National Library of Poetry ~ poetry.com ~ poets.com ~ Watermark Press ~ International Society of Poets ~ International Poetry Hall of Fame ~ Illiad Press
What about fees for contests? Most contest prizes are funded out of the fee money, so fees are necessary. Fees cover prizes, publication, and the cost of operating the contest. A good question to ask yourself is: what percentage of the fees are given back as prize money? If the percentage is extremely low, the contest may be a scam. Also consider: who are the judges? Are they qualified? Is a reputable organization or publication backing the contest? Don’t waste your money entering a contest unless you think you run a decent chance of winning.
Some anthologies hold "free" contests, but then solicit every entrant, asking each to purchase an expensive anthology in which their poetry is published, or suggesting they buy a plaque to frame their "honorable mention." Others even hold award ceremonies—but you have to pay to get there. Be wary of such outfits.
See Preditors & Editors. This site will keep you abreast of scams and predators. (And yes, the misspelling is deliberate.)
It is generally best to use First-Class mail for submissions. Do not use Priority Mail unless your submission is over the weight limit for First-Class mail. If you are submitting large manuscripts for consideration, you may want to consider using the "media mail" rate. Write "Media Mail" under the postage area. See the USPS website for current rates. Media Mail takes longer than First-Class mail.
It is possible to obtain an IRC (International Reply Coupon) from major post offices. This coupon may be enclosed with your SAE when submitting to foreign countries. Publishers may then exchange the coupon for first-class postage to send you a reply. Some publishers will allow writers to enclose a $1 U.S. bill for return postage instead. Check with the individual market for its policy. I have found IRC's difficult to deal with, and I no longer accept them. Many post offices don't know what to do with them, and some simply refuse to accept them.
For additional information on postage rates, see the following websites:
The United States Postal Service
The postal calculators (domestic and international) available on this site are a great resource to find out exactly how much it will cost you to send off your submissions, particularly if your are writing to foreign markets. You can also order stamps straight from the site and save a trip to the post office.Postage Rates Worldwide
Do you live outside the U.S.? Use this website to find information on international rates.
HOW TO GET PUBLISHED--
"The Top Ten Pet Peeves of Literary Magazine Editors""How
to Publish Your Poetry"
This article offers advice on breaking in to the literary magazine market.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION--
Should you copyright your work? Technically, you already own the copyright to your work the moment you set it down on paper. However, should your work be stolen, it may be difficult to prove your ownership without a registered copyright. But registration can be expensive--$30 a work. You can save some money by registering several poems or short stories under one title for $30.
Visit the The U.S. Copyright Office for more information on copyrights.
DEFINITION OF RIGHTS--
This chart will provide an overview of the type of rights most commonly purchased.
| Type of Right | Do I own the rights after publication? | Can the work have been previously published? |
| First Rights | YES | NO |
| First North American Rights | YES | NO in North America; YES in another country |
| Second Rights / Reprint Rights | YES | YES |
| One-Time Rights | YES | YES, but ONLY IF the publisher accepts previously published works |
| All Rights | NO | YES, but ONLY IF the publisher accepts previously published works |
Some publications may request additional rights, such as non-exclusive electronic rights, which would allow them to publish your work online. Be aware that many publications do not consider previously published works, so you may want to "reserve" your best poems for the best markets.
To test your knowledge of rights and copyrights, take the Writer's Rights quiz I contributed to FunTrivia. The self-scoring quiz will open in a separate window, which you may close to return here.
Proceed with caution, however, when considering these types of POD markets, and make sure you understand the terms of the contract, the royalties, what your cover price will be, and any set-up costs. Some PODs will not charge any set-up fees, but then they will set an egregiously high price for your book, or they will tell you that printing costs are higher than they actually are. You need to compare your bottom line. When all is said and done, how much of the cover price will you receive from each sale of your book? Just because there is no set-up fee doesn't mean you are getting a better deal. Be sure to consider all significant factors and do your research before choosing a POD.
Below is a list of useful books and websites that will help you to learn more about POD.
How
to Choose a POD Publisher
An article offering advice on choosing the right POD for you.
The ABC's
of POD
A Guide to Print on Demand publishing and publishers.
POD Discussion Forum
A place where you can discuss individual POD publishers and read what others have to say.
Publish On Demand Net
Reviews and ratings of seventeen POD publishers.
Other Ways Into Print
A discussion on Writers.net about self-publishing and POD publishing.
POD-DY Mouth
A fascinating blog about the POD world, maintained by a midlister, with POD reviews. It is
now defunct, but you can read back posts.
