Poetry has been around since ancient times and to many – young and old alike – it is a form of creative expression of emotion and ideas. But, did you know that you can make a living writing poetry?
The first step to make this your career is to create a portfolio of your published works. This can range from poems that you have published on your own blog, to those shortlisted and published in periodicals. By creating an impressive portfolio that features your best works, you are more likely to secure assignments and collaborations. Additionally, another essential way to ensure your success as a poet is to attend literary festivals, competitions and readings. The latter is especially important as performing your work in front of an audience is a powerful way to connect with your fans and other members of the literary scene.
Institutional support and grants are also a useful tool to gain support. There are several organizations that provide grants to poets, such as the Poetry Society and the Arts Council England, to name just a couple. Additionally, there is the National Endowment for The Arts (NEA) in the USA, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Arts Council of Ireland and the New Zealand Arts Council. All of these organizations offer grants to poets, so it is important to familiarise yourself with the grant options of your region.
Once you have established yourself as a poet, you may find that your talents are in demand for other forms of writing. This could include scriptwriting, lyrical writing, journalism, playwriting and so on. Keep an open mind when searching for such opportunities. By diversifying your writing portfolio and skill set, you are more likely to gain more exposure and stability in your career.
Crowdfunding is also another way to make a living out of writing poetry. As well as helping you to build an audience, it also allows for people to directly support your creativity, without needing to pass through the long publishing processes typically found in the literary world. Popular initiatives include launching a Patreon or a Kickstarter campaign and establishing a volunteer outreach program.
Finally, don’t just focus on the reward-based avenues for generating income. Focus on impact, too. How can you impact your local community through your works? You may find opportunities to conduct workshops, classes or summer camps, or even to develop and teach syllabi in high schools and educational institutions. Many poets turn to these methods to build a livelihood.
Connect with other Poets
Connecting with writers and poets in your region and beyond is a great way to get inspiration and ideas. Take part in the establishment’s activities such as book readings, poetry slams and open mic events.This way, you can reach out to newer audiences, develop meaningful connections, promote your works and widen your network.
Attending events can still be difficult in the current environment, but virtual networks are a great way to achieve the same goals. Host virtual poetry slams, participate in online reading circles, or start your own social media profile. Social media platforms are useful for connecting with other poets, but it is important to use them responsibly and in a way that promotes a positive environment for the community.
The internet’s vastness also allows you to create and promote yourself with relative ease. Establish a blog, build your own website, add all your works there,, and list your awards and accomplishments. Platforms such as YouTube are great ways to showcase your work, as well as create tutorials, anthologies, and university modules.
Seek Collaborations
One way to really grow your portfolio is to seek collaborations with other artists.This is especially a great way for those who don’t feel confident enough in their own skill set, or who wish to gain experience and exposure in different areas of the arts. You could consider collaborating with visual artists, musicians, dancers and theatre actors. And who knows, you may even discover your next favourite artist!
Think outside the box and become your own best businessperson. Collaborations bring with them the chance to explore and innovate, meeting new people and creating memorable projects together. Here are some ideas: Create a Roam Poetry project with an artist of your choice, write poems to be showcased in exhibitions, compose music that’s inspired by someone’s art, or even combine your poetry with funky visuals. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Above all, never forget to have fun and continuously experiment with your writing. As long as you are passionate and determined, you can make a living writing poetry.
Sell Your Work
If you’re confident in your work and you think that you could turn it into something that people would pay money for, then this might just be the solution for you. You can sell your work to agents, publishers, newspapers, magazines and other outlets. The trick is to stay up to date with all publishing opportunities, and never be afraid to take risks and to think outside the box.
You can potentially do this by following agents or publishers on social media, or by subscribing to their websites or email lists for updates. Alternatively, you could try selling your work directly to the audience. Think up unique and creative ways to try and sell your work, like by creating anthologies of your work or by selling individual copies of your poems through your own website or on platforms like Etsy.
