Powerful Resources for Poets

The legendary poet Robert Frost once said, "To be a poet is a condition, not a profession."

At the Mount Hermon Conference, many writers asked me, "Where can a Christian publish poetry?" Actually, I've discovered quite a few outlets for poetry over the past several years. If you're a poet (or a writer interested in breaking into the poetry market), check out the excellent resources below. I think you'll be impressed!

 

CHRISTIAN LITERARY JOURNALS THAT ACCEPT POETRY SUBMISSIONS

3.1.6.: A Journal of Christian Thinking (the316journal.com)

FIRST THINGS: A Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life (firstthings.com/submission.php) 

IMAGE: Art, Faith, Mystery (imagejournal.org)

Relief: A Quarterly Christian Expression (reliefjournal.com)

Rock & Sling: A Journal of Literature, Art, & Faith (rockandsling.org)

Toward the Light: Journal of Reflective Word and Image (towardthelight.net) 

Utmost Christian Writers (utmostchristianwriters.com) 

 

POWERFUL BOOKS AND RESOURCES FOR POETS

Poets & Writers Magazine 

The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo (This is my favorite book on the craft of poetry; it helped me to radically improve my writing.) 

The Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser

In the Palm of Your Hand by Steve Kowit 

Walking Light by Stephen Dunn

Best Words, Best Order by Stephen Dobyns 

The Poet's Handbook by Judson Jerome

2007 Poet's Market edited by Nancy Breen

 

SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF POETRY

Grace by John Hodgen 

Nine Horses; Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry, and others by Billy Collins

Wild Iris; Averno, and others by Louise Gluck 

The Country Between Us; Blue Hour, and others by Carolyn Forche

Thirst; Why I Wake Early; American Primitive; New and Selected Poems, and others by Mary Oliver

 

EXCELLENT POETRY AND POETRY COMPETITION WEBSITES 

The Academy of American Poets, poets.org  

Poetry Daily, poems.com

Poets & Writers, pw.org

Winning Writers, winningwriters.com 

Writer’s Digest, writersdigest.com

 

I hope you enjoy these resources! If this list helped you (and especially if you have your work accepted in any of these journals), please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com or post a comment. Also, if you know of good poetry sites or resources not included in this list, please let me know. Thank you!