How to Self-Publish a Poetry Book

Publishing a poetry book is an exciting and rewarding experience for many indie authors. After spending months or even years writing your poems, it’s now time to publish your work!

Years ago, the publishing industry was difficult to break into. Landing a literary agent and submitting manuscripts to traditional publishers had been an exhaustive and tedious process. However, with the rise in e-books and online resources, self-publishing poetry has become a feasible and creative task. When you self-publish your poetry, you have full control over your book cover, marketing campaigns, and distribution.

Understanding the self-publishing process and the costs associated with creating a poetry collection will help you create a poetry book that stays within budget and shares your work with the world. Let’s dive in to how to self-publish a poetry book.

Options for self-publishing your poetry book

You’re officially done with the writing process and your collection of poems is finally complete. Now what? Luckily, there are many options for self-publishing your book of poetry.

What are the best options for publishing poetry for online distribution?

Depending on your goals, different online distribution platforms offer varying opportunities.

For example, if you’re an independent author looking to gain loyal readers, then publishing your poems on social media platforms can be a great start. While this is not the traditional publishing route, posting on social media is low or no risk and allows your followers to read and share your poems.

Social media is also an accessible networking platform for both aspiring and published poets looking to share their poetry with diverse literary communities.

Another great way to distribute your poems online is through e-books. Many literary sites allow independent authors to create their own e-books, and some offer customizable layouts for indie authors.

Finally, literary journals and magazines are great places to publish your poetry online. Doing so can share your work with an established audience, and some literary magazines have thousands of consistent readers who visit their site daily. Publishing your poetry on these websites can help you gain a significant number of readers in a short amount of time.

Additionally, leveraging these platforms will establish your reputation as a poet. In fact, many literary journals and magazines offer annual contests with cash prizes. While poetry admissions can be competitive, they offer a chance for your work to be recognized.

What are the best publishing packages for self-publishing poetry?

The best packages for self-publishing poets will meet all your needs. Look for packages that include book designing, marketing, proofing, and distribution services. For example, Elite Authors offers a comprehensive packet of services to turn your collection of poems into a self-published book.

How can you self-publish poetry so it is available in both print and digital form?

Some self-publishing companies offer both print and digital copies of your poetry collection. One example is Barnes & Noble Press, which offers e-book and print-on-demand services. However, you can still publish your poetry in print and digital forms without going through a company. For instance, you can first publish your poetry collection online by adding your poems to your social media accounts.

To print your poems, you can send your poetry to publishing houses or magazines. It’s important to note that this process is competitive. Also, if your poems are accepted, the book publisher will usually handle the entire publishing process.

Best places to self-publish your book of poetry

While there are many self-publishing options and services out there, finding the right fit for you is important.

After researching your options, you can also reach out to a literary agent who knows your genre and can offer additional advice.

Where are the best places to self-publish poetry on the internet?

Amazon is a popular option for many writers looking to self-publish their poetry. Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon’s publishing service that allows independent authors to design their book cover, upload their work, and earn up to 70 percent of royalties on sales.

One of the benefits of self-publishing your poetry collection on Amazon is that 197 million people visit Amazon each day. That’s a lot of traffic. At the same time, however, because self-publishing books on Amazon is a popular option for independent authors, it can be hard making your poetry book stand out among the competition.

Another place to self-publish your poetry on the internet is your blog. Creating a personal blog where you consistently upload your writing can be a great way to build your own community of readers.

While building traffic can take time and effort in the beginning, once your blog has gained traction, it can be an effective way to get your work noticed.

What are the best print production companies for poetry?

There are a variety of print production companies that consistently publish poetry submissions. In general, however, you will want to look for print production companies that are well regarded within the literary community due to their writing and book production standards. Publishing your poetry with an established print production company could help you create a foundation for a solid writing career.

How do you know you have found a self-publishing outlet that is the best for your poetry?

Before submitting your work, it’s always a good idea to research publishing houses, literary journals, and websites that publish stories and poems like your writing style. Read through each site’s most recent poems and posts. This is a simple and straightforward way to gauge the type of writing they consistently publish.

Oftentimes, magazines and publishing houses reject a poetry collection because it does not fit their style. However, your poems can still find a home somewhere else. Researching and identifying book publishers and literary journals that are looking for you style and genre of writing will help you find an outlet that is best for your poetry.

Costs associated with self-publishing a poetry book

The cost of self-publishing a poetry book varies. However, in general, most indie authors can expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $4,000. While this may seem intimidating at first, the cost of self-publishing a book is often cheaper than traditional publishing costs. Ultimately, understanding the breakdown of these costs can help you save money during the publishing process.