In today’s digital age, although the starting point may seem intimidating, technology has revolutionised the way poets can monetise their works. There are various possibilities available. You can create monthly/annual membership plans, podcasts and audio recordings of your performance, eBooks, print-on-demand merch, subscription mailboxes and so much more. Therefore, if you want to make a living out of writing poetry, there is no reason for not to get started. You just need to figure out something that works for you.
Go Professional
The word ‘professional’ might make you think of a poet who has got a renowned job and lots of money, but that’s not it. When we talk about going professional, we mean taking a more serious approach towards your profession, understanding the many opportunities available, and taking steps to build yourself a solid academic/professional base. Think of it as an investment in yourself.
You could consider applying for masterclasses, workshops and talks, or even attending poetry festivals. There is something that these activities have in common – they provide the perfect platform to meet not just the successes but fellow poets, like-minded people and organisations that could potentially benefit you professionally.
Look for publications and periodicals where you can submit your work and try to foster relationships with other authors in the business. Many publishing houses have connections with literary magazines and e-zines. Furthermore, keep building your portfolio and try to reach out to literary journals and publishing houses for potential collaborations.
You can also get involved with grassroots poetry programmes. National poetry organizations such as Poetry Out Loud and the Poetry Society provide an excellent platform for young poets, in addition to available resources for teaching poetry workshops, organizing readings, and even making a living writing poetry.
Teach
Another way to make your living writing poetry is to become an instructor. You could consider working as a poetry and literature teacher in schools and universities, or even develop your own course or syllabus and teach an online class from the comfort of your own home. Sites such as Skillshare and Udemy provide helpful insights on the various payment models and promotion techniques.
You could also become a tutor by offering lessons and mentoring services to high school and college students. You could even try your hand at teaching creative writing, novel writing or any other contemporary topics related to poetry. And if you’re really ambitious, you could even consider writing your own book about poetry and how to make a living off it.
Becoming a poet doesn’t necessarily mean only writing – it can also include teaching, publishing, leading workshops and delivering lectures. With the right attitude and effort, you can create a successful career out of writing poetry.
Marketing and Selling
Making a living out of writing poetry requires commitment, strategical planning and, of course, marketing. According to experts, the core of your marketing strategy should include setting up a website and social media accounts, selling merchandise in collaboration with other artists, and setting up Google ads. You must also ensure that your website is constantly updated with your latest works and accomplishments.
Email lists are also instrumental in connecting with potential customers. Thus, it is important to collect prospective customers’ emails at every opportunity and to regularly send them updates about your upcoming, or recently released works. Ultimately, the goal is to turn these emails into subscribers, who are likely to remain loyal and interested in your work for a long time.
Similarly, you can use YouTube to reach out to people. Keeping in touch with fans is a great way to spread your message, as well as to create a community of people who share and follow your work. Reviewing recent works or hosting virtual events and workshops are also great ways to engage new and existing audiences.
Look to engage with both physical and non-physical channels of marketing, such as press releases, sales pitch emails, newsletters, and e-zines. These methods are more effective than what they may appear at first glance, and are one of the best ways to get your name out there. A specific example of this could be entering competitions, like the Poetry Society’s annual competition. Even if you don’t win, the process of entering is itself a learning experience.
Approach the Business End of Poetry Writing
In addition to being innovative, getting professional help for the business side of writing poetry is something that looks to help poets build a long-term and sustainable writing career. Get a mentor, or consult with industry professionals who can officially represent you and help you in negotiations.
Building relationships is essential in this industry, as is the need to create an enticing pitch letter to pitch ideas to journals, publishing houses and any other organisations that could be interested in your work. Obviously, you can write it yourself if you’re confident enough in your skills, but for specific projects/collaborations a professional introduction could make all the difference.
Another useful way to build your professional network is to not just rely on potential income from your written works, but also from delivering lectures and attending conferences. Once you’ve identified a potential platform, you need to create a comprehensive pitch letter, highlighting your achievements and the qualities you possess. This can help you stand out and gain recognition.
Finally, make use of awards. There are several awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize, that provide valuable exposure to the poet, as well as these opportunities to interact with other authors and gain followers. As with all other aspects of writing, as a poet you must constantly work on improving your performance, and getting recognition is an efficient way to do that.
