10 Ways to Make a Living as a Poet
86..the latest poems from Drax..
- Poem - Dear Brothers & Sisters in the Universe
- 4 weeks ago
- Poem - X Y & Z
- 4 weeks ago
- Poem - The Dining
- 4 weeks ago
- Poem - Snake Oil
- 4 weeks ago
- Poem - The New Ireland
- 4 weeks ago
- Poem - Tomato Boxes
- 4 weeks ago
10 to get you started
1. write poems for mega successful web sites (wink)
2. write zingy 'poems' for advertising
3. write poems for manufacturers
4. write custom poems for people sell to them via the web
5. collaborate with a songwriter, band, music publisher
6. hire an editor & publish your own book using POD technology
7. syndicate your poems with lots of small newspapers
8. get the base degree, the Masters, the phd & get a job teaching creative writing
9. after doing ALL of number 8 get the book published via your contacts
10. podcast and blog your poetry for free & depend on the collateral revenue
—————————————————————————————————
Elaboration #1 write poems for mega successful web sites (wink)
As internet penetration increases and the web overtakes print media it is reasonable to postulate that major web sites will have their own poet laureates, i.e. a poet that writes exclusively for them. The poet will weave human and esoteric elements into the fabric of the site and chronicle its impact on users lives thus providing a historical snapshot.
#2. write zingy 'poems' for advertising
good advertising copy falls under the category of poetry, think of all those memorable lines you remember. Like Haiku if you can condense product attributes and benefits into a few words then start sending it to agencies.
#3. write poems for manufacturers
#4. write custom poems for people sell to them via the web
people need poems, poems capture an emotion floating on the surface and render it into something others can appreciate. Organic growth will bring revenue over time if what you write is popular with your customers (and competitively priced). Somewhere out there is someone who needs to say...
...I love you Mary, even when your legs are hairy....
#5. collaborate with a songwriter, band, music publisher
A. work with what you perceive as an upcoming band who are able to use the communications technology. Look at song writing techniques and how a poem needs to be moulded to work as a song. In my opinion there is a fine line between great song lyrics and poems.
B. hook up with someone known for their ability to write music and jointly produce songs, submit these to established bands and publishers.
# 6. hire an editor & publish your own book using POD technology
Why do I need an editor you say ? well poems are always good, bad and ugly and someone other than the poet needs to 'select' those poems that have maximum appeal and that are more finished than the rest.
I've a little Hub on POD, Print on Demand
#7. syndicate your poems with lots of small newspapers
there is still a role for the small newspaper since it remains a buying habit or may well be a local institution, especially among the older population. Not all subjects are suitable for syndication i.e. you write a poem and it is carried by a number of papers each of whom pay you a small sum.
#8. get the base degree, the Masters, the phd & get a job teaching creative writing
the traditional route, not only do you get to 'learn' about all kinds of writing if you are lucky you get paid to tell other people about it. Ok so there is a lot of BS&T from one end to the other, same old story, writing is a job, it is a profession no matter how you approach it.
#9. after doing ALL of number 8 get the book published via your contacts
get all your degrees and a nice position and then leverage your contacts to get a book deal or handle all the publishing on your own. This will take years and also assumes that you have some talent in the first place. you could of course start this activity concurrent with the degree, saves years !!
#10. podcast and blog your poetry for free & depend on the collateral revenue
given the state of play in blogsphere and social space you could be famous in a matter of weeks, months (don't forget me if you are). Do you have the determination it takes to get up every day in face of rejection and ridicule and keep doing it until you make a success of it, or at least until you achieve your own personal goals. Take the occasional reality / humility tablet and Remember the old cliche;-
...when the horse is dead you have to get off it...
