Poets! Self-Publish On The Internet 

The internet has changed the way a lot of things work. 

Shopping used to require a trip to the store, but now it can be done with a few mouse clicks.  Corresponding with people on the other side of the world could take days, but now its done in a matter of minutes through email. 

Another thing that the internet is changing is how poetry is distributed.  For those interested in reading poetry, the only places available, up until a few years ago, were anthologies from the book store, literary or university journals, or listening to poetry live at an open mic venue. 

Well, writers of poetry now have a new medium to use in making their work known; the internet.  Young poets are already latching onto this concept.  For a generation raised with computers, the publication of poetry online is a natural extension, but for those unfamiliar with using computers for anything besides email or basic browsing, the concept seems new and not as prestigious as the journals and anthologies of old. 

Well, fear not.  Let’s think about poetry publication and poetry writers in a historical perspective.  One hundred years ago, poets would publish their work with the expectation of it only being seen by a select few. 

It is no coincidence that most of the world’s famous poets are closely associated with universities, for the university presses were the only means they had available to have their work published.  Their poems would then be seen by a few, and if liked enough by the established powers-that-be, those poems would have a chance at wider exposure. 

Well, the internet allows young poets a publication venue that can reach all the way around the world with the click of a button.  Its easy to start your own website.  Pick up some web design software and, if you picked a good program, you’ll have a website up and running within an hour or two.  From there, all you have to do is start spreading your name. 

There are a lot of forums, message boards and web rings devoted to poetry.  Start contributing to these and you’ll have an audience larger than you ever dreamed in no time.