Want to get paid to write poetry but don’t know how to get a poetry writing job?
Yes, there is something romantic about a poor poet suffering in a French restaurant, accepting his humble position.
But wait what? Times have changed.
Nowadays, even a poet has bills to pay and food to eat.
Read on as we walk you through how to make good money writing poetry.
From greeting cards to newspaper submissions, poetry schools to personal blogs, we show you where to put your work, earn money, and keep doing what you love: writing.
Let’s go in.
Top 6 ways to make money with a poetry writing career
Believe it or not, there are many ways to make money from poetry. Here are a few ideas to try…
Poetry competition
There are many poetry contests offered throughout the year. Most of them run at the same time, so scheduling it with a date is the key to your success.
Submit to many contests and have a chance to win big money.
Especially as some contests offer thousands of dollars in prize money!
Here are a few to get you started:
Wergle Flump Humor Poetry Contest
Have you won a few writing contests? Wouldn’t it be great to put your knowledge to good use by teaching what you’ve learned?
Poetry Institute
If you have more experience, you can try your hand at poetry school.
Find a good place or recommend it online. And if you have any connections in the world of poetry, use them! Invite them to be part of your teaching.
School of poetry offers a great conference that can inspire you and give you an idea of how much to charge.
Apart from hosting the course content on the site, you will need to create a website for registration and placement.
So spread the word by marketing your course on social media and other channels.
Publish a personal poetry blog
Blogging is a great way to make money if you know what you are doing. In fact, this may be the best way to go if you want a more stable income.
However, it is not a short-term plan. It can take years for your blog to start making money.
But there are ways to speed up this process…
Check out this article on how to start a blog to learn more.
Self-published book of poetry
Have you ever thought about putting your poems together in a book?
Today, thanks to Kindle and Amazon, you don’t need a publisher – self-publishing is the new black. Also it’s easy.
Let’s be realistic, though – you’re not going to make millions on your first book. You will need to write many articles and build traction before you see the fruits of your hard work.
To make real money in self-publishing, you need to have a business idea and work based on what the market wants.
That’s not to say you should write dross just to please the crowd, but you should see this as a business – rather than an art – endeavor.
Greeting card
Have you ever wondered where greeting card greeting cards come from?
Yes, people like you!
You may be surprised to know that writing verses for greeting cards can be very useful, and it is an art. Therefore, your poetry skills may be the most important factor for the success of your greeting card business.
For that, they will pay.
Some companies charge as much as $700 but most are in the $100-$200 range.
Here are some examples of companies looking for writers:
Finally, there is one great path to fame and fortune (OK, just fame) that we’ll talk about a little later.
Submit poems to literary journals and magazines
We’ve left this one for last because it’s the most out of all the options.
The thing about submitting poems to newspapers and magazines is that you can’t send the same thing to all of them, or write whatever you like.
Most editions follow the same poetic style. Make sure to check their instructions for all the information before you start.
Here are some things to consider before submitting your project:
- Read and stick to the instructions
- Check if they allow you to submit the same service to multiple documents (some don’t)
- Check for entry fees
- Check the submission date – most have a submission deadline and won’t read anything outside of that.
This is a great way to make money writing poetry – but beware of long response times.
Read on for a list of documents you can submit your work to.
The 10 Best Submission Sites for Poetry Writing Jobs
We’ve selected the 10 best books to save you from wading through the endless list of gigs.
Poetry magazine
Poetry Magazine is one of the oldest, most popular monthly publications in the English language. So printing it is not easy, but it is worth it.
The good thing is that it is free submit and if your work is accepted, the fee is not bad – $10 per line and a minimum payment of $300.
The downside is that it will take up to 8 months to get the answer, so don’t hold your breath.
Antigonish Analysis
This magazine is a Canadian publication that prides itself on providing its readers with variety. They will welcome poetry from new and established writers, as well as critical literary and literary reviews.
Delivery have a small deposit of $2.00 and you can earn up to $5 per page (up to 5 pages) and two magazines if you are published.
FIRE
AGNI is named in the name Vedic Fire Godthat tells you a little bit about what they’re looking for – quirky, innovative, powerful poetry that will blow their readers’ minds.
Delivery is $3 a pop but the pay is good — $40 per page for accepted songs, up to a maximum of $300, plus a year’s subscription to AGNI.
Because of their unconventional approach, AGNI boasts more than one Nobel Prize winner in their ranks.
Swamp pink
The original Crazy Horse, Swamp Pink welcomes poetry but also welcomes prose.
They are particularly interested in poetry from minorities and poets from oppressed and underrepresented groups.
You pay $3 each submission if you accept they pay $40 / poem.
The Sun Newspaper
An ad-free, reader-friendly publication, The Sun Magazine leaves no stone unturned. They often reject narrative poetry and seek to reveal the living, most immediate nature of humanity.
The Sun encourages marginalized writers based on their status or identity to submit their work.
Delivery have $2.50 each but this one pays well – $150 up!
A new letter
A new letter from the University of Kansas has had many names since then. They initially wanted to highlight the cultural reality of the area, but over the years they have opened up to many other topics.
Delivery has a $4.95 fee for non-subscribers but is free for subscribers.
Fees start at $12, and you get 2 issues plus 40% off other issues.
But don’t forget theirs competition section, where you can win up to $2500!
The Boulevard Journal
The Boulevard Journal is a high-quality publication that requires better writing style. Of course, they don’t accept light verse like Limericks.
They usually publish freelance writers with more experience, but if you’re good enough for a newbie, they may still accept your work.
Entry is $3 online but is free through snail mail, and they pay between $50 and $250 for an accepted poem.
Three Penny Review
This little gem is a non-profit organization for poets from all backgrounds. They publish a combination of classic works and always add a few unexpected twists into the mix.
Delivery They are free and they pay $200/poem. Pretty, huh?
Pedestal Journal
Pedestal Magazine is open to all shapes, sizes, lengths and styles.
They are classified as non-profit charities, and survive on donations. Their readers are well-educated, and they publish both newcomers and writers.
They are open for submission for a few days for each reading series, pay $3 / submission and pay $50 per poem.
Rattle
Rattle is an incredible book that aims to move readers through the written word and foster an active community of poets.
And they’re good news for the creative writer on a budget: they don’t believe in poetry submission fees (hurrah!).
Add all submission going inside Neil Postman Award for Metaphor$2,000 prize.
If they accept your work, you will receive $200/poem for publication and a one-year subscription. For online submissions, you will receive $100/published poem.
Choose your favorite poetry activity
There are many options to make money with poetry writing services.
However, you probably won’t get rich from this alone.
But in combination with freelance writing, you can definitely make good money writing and continue doing what you love.
Our advice: choose one or two of the strategies we have listed above and work on it until you are making regular income, then expand to the next niche.
If you need help along the way, take a look at our newsletter. You’d be surprised how much money there is!
