So you write poetry, or plays, or short stories, and now you’re wondering how to go about getting your work into the world. Publishing short-form content is more about finding your people than a scatter shot across the industry. The right fit depends on your subject matter, medium, and goals. If you want to publish one piece at a time and build up your following, literary magazines, personal websites, and social media are all versatile, accessible ways to get your foot in the door. If you are ready to publish a complete book of short-form content, small presses can help with the heavy lifting of production and marketing.

Resources

A great place to start is Poets & Writers, a nonprofit that supports writers in finding community and publishing work to as wide an audience as possible. Poets & Writers offers searchable directories of small presses and literary magazines with options to filter for genre, length, and more.

NewPages is another literary organization supporting writers with educational resources, writing contests, and databases of small presses and literary magazines.

Writer’s Digest also offers resources and support for writing and publishing poetry and short-form content.

There are many such literary organizations. Try joining writer-focused Facebook groups to tap into communities of like-minded writers and find additional resources.

Small Presses

Small, independent publishers often specialize in short-form content. Search for ones that focus on similar subjects or formats as your work. In addition to searching online databases, see which presses published your favorite poetry and short-form content and consider submitting your work there too. Once you have identified small presses that may be a good fit, read through their submission guidelines and send in your work accordingly.

Literary Periodicals

Literary periodicals offer great visibility and marketing without the need to publish an entire book. You can submit one or two pieces while still leveraging the support of an established publisher. Research journals and magazines that specialize in your subject matter or medium. Local periodicals often like to publish work by local artists, making them a good place to start.

Social Media

As the most accessible option, social media is a valuable tool to build an audience. It is also the most versatile with the ability to mix the written word with graphic design, soundscapes, video, anything you can think of. Mixed-media artist Morgan Harper Nichols combines visual artwork with poetry. Starting out on Instagram, she has since branched into merchandising and publishing her own, complete book. Another inspiring example, Rupi Kaur got her start on Instagram before publishing three books of poetry.

Personal Blog or Website

Personal blogs and websites are similar to social media in that you can combine many different visual elements. While websites may not have the same visibility as social media, they are more permanent and serve as a great portfolio. Consider linking your social media platform with your website to drive traffic. You don’t have to be a web developer to build your own website. There are plenty of user-friendly options with customizable, pre-built sites such as Wix, Weebly, and WordPress.

No matter which option, or combination of options, you choose, your publishing journey will be as unique as your writing. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Start by researching, finding your community, and exploring as many options as possible.