Why do you need to carefully consider the costs of self-publishing a book of poetry?

Before you create a self-published book, it’s important to consider the costs. Many independent authors underestimate the costs of self-publishing because they disregard additional fees that tend to come up along the way. Proofing, copyediting, cover designing, and marketing are all factors that can increase spending.

For example, if you’re looking to create a print copy of your book, then it’s important to measure the costs and benefits of different printing options. Additionally, it can be a headache organizing and formatting every page of your poetry collection. Thus, some writers choose to hire a book designer who will ensure each page is formatted correctly.

Marketing is another cost often miscalculated by poets and authors looking to self-publish their work. The amount of money writers spend on ads and book launches can greatly vary. Without proper planning and budgeting, it’s easy to overspend on ads that don’t end up generating book sales.

What are the best ways to save money when self-publishing poetry?

First, create a budget. By outlining how much you can spend on your poetry book, you will be less likely to overspend on extra costs.

Next, stick to one cover design. Creating multiple covers for your self-published book can be time-consuming and expensive. Overstressing and delaying this step in the process can waste money.

Another simple way to save money is to do most of the marketing and publicity on your own. Hiring a marketing team and publicist can also drive costs.

With the rise of social media marketing, most indie authors can market their own books. By creating your own blog, Instagram posts, and marketing campaigns, you will save money and control your book promotion.

What are the parts of the publishing process where you need to budget the majority of your costs?

In general, budget the main costs of the publishing process. This includes copyediting, formatting, cover designing, and marketing. Online resources for poets can help manage these costs further.

Publishing in online formats is another cost-effective option to consider when looking to reduce production expenses. When you print hard copies of your poetry collection, you pay production costs. These manufacturing fees cover the price of producing individual units of your book.

By creating and selling e-books, you can avoid these additional printing costs and focus your budget on other publishing necessities such as cover design and book promotions.

How to market your book of poetry

After you’ve chosen your poetry publisher, designed your book cover, and sent your poetry book out into the world, it’s time to market your writing.

Book marketing is a crucial step in the publishing process, especially for indie authors. By actively promoting your poetry collection across different social media platforms, you can increase book sales and build a poetry community.

What should you avoid doing when marketing your self-published book of poetry?

Avoid marketing your poetry book to anyone and everyone. When it comes to creating a book promotion that generates sales, quality is more important than quantity. As a result, research and identify your target reader demographic and focus your marketing efforts on that group.

Likewise, be wary of marketing scams that advertise a massive increase in your social media followers. An increase in random followers won’t necessarily help you sell your poetry collection. Instead, connect with readers online who follow accounts like your page. Interested readers are more likely to purchase a copy of your book.

What are the best ways to market to your desired audience when self-publishing poetry?

Social media is a great starting point for sharing your poetry with your desired audience. It’s also a great place to begin marketing your work before you’re done writing.

One way to gain attention is by creating your own book launch on social media. Post updates and reminders that advertise when your poetry book will be released. This is a simple and effective way to celebrate and announce the publication of your book.

After publishing your poetry, you can then post your poems across different social channels. This will help you gain exposure and share your writing with new followers. To encourage discussion, ask your followers to post book reviews of your poetry on their social media accounts.

If your poems start to gain traction on social media, you can also consider inviting your followers to a reading or poetry slam.

It’s also a good idea to reach out to your community to market your self-published book. Try attending local writing and reading events. Surround yourself with fellow readers and poetry lovers. Meeting new people means having more people with whom to share your writing.

Who can help you market your self-published book of poetry if you have no marketing experience?

There are a variety of resources at your disposal when it comes to marketing your self-published book. Again, you can turn to your local community for help. Your town’s library is a great place to seek assistance.

Oftentimes, libraries host book readings and poetry slams. Getting in touch with your local librarians can be a valuable networking opportunity. They have experience marketing and hosting these events and can help curate one for your poetry book.

Consider also reaching out to authors and poets who have recently published their work. You can connect with writers through community forums or social media platforms. Most people are happy to share their experiences and offer advice.

Finally, some online self-publishing companies offer marketing services. Be sure to check the details of your publishing package to see if book marketing is included.

Overall takeaways and additional resources

Self-publishing your poetry book is an exciting step in your writing career!

At Elite Authors, we work with independent authors throughout the entire creation process. Whether you need help editing, designing a cover, or marketing your finished book, we’re here to help.

Fill out our inquiry form, share your story, and we’ll get back to you within one business day. Publishing your book has never been easier!