They say "Those you can't do it, teach it." So here I am!! I write poetry but I am very shy about posting most of it. I love to read and critique and be informative though (well I love to write to lol). So I have started this thread for all you great writers out there to come in and get some info. Many of you may already know a lot of this information and some of it may be new to you. But some of you may be new to the whole poetry business so to say so here are some tips for you!! I hope and wish the best to you all !

Peace, Hope and Love, Tiffany

 [ send green star]

You own the copyright of anything you write, regardless of whether you register it with the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. However, you cannot win a copyright infringement case unless your work is registered. Many publishers will copyright in your name when they accept your book for publication, but you may prefer to fill out the form and send it in before submitting your work. You can download forms from the Library of Congress at www.copyright.gov.

For more information on copyrighting go to 'A Brief Introduction by Brad Templeton' at http://www.templetons.com/brad/copyright.html

 [ send green star]

• Read the publication (or samples of the publisher's offerings) before you send your work. Make sure they publish the kind of poetry you're sending.
• Request submission guidelines from the publisher and adhere carefully to them.
• Always enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a reply. If you request your work returned, make sure to include a large enough envelope with adequate postage.
• Unless guidelines specify otherwise, send only three to five poems.
• Choose a standard typeface that is clean and easy to read. Twelve-point Times New Roman is a reliable choice. Do not use a script-style font.
• Make sure whatever you send is perfect. Have someone reliable proofread your work. Check the spelling of the address, especially if you are sending it to a particular person's attention.
• Keep your cover letter short: your bio should take up only a few lines; don't explain your poetry; it should speak for itself; don't ask for or expect to receive feedback on your work.
• Be aware that it often will take a long time for publishers to respond. Be patient. Don't call unless it is to inform them your work has been accepted by another publisher.

 [ send green star]