As I finish my second semester of the Creative Writing MA at the University of Brighton, I find myself with around twenty poems that, this time last year, I didn’t know I was capable of producing. Previously, I thought of myself as a short story writer exclusively, but after completing a module in poetry with the brilliant John McCullough I am now apparently a poet as well! So, what do I do now with all the work that I’ve produced?
So far in my publishing journey I’ve been lucky enough to have my short stories included in a couple of anthologies with small independent presses back in Mexico who have fully (and thankfully) handled the whole process. I’ve also had a poem published in an online journal (which has since shut down, not an uncommon occurrence for independent poetry outlets, sadly) and regularly use my own social media to share some of my work. However, I’d like to have something tangible that encapsulates and showcases who I am as a poet, which is where the pamphlet comes in.
What is a poetry pamphlet?
The first thing you need to know is a pamphlet is not the same thing as a collection1; this is a short selection of ten to thirty poems that display an author’s work (where a collection would typically include something from forty to a hundred2). There are no rules to poetry publishing, but usually a pamphlet would be a precursor to a longer length publication. This allows emerging poets to put their names out there, begin making a reputation for themselves and find potential readers3. Pamphlets can be centered around one, or multiple, themes but this is not necessary, same goes for mood, style, or narrative thread4. Clearly, this is a format that allows for great creative freedom and experimentation.
Putting it together
The first thing to consider is, what makes this collection cohesive? In my case I’m not working with any specific theme, but the thing that strings all of my poems together is that they are autobiographical and quite literal. I’m not the type to use metaphors or very ornate language, and the same goes for my form, I like playing around with the space on the page but will probably never write in anything other than free verse. So even if there’s no pre-established topic, there’s still a sense that these poems belong together.
How should the poems be organized?
I’m still debating this one, general advice would say that your best poem should be the last one, and your second best the first5 some others would say your most hard-hitting poems should be spaced away from each other. Phoebe Stuckes says “I try and mix up the poems I imagine yelling with the poems I imagine whispering.6” Personally, I’m fond of chronology, not necessarily a real sequence of events, but rather allowing the poems to become a story that develops on the page.
It is important to be really clear on what the pamphlet is saying about you as a poet. What makes it special? It could be your voice, an idea that it explores, the landscapes it paints, a poetic form you chose to experiment with. Do all the poems contribute to its heart7? Remember, this is supposed to be a fluid process, you may find you need to take out one or two poems, or maybe even add a few more. Trust your instinct (and consider asking someone you trust for a second opinion).
In a similar vein, it is important to stay conscious of who is inspiring the work, partially so that you can use this as a selling point when the time comes, but also so you don’t accidentally become a little too inspired. Poetry is about creating and presenting things that already exist with a new and exciting take, which can be the way language is used, or the imagery that’s taken to represent the concept. Some of my biggest references are Frank O’Hara, Richard Siken and, I cannot deny my Insta-poetry affections, Orion Carloto and Dakota Warren.
Before declaring it finished, there’s one last thing to consider, would you be happy to have your “weakest” poem represent you? If not, feel free to take it out. It’s better to have less poems that you’re very proud of than a larger number of “fillers8”
How to get a pamphlet published?
They tend to be DIY or managed by small presses and can look quite similar to zines.9 Another similarity between these two forms is that you will hardly find them in chain bookstores. There’s a number of reasons for this, firstly, sellers simply do not stock vast numbers of poetry books in general, much less self-published or indie10. The reason for this being, you guessed it, profit. Realistically, a sample of work by a still-unknown author won’t be creating the revenue chain stores are looking for, which means the majority will be sold directly from writer to reader at events or online.
At the time of writing (May, 2025) I could find one poetry pamphlet press with open submissions (ignitionpress), another one that will probably open submissions sometime in the fall (Out Spoken Press), and one more that will definitely welcome submissions in October (Broken Sleep Books). There is also always the option to self-publish which allows you to have full control over your work but also does require some level of interior and cover design, printing, marketing, promoting, handling and selling…
Through this research I’ve found I’m undoubtedly a woman of tradition; I’m excited to continue down the path of magazines and journals to pamphlet to (fingers crossed) collection and will continue to polish off my current assortment of poems to send them out into the presses I mentioned above. With a little bit of luck, this time next year, I’ll be able to call myself a published poet.
Wordcount: 1005
References:
Caroline Hardaker, ‘What is a Poetry Pamphlet or Chapbook?’, Caroline Hardaker Writes, 17 April 2018, https://carolinehardakerwrites.com/2018/04/17/what-is-a-poetry-pamphlet-or-chapbook/
Harding, James T., ‘What is the Difference Between a Pamphlet, a Chapbook, and a Collection?’, Stewed Rhubarb Press, 8 May 2020, https://stewedrhubarb.org/2020/05/08/what-is-the-difference-between-a-pamphlet-a-chapbook-and-a-collection/
Marshall, Roy, ‘Putting a Poetry Pamphlet Together’, The Friday Poem, 30, November, 2021 https://thefridaypoem.com/putting-a-poetry-pamphlet-together/
Nine Arches Press, ‘What is a Poetry Pamphlet, Anyway?’, Nine Arches Press Blog, 29 April 2019, https://ninearchespress.blogspot.com/2019/04/what-is-poetry-pamphlet-anyway.html
Stuckes, Phoebe, ‘How to Publish Your Poetry: Putting Together the First Book’, Young Poets Network, 23 October 2019 https://ypn.poetrysociety.org.uk/features/how-to-publish-your-poetry-putting-together-the-first-book/
Tell Tell Poetry, ‘Tips for Ordering & Organizing Your Poetry Manuscript’, Tell Tell Poetry, 30 June 2020 https://www.telltellpoetry.com/blog/2020/6/30/tips-for-ordering-amp-organizing-your-poetry-manuscript
The Bindery, ‘What Is a Zine?’, The Bindery, https://www.binderymke.com/what-is-a-zine
The Poetry Society, ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, The Poetry Society, https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poetry-society-information/about/frequently-asked-questions/#:~:text=It%20is%20equally%20important%20to,very%20few%20from%20small%20presses
Young Writer Award, ‘Tips on Putting Together a Poetry Collection or Pamphlet’, Young Writer Award, https://www.youngwriteraward.com/tips-on-poetry-pamphlet/