Hi,
  Just wondered if anyone knew how you can firstly copywrite your own material, and secondly what route you take to try to get published.
I sometimes put pen to paper and write poetry and for many years have thought about seeing if I could have any published.
The thing's that stop me are (A) being confident and knowing if my work is good enough, (B) how do I copywrite my own work, (C ) finding a good publisher.
I have searched on the internet for ideas but often get put off knowing if there reputable and trustworthy, would welcome any ideas, thought's and suggestions.
Thanks
Diane

I worked for an international literary publishers for many years.  Poetry budgets have been cut to the absolute core at the major publishing houses but if it's relevant and well written there's no reason why it shouldn't get published.  The Artists & Writers Yearbook will have a list of literary agents (find it in your local library) and submit a selection of work and ask for their opinion/representation etc.  Sounds a long way round I know but they will know, firstly whether it has a commercial value and which editoral department is most likely to be interested.

You should also try submitting your work to relevant publications/magazines/papers etc and see if they are interested.  Some will pay a fee but not all.  Good luck but remember, very few poets make a fortune from their work - literary poetry is a shrinking market unfortunately.

> The Artists & Writers Yearbook will have a list of literary agents (find it in your local library) and submit a selection of work and ask for their opinion/representation etc.
> Sounds a long way round I know but they will know, firstly whether it has a commercial value and which editoral department is most likely to be interested.
>

If it is I would know it lol, thanks will pop along to my library this week, I am not in any hurry it's been something I've wanted to do for years but just keep putting it off. Does this also apply to short stories etc?

> Some will pay a fee but not all.  Good luck but remember, very few poets make a fortune from their work - literary poetry is a shrinking market unfortunately.

It's not really for the money, I just wanted to know if there any good lol and maybe to see my work in another form if you get my meaning.
Thanks for the info.
Diane

re copyright (its not copyWRITE).....If you are in USA then yes you have to register it but here in UK, if its yours and you wrote it, (not under some sort of contract to an emplyer of client) then theres nothing to do as you automatically own it.

> re copyright (its not copyWRITE).....

Sorry :-)

> If you are in USA then yes you have to register it but here in UK, if its yours and you wrote it, (not under some sort of contract to an emplyer of client) then theres nothing to do as you automatically own it.

I'm in the UK, but I have just been cautious about sending away work, primarily because it being used without knowledge or permission, (not that I'm saying my work is worthy of this!) I wanted to know how you could prove it was your own work.
A search on the internet came up with copying all work, dating it and posting it recorded/registered to yourself. I can only guess this is to be kept sealed and only opened if a dispute would arise.

Yep thats the easiest way to prove that you wrote something and where and when you wrote it.

As Sam says, copyright is automatic here, you come up with an idea, a piece of work whatever, that is original.. then its yours.

> A search on the internet came up with copying all work, dating it and posting it recorded/registered to yourself. I can only guess this is to be kept sealed and only opened if a dispute would arise.

According to the UK Copyright Service, this would not be of any proof in law, as it is possible to forge the evidence, ie. send the envelope and then put the work in after.  But I was always under the impression that posting work to yourself in a tamper-proof envelope was good enough.
You can register your work with the UK Copyright Serive, to help prove your copyright, but I think they charge. They have some other tips on helping to protect/prove your copyright.

Copyright does not cover ideas, only things, such as paintings, drawing, poems, books (but not the idea of the book or idea of the contents, the actual contents), music etc..

My mum writes poetry and got a few poems published in the local paper. She also sent a poem into a publisher that was looking for poems for a Scottish Poetry book and was published in it too. Watch out for folk wanting you to pay to have your work published though :-) . You might want to have a look at Poems on the Underground too as I think they still take submissions and also the Poetry Society

Good Luck - hope you get to see some in print soon!!

> this would not be of any proof in law, as it is possible to forge the evidence, ie. send the envelope and then put the work in after.  But I was always under the impression that posting work to yourself in a tamper-proof envelope was good enough.
>

Again I have been cautious, and had doubts if this way would work.
Thank-you for the link, I will have a good look at it. ;-)

> Copyright does not cover ideas, only things,

It will just be for the items I have wrote, if I tried to copyright all the scraps and ideas of my work it would take forever. lol
Again many thanks Diane

> My mum writes poetry and got a few poems published in the local paper.

Well done your mum!
My eldest daughter had a poem published when she was 10 yrs old, but that was through school, I have always thought if she could do it so can I, but nearly six years on, things have not progressed much lol. Kind of got put on the back burner, but I'd definitely like to give it a go now.

> Watch out for folk wanting you to pay to have your work published though :-)

Thanks for that, I will be as cautious as ever. :-)

> You might want to have a look at Poems on the Underground too

I remember seeing these when I was younger going to school and always wondering........

> Good Luck - hope you get to see some in print soon!!

Thank-you I really hope so too! :-D

If you don't manage to get any publishers interested to start with, don't give up.
There are other places that may be interested, such as greeting card companies or companies that make embroidery/cross stitch kits, or you can even put your poems on pretty backgrounds and use them to make posters/prints to sell yourself, or even make your own greeting cards to sell.

Good luck with your poems :)

> such as greeting card companies

I have thought along these lines before, and when it is family member or a close friend I am buying a card for I tend to try and buy a really nice blank one, or one with not much verse purely so I can write my own lines. It does make it extra special for that person. So I'd like to try it on a larger scale.

> or you can even put your poems on pretty backgrounds and use them to make posters/prints to sell yourself, or even make your own greeting cards to sell.
>

I like your thinking! I never thought about this option before, thanks. ;-)

> Good luck with your poems :-)

Thank-you
Diane

Regarding feedback on your writing, there may be a local writers group you could join.  OH belongs to one and was surprised how many members have been published.  They give good constructive feedback, are very supportive and have pointers for getting published too :)

Thanks, will start looking into it, Oooo i'm quite excited now, maybe a teensy bit nervous too. :-D