National Poetry Library
Advice for Emerging Poets
If you write poetry as an outlet for your feelings and purely for yourself, that’s great. But if you’ve got ambitions to get your writing in front of other people, or possibly into print, we’ve got some tips to help you get started, to improve your work, and point you in the right direction.
Read and listen to as much poetry as you can
This way, you will learn what went before you, what works for readers. Don’t expect to like or even understand everything you read. If it bores you or is irrelevant simply close the book and move on. You haven’t wasted your time. You are learning worthwhile lessons of what to avoid in your own writing. Along the way you will find many wonderful poets that will inspire you to keep writing as they entertain and move you. As well as your local library’s poetry collection, you can borrow ebooks from the National Poetry Library.
Go to events
Poetry doesn’t just exist on the page – it is happening in spaces all over the country, probably not too far from where you live. You can see our lists of upcoming events.
Get Googling
Find out what’s happening in your area by looking up writing courses, local writing groups, poetry readings and slams and other poetry websites. Your public library should also be able to help you with local information.
Get advice from ‘how to’ books
There are a lot of books available on the art of writing poetry. Some are listed below. These books may be available at your local public library.
- Lavinia Greenlaw, How to write poetry (Guardian News and Media, 2008)
- Chris Hamilton-Emery, 101 ways to make poems sell : the Salt guide to getting and staying published (Salt Publishing, 2006)
- Jessie Lendennie, Poetry : reading it, writing it, publishing it (Salmon Poetry, 2009)
- Helena Nelson, How to get your poetry published (Happenstance, 2009)
- Helena Nelson, How (not) to get your poetry published (Happenstance, 2016)
- Fred Sedgwick, How to write poetry and get it published (Continuum, 2002)
- Matthew Sweeney & John Hartley Williams, Write poetry and get it published (Hodder Education, 2010)
- Debbie Taylor, Indie press guide: the Mslexia guide to small and independent book publishers and literary magazines in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Mslexia Publications, 2018)
Enter competitions
Competitions are a great way to find out what other people think of your work, and there are many to enter. We compile a list, which is updated regularly.
Competitions [ https://www.nationalpoetrylibrary.org.uk/node/225 ]
Send your poems to magazines
Many poetry magazines take submissions and are a first route into publishing for a lot of poets. The National Poetry Library compiles a list of some of the titles, which is updated regularly.
Magazines [ https://www.nationalpoetrylibrary.org.uk/node/200 ]
Join the Poetry Society
The Poetry Society exists to promote the appreciation of poetry, and is a great way to meet other poets as well as discover education and commissioning programmes, performances and readings.
Join the Young Poets Network
Run by the Poetry Society, this network supports young, emerging poets with advice and company, as well as a programme of events.
Good luck!
For your visit
National Poetry Library Southbank Centre
The National Poetry Library is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 12 noon – 6pm
Wednesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 8pm
Getting Here
The National Poetry Library is on Level 5 of our Royal Festival Hall.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our site.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.