Vertical Promo: How to Market a Christian Poetry Book

Poesia courtesy of Flickr

Every day I receive emails and twitter messages from writers regarding marketing and promotion. Usually I answer directly to the person asked, but lately I've been getting the same questions, so I will begin posting the answers here until my site is set to go. I will also post the answer in my Vertical Promo Group (join if you haven't already.) Moreover beginning June 1, I will begin teaching a special group of writers on how to leverage their marketing efforts. Stay tuned for details on that coaching event.

Today I will answer one question:

How would marketing benefit let's say someone that like to publish a poem book of Christian prayer poems?

I think this question means: Should a build a Christian chapbook and if so, how can I market it?

If not I apologize, but this question is what I will answer.

A Christian chapbook by definition can be a collection of poems, songs, psalms, flash fiction that is bound in a book small enough to carry. There are two types that the marketplace is most familiar with: a collection of poetry or a lyrical memoir. A great example of a lyrical memoir is Amy Grant's Mosaic: Pieces of my Memory So Far or poetry like "The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. " These two forms are familiar to commercial book buyers. However, both do well for authors who have celebrity status or a large national platform. For the newbie poet, these two forms would be a waste in my opinion.

I suggest that the new poet seek to be published in Essence Magazine or a literary journal like Mosaic or Push Cart. Or seek publication through a college press. Or become a song writer. Why? Because:

1. the new author doesn't have a large enough following for poetry book buyers(who are scarce.) and
2. chapbook buyers are scarce

The poet must write down her vision for her art. This will tell her whether the poetry is for commercial or artistic purposes. If artistic, they can build artists books and submit to art festivals with hopes of being picked up by galleries.

If they choose the commercial route, then they need to look at repackaging their poetry.

I'm at my wordcount limit for this post. Tomorrow(please remind me) to tell you how to repackage your poetry for the new buyer for the next installment to this poet's question.

Visit me on Media Candy on Wednesday when author Bonnie Grove will chat with me during your lunch break about book, book trailers and dead people.

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