A Little bit Extra
thats what it takes, a little bit extra,
can you see yourself spending the money you made last week, month, year from writing ?
can you see yourself holding the book with the your name on it ?
do you feel more alive working with poetry ?
can you plan and execute a strategy ?
can you trudge along in the downtimes or does a passing car take your attention ?
you could mark yourself out of 100, 20 for each point and then think about the results, are you in the good, bad or ugly category. good is great, ugly has potential.. bad is just bad.
just for the record
- Poet
Poet.ie is a poetry site which I own, from an internet name perspective the jewel in my crown. This site and others are all works in progress they showcase my work and allow me to trudge along until my attention is taken by a passing car ...grin...
- A Web Image Reactive
Drax is my pseudonym and to protect it I have registered this site drax.net, it has poetry written around random web images. I also have drax.ie - drax.eu - drax.org all to protect / promote the pseudonym ... I know know I need a strategy...
————————————————————————————————
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (11)
- Funny (2)
- Awesome (5)
- Beautiful (1)
- Interesting (4)
Sobatinyela, I've been writing 10/12 years so some of the poems are from the cellar, but almost everything is written on the run this last week or so. The Hub is a nice growing medium for a poet...
Drax
Poetry - seems to have so many constrictions. I don't believe it should. We are all grown people that read it and can decipher for ourselves the artistic beauty of a apiece of work or whether it belongs on the steps of failure. However, realize there are critics beyond ourselves that are due their opionion, one way or the other. It should be in the end whether it is art or not by societies choices, but "all of Society" should have their voices ecchoed as loudly. Art is an ever breathing entitiy brought on by society's acceptance or neglect thereof. Don't dismiss one piece of art because it has no claim to poltical mischief, but render it more thought for future insights among those that are willing to hear. Feel, Listen, Hear, and then choose your art intelligently.
Hi Brenda, well said, Robert Creeley said that William Carlos Williams defined artistic merit perfectly in his 1944 book 'The Wedge': WCW said;-
"When a man makes a poem, makes it, mind you, he takes words as he finds them, interrelated about him and composes them . . . It isn't what he says that counts as a work of art, it's what he makes, with such intensity of perception that it lives with an intrinsic movement of its own to verify its authenticity . . . There is no poetry of distinction without formal invention, for it is in the intimate form that works of art achieve their exact meaning."
Thank you.
sorry missed responding to this Joe, it's great if you found it useful... tell a friend...
Drax
Okay I'm glad I came into your hub. This is helpful. Thanks
that's great Nightflower, it's good that it was of some help to you....thank you ..Drax
Are making our planet, a poets and a kings.
By different of living they they are improve things.
In 1986 on the non-IBM personal computer, japan Yamaha KYBT1/2 (it have just 2 Z-80 processors, like in Spectrum) i so a very strong computer "poet program".
What do you think about quality of computer-made poems?
Thank you for sharing this, this is a somewhat new world to me, very interesting to read about.
Hey Contribution thanks....
every day you get out of bed you have to say to yourself I am a poet, writer, singer.... whatever creative path you choose... of course the rest of the3 world will try to divert, convert you... the hell with them...
..Drax...
Hey Contribution thanks....
every day you get out of bed you have to say to yourself I am a poet, writer, singer.... whatever creative path you choose...
of course the rest of the world will try to divert, convert you... the hell with them... they are not your friend, in the end there is only your art...
..Drax...
thanks great hub very helpful
Hi writemyown thanks very much... it is great that it was of some help to you...
..Drax..
The consummate starving artists are we poets, writers, painters...
Daily we seek justification and validation for choosing the struggle over the sure.
To add to what Drax says, if you fancy yourself a writer, own the title. Make up your mind that you are indeed a poet or author of the written word. Then utilize all sources possible for recognition and publication. Set about actively building a resume; building a body of work.
Yes, this road is fraught with bumps and pot holes and those who will cruely dismiss your abilities. Don't take them to heart personally. To each his own. Tastes and needs vary. Don't let a little criticism bog you down. Process what's constructive and toss ignorance out with the trash.
I encourage anyone to become active in the arts community in their area. Go to poetry readings, book signings, art shows and fine arts gatherings. Be your best eclectic self, and don't be afraid to shake hands and kiss...um...babies? Well, you get the idea. Make some simple business cards and take them with you everywhere. They come in handy at those types of events.
