Following the Footsteps of Nikki, Maya and Sonia.

Readings are a key marketing tool for poets who put themselves in print

There is absolutely no doubt that self-publishing is a challenging, exhilarating, demanding, inspiring endeavor. But when you try self-publishing poetry, you've tripled the challenges. It's a well-known fact that poetry is a difficult genre to break into. According to Jim Rogers, owner of Zahra's Books `N Things (Inglewood, California), "poetry won't just move off the shelves. You've got to perform it to sell it ... unless your name is Maya, Nikki or Sonya. And, if you don't have one of those names, it's going to be a long, tough road."

However, all you need to do is speak to an aspiring poet, and you'll see right away that those kinds of sentiments are merely "unsolved opportunities" to them. After all, someone has to follow Maya, Nikki and Sonya. In fact, Nikki Giovanni is the inspiration for Kim Ransom. This 29-year old poet published her collection of poetry, The Black House (Ransom Notes Publishing, September, 1999). Ransom decided to self-publish her collection for several reasons, including that Nikki Giovanni had done the same.

"When I was 15 years old, I read a poem by Ms. Giovanni and not only was I moved, I was hooked. I knew that was the kind of writing I wanted to do. I spoke with Ms. Giovanni when she came to Bradley University and she said she self-published her first work." That was all Ransom needed to hear. She never considered sending her material to mainstream publishers. Ransom did her research, collected her funds and published her collection in 1999. She has sold over 1,500 copies in a year, primarily through speaking/reading engagements. "Forget about the stores. If I read, I sell!" Ransom reads at various venues throughout Chicago at least four times every month.

Richard O. Jones of California agrees with Ransom. "My poetry doesn't sell, until I read. Then, I can sell out!" Jones began writing poetry during his early teenage years, while he spent time in a detention camp. "It wasn't the best environment, but I learned that I had a gift for writing. Many of the boys with me wanted to write letters to their girlfriends. They didn't think they had a way with words. That's where I came in. I wrote the cards, they signed them, and many people were happy."

As an adult, Jones continued his poetry writing, first in a Christian newspaper with his column, "Do You Really Know What Time It Is?" After writing for a year, Jones realized he had over 100 poems and decided to publish his poetry. But, unlike Ransom, Jones looked toward the mainstream publishers. Quickly though, he realized that was not going to be an option. "I found that only University Presses were publishing poetry and I didn't have the credentials. Other publishers were only publishing anthologies. I wasn't interested in being part of a book with 100 other poets. I wanted my own space."

Well, Jones created his own space. The prolific poet has self-published six collections, including Poetry Put the Po' in Poor Boy (TSFP, 1996). "People always laugh at that title, but there's nothing funny about it. You write poetry for the love of the genre. You certainly don't do it for money." Jones has sold over 3,500 copies of his books.

It is the love of the genre that led Rita Hall to self-publish her collection of poetry. "From the time I was a small child, I used poetry to express my emotions. My anger or sadness or excitement always found its way onto paper," says the LAPD sergeant. Hall kept this collection of poetry through the years and in 1997 realized she had something that she needed to share. "My life has been a journey, from the steel mills of Birmingham, to the bright lights of Los Angeles. I've grown so much as a woman and I wanted to share that in hopes that my experiences and my words might help someone."

Hall's book, Ebony Bitter-Sweet: A Chocolate Girl in a Vanilla World is a compilation of poems from 1975 to 1998 that journey Hall's growth from an angry teenager to a mature, God-loving, law-enforcement professional. And like the others before her, Hall knew that self-publishing was her only option. "People kept telling me that no one wanted to buy poetry, but I wanted to prove that I could do it." She has sold over 2,000 copies.

Self-published poets have much in common with their self-published brothers and sisters writing fiction and non-fiction. However, there is something about poetry that sets these writers of verse a little apart. Maybe it's the way poets have to constantly hear naysayers rant about poetry never selling and that self-publishing poetry is an impossible feat. Maybe it's the way poets only smile at those words and forge forward anyway, marching to their own beats, melodies and lyrics. Maybe it's the way these men and women keep their pens to paper looking for the words that are sure to provide us with the next Maya, Nikki or Sonya. Whatever it is, there is no doubt that writers of the poetic verse are special people, with special messages, working diligently to get their words to their audiences.

Sampling Self-Published Verse

Kim Ransom The Black House: Ransom Notes from the Kitchen to the Closet Ransom Notes Publishing, 1999, $15.00, ISBN 0-967-71860-0

Richard O. Jones I'm in the Hood for God Professional Business Consultants, 1998, $14,95, ISBN 1-881-52413-2

Rita Hall Ebony Bitter-Sweet: A Chocolate Girl in a Vanilla World Milligan Books, 1998, $10,95, ISBN 1-881-52432-9

Kwasi Ramsey Notes From the New Chitlin' Circuit Black Alchemist Press, 1999, $11.95, ISBN 0-967-10821-7

Tonya Marie Evans Shine! FYOS Entertainment, October 2000, $16.00, ISBN 0-967-45793-9

Sheila Barrera Misfit Motel Xlibris Corporation, 1999, $14.40, ISBN 0-738-83187-5

Eric Payne I See Through Eyes Eric Payne Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0-739-20177-8

Lewis Saunders Wattaya Mean--Men Don't Care: Collection of Poetry Hen Making True Confessions Milligan Books, 1998, $10.95, ISBN 1-881-52443-4

Carla Canty A Black Gurl's World: It Ain't Easy Being Me Black Gurl, 2000, ISBN 0-935-93157-0

Karen Felton Draw Nigh: Poetry to Draw Nigh to Thee--A Poetry Journal Norris Publishing, February 2000, $10.00, ISBN 0-970-18450-6

Poetry Workshops

Writing conferences are a great way for writers to not only improve their craft, but to network with other writers, agents, editors and publishers. However many times poets find themselves sitting in workshops with fiction and non-fiction writers because conferences which specialize in poetry are few. However, we were able to uncover poetry conferences and workshops designed for the serious poet. For more information, check out Shawguides.com.

The Clark Poetry Writing Workshops: October, 2001 -- Sunnyvale, California Three-day session with readings, workshops and writing sessions. Contact: 408-245-3620 or [e-mail]

Des Moines National Poetry Festival: May, 2001 -- Des Moines, Iowa Total focus on poetry with public readings and other social events. Contact: 515-277-5091

English Manor House Poetry Weekend Intensive: June, October, December 2001 -- New Jersey Consultations with faculty, manuscript critiques, readings, workshops and writing sessions. Contact: 973-684-6555 or [e-mail]

Forest Place Annual Festival of Poetry: July, August 2001 -- Falcony, New Hampshire Consultations with faculty, manuscript critiques, lectures, panel discussions and writing sessions. Contact: 603-823-5510 or [e-mail]

Live Poets Society Annual Poetry Writers Conference: July 2001 -- Oakdale, New York Contests, manuscript critiques, lectures and workshops with focus on: conversational voices in poetry, the healing power of poetry, rhythm and rhyme, hip-hop poetry. Contact: 516-581-2214

Taos Poetry Circus Poetics and Performance Conference: June 2001 -- Taos, New Mexico Consultation with faculty, contests and workshops with focus on poetry readings and performance. Contact: 505-758-1800 or [e-mail]

Also, be sure to check out the National Federation of Poetry Societies Annual Convention which will be held in Atlanta in June 2001. This four-day conference will feature guest speakers, and special lectures. For further information, call 770-339-8752.