Further Reading – Some Useful Websites and Addresses
Useful resources
This is the main website of the Poetry Library in London. It will give you information about the services the library provides, including poetry events and readings.
This is the site that poets should consult to discover the names and addresses of many poetry magazines in Britain. The Poetry Library has now digitised the poems in most of the major magazines, and is continuing to update, so you can get a good sense of the kind of work different magazines like and publish just from looking at this site. Do still send for copies of the magazines you are interested in, though. You need to hold the publication in your hands and look through it page by page to get a real idea of what it’s like.
The National Association of Writers in Education
This organization supports writers and writing of all genres in all educational settings throughout the UK. Its website is: http://www.nawe.co.uk.
Some other poetry websites: Writing-world.com/poetry; Poetry.com/ Poetry.org; Daypoems.net.
Poetry Book Society
This is a resource for readers, writers, students and teachers of poetry. When you join, you get access to the latest books and the best titles of the last 50 years, and you can find full lists from all major publishers and independent presses on www.poetrybooks.co.uk. Address details: The Poetry Book Society, FREEPOST PAM 6642, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2BR. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8870 8403. Email: infor@poetrybooks.co.uk. Website: www.poetrybooks.co.uk.
The Poetry School
Offers courses, poetry events and a critical service where experienced poets will give you one-to-one advice and feedback on your poems. Contact address: 1A Jewell Road, London E17 4QU. Tel: +44 (0) 208 223 0401.
The Poetry Society
Also offers a critical service, working with a team of professional poets ‘to send you constructive advice, specific to your personal abilities’. Address: The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX. Tel: 020 7420 9880. Email: infor@poetrycociety.og.uk. Website: http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk.
Recommended reading
The Poetry Business by Peter Finch (Seren)
In this book, poet, bookseller, editor and publisher Peter Finch brings his knowledge and expertise to bear on the problems of developing your writing and getting published. He answers questions such as: Are writers’ groups worth joining? Where are the biggest markets? Which are the best magazines and publishers? How are vanity publishers to be spotted? How should a book be promoted? and How do authors prepare for readings?
Recommended magazines
Acumen. A poetry journal that describes itself as ‘for writers and readers alike’, containing poems, reviews, articles, news and views. Dannie Abse said ‘Acumen mixes poems and prose by celebrated and new writers who have something to say and say it well.’ You can obtain it by writing to the editor, Patricia Oxley, at 6 The Mount, Higher Furzeham, Brixham, Devon TQ5 8QY. The website is www.acumenpoetry.co.uk.
Ambit. A quarterly journal containing poems, stories and pictures, edited by Dr Martin Bax, a well-known children’s doctor who edits Ambit in his spare time, with the help of Kate Pemberton, the assistant editor. Obtain a copy by writing to Ambit, 17 Priory Gardens, London N6 5QY. But visit their website first to find out the cost of single copies and subscriptions: ambitmagazine.co.uk.
Envoi. Poems and reviews. Editorial office: 44 Rudyard Road, Biddulph Moor, Stoke-on-Trent, ST8 7JN. The present editor is Roger Elkin and the competition secretary is David Bowen, whose address is: 17 Millcroft, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts CM23 2BP.
Iota. A quarterly selection of contemporary poetry, edited by Bob Mee and Janet Murch of Ragged Raven Press, 1 Lodge Farm, Snitterfield, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 0LR. Email: iotapoetry@aol.com. Website: www.iotapoetry.co.uk.
The Interpreter’s House. Poems and short stories. Submissions to Merryn Williams, 10 Farrell Road, Wootton, Bedfordshire, MK43 9DU. Subscriptions (£10 for three issues in 2004) to 53 Rowley Furrows, Linslade, Bedfordshire LU7 2SH. Single copies £3 + 50p.
The London Magazine. A review of literature and the arts. Poems, features, stories and reviews. Editor: Sebastian Barker. Head Office: 32 Addison Grove, London W4 1ER. 6 issues per annum, £32 p.a. in 2004. Email: admin@thelondonmagazine.net.
Magma. A magazine of poetry and writing about poetry, published three times a year in summer, autumn and winter in full on paper and in selection on their website. They are looking for poems which give a direct sense of what it is to live today – ‘honest about feelings, alert about the world, sometimes funny, always well crafted’. Magma is run by a small group rather than an individual, and the editorial responsibility rotates. It’s wise, therefore, to contact their website to get current information. Website: www.magmapoetry.com. The editorial secretary is David Boll, and the address for contributions is 43 Keslake Road, London NW6 6DH. You can also submit by email to magmapoetry@aol.com. Magma is unusual in this. At present, most magazines don’t welcome email submissions.
The Rialto. Poems, an editorial and some letters. Editor: Michael Mackmin. PO Box 309, Aylsham, Norwich, Norfolk NR11 6LN. Website: www.therialto.co.uk.
Staple. Poetry, short fiction, articles, reviews. Submissions can be sent to either editor: Ann Atkinson, Padley Rise, Nether Padley, Grindleford, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 2HE, or Elizabeth Barrett, 35 Carr Road, Walkley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S6 2WY. Allow up to eight weeks for a response. Staple is published in March, July and November each year.
American magazines
Local university libraries often have American magazines. For listings, you can consult The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses (Paradise, California: Dustbooks); Directory of Poetry Publishers (Paradise, California: Dustbooks); Directory of Little Magazines (Mount Kisco, New York: Moyer Bell). These publications are available for reference at the National Poetry Library, but when this book was published they hadn’t yet digitised them. As with British magazines, remember to send the correct postage for return of manuscripts, and make your covering note short and to the point. The Poetry Library recommends Peter Finch’s book How To Publish Your Poetry (Allison & Busby) as a good guide for the preparation of manuscripts.
The following American magazines are held in the Poetry Library collection, among others:
•American Poetry Review: 1704 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
•The Cream City Review: PO Box 413, English Dept, Cutrin Hall, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53201
•Cumberland Poetry Review: PO Box 120128, Acklen Station Nashville, TN 37212
•The Manhattan Review: 440 Riverside Drive, NY 10027
•Partisan Review: 236 Bay State Road, Boston MA 02215
•The Plum Review:1654a Avon Place, NW Washington DC 20007
•Poetry: 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610
•Sulfur: 210 Washenaw, Ypsilanti MI48197-2526
•Tampa Review: Box 19F, University of Tampa, FL 33606
•Verse: English Dept, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185
There are many American poetry magazines, so it would be wise to consult an American poetry website to help you begin to find your way around them.
Australian magazines
The only Australian literary magazine I have read regularly (with great pleasure) is HEAT. It is edited by Ivor Indyk, and contains essays, fiction and drama, poetry and art. Subscriptions and editorial enquiries should be sent to HEAT, PO Box 752, Artarmon NSW 1570 Australia. Its website is www.mypostbox.com/heat, and contributions should be sent to HEAT, School of Language and Media, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia.