Places to Get a Poem Published Online

by Erin Askeland

Overview

Poetry is found in online publications and personal websites that seek to showcase writers' work. These sites are updated daily and constantly need new material to display. If you are just starting out, online publication is the easiest way to get your first poem seen by a large audience.
Magazines

Online magazines require submissions from outside writers. Find these magazines through an Internet search for literary magazines or journals. Read the descriptions of each magazine's requirements to see which one best suits your style of writing. Read all entry guidelines and adhere to the magazine's formatting for submissions. Be sure to send your work before the deadline. The magazine will contact you if your poem is chosen for publication. Some of these online magazines pay the authors per page or word.

Contests

Perform an Internet search for poetry contests online. Top sites include poetry.com, worldofpoets.com and winningwriters.com. These sites offer general poetry contests as well as categorized poetry contests that require a poem on a specific topic or written in a specific form. Find the entry guidelines for the contest and read the rules thoroughly. Submit your poem by the due date. If your poem wins, it will be published on the website, and you will receive some modest amount of prize money.
Blogs

If you simply want your poetry to be available to readers online, you can start your own blog. There are many websites that offer free blogs such as wordpress.com and blogger.com. You will need to provide information such as your name, age and e-mail address with the option of expanding into a personal profile. Publish any poem you want and as often as you want on your personal page. Other users can comment on or review your work.
Tips

Be sure to read all rules and regulations before entering a contest to ensure that the poem remains your own if chosen as a winner. If the contest requires an entry fee, research the contest further to validate its legitimacy. Submit your work early, if possible, so it doesn't get lost in the pile of last-minute entries. Only submit your own work and do not try to copy or closely mimic the work of others.