Good luck all.....
Hey Patricia, thanks very much for the great comment.
Folks, this is really what it is about, see yourself in the role, George Eliot (aka Mary Ann (Marian) Evans) said;-
"It is never too late to be what you might have been. "
Drax
Thank you for your insights. I am a songwriter and therefore a poet.
Hi Bludstream... great name and thanks for the comments...
Regards
Drax
hi there, nice hub ;)
i've written some poetry too in my hub.
carpe diem! =p
Very useful tips...
thanks for the nice comments folks :-)
Thank you Drax, very good info and advise here.~ Aloha~
Hi Sa`ge... thanks... very glad this info is still of some benefit or use to visitors...
Three years have passed and your royalties should fuel many sites Drax... If Only they had followed your fine advice here.... that should also be relevant in another three years... though with less available keywords... lol. Nicely done.. thanks for sharing the gift.
@Pearldiver... alas if I had followed my own advice... now I should be on a Greek island... :-)
I was impressed by the top ten list, but then you gave detailed and highly insightful breakdowns of each one. No wonder this hub is a favorite. This rocks, mate. Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Great ways to earn as a poet. I have also written few poems and I think I must also work on your guidelines. Keep writing!!!! Thanks for sharing it.
@Doug... sorry late responding to this but
I am working flat out on launching my own publishing house... www.halabatuchi.com
thanks very much for the great comment...
Hi Gulnazahmad... thanks very much for the comment and support.. it is great...
A very useful hub and thanks for sharing this great advice.
Cheers!
Hi Richtwf... thanks for the comment..
Thank you, most useful -- I'm going to your POD hub next!
Hi Charles.. thanks, I must try to update these and add more soon...
Useful hub. Thanks.
Hi Majadez... thanks :-)
Hi Drax, This is a great hub! Thank you for all the great information! :)
Hi Samiaali.. thanks for the comment... :-)
It's a jingle, jangle world. Will be checking out your site! Happy hubbing.
Hi Northweststarr... more jangle than jingle mostly.... :-) thanks for the comment...
Thanks, Drax. Always need suggestions and new ideas. Voted up and useful!
Well, getting poets paid for their perseverance and hardwork continues to be a big problem. I have resigned, waiting for my time to come. I sure believe that we deserve more. Bless you
Ubanichijioke... thank you for the comment... you cannot wait, the situation everywhere is too dire... you must fight and struggle for your voice and for others to be heard... Thanks You..
Drax, great advice and useful suggestions. I have collaborated with a few different artists/photographers throughout the years and it's been a great experience. Submitting work requires a lot of time, patience and perseverance, but one good contact can make a difference.
I like your previous comment. One must keep focused on their journey through life. Thanks for sharing these useful suggestions!
rebekahELLE... thanks very much for the comment... I'm not sure it is all about the contacts.. more the content... since if one can create then somewhere sometime down the road it will be appreciated..
I-9 has gotten me thrown out on the street, number ten aint' workin' that great either
cheers
Hey goego... that is almost good, now you have to go back and start over at number 1... that is the way it works... the cycle :-)
truth hurts... but yes you are correct
Very good Goego... thanks !! did you ever read Basho ? it is all about the path, all else is irrelevant..
not yet but thanks for the directions :)
A bee
staggers out
of the peony.
so nice
You forgot the 2 big money makers:
writing greeting cards
and
winning the HubPages poetry contest.
Cheers
@Goego
but he also said...
"Do not forget the plum,
blooming
in the thicket."
Basho
@WriterFox..
no..
that was no3 for the cards
and no1 for the fantastically successful Hubpages.. ;-)
Thanks...
Jam :)
and home made bread is delicious... thanks Goego :-)
That is really nice ways to make a living with a poetry..Nice hub
@htodd ..thanks very much for the comment :-)
sobatinyela 5 years ago
Enter a comment
Drax,
even a dirge has lyrics, and i have read several of yours. quite a bit of material in a week. check back, i will post some poetry as soon as i write some more.