How to Make a Living as a Poet

by Gary Mex Glazner

How to Make a Living as Poet details how Gary Max Glazner and a diverse group of American scribes—including Sherman Alexie, Mary Karr, Naomi Shihab Nye, Paul Polansky and Beau Sia—found ways integrate poetry into their financial until they could do what many writers consider list their life’s passion on their tax forms.
Glazner should know. After selling the flower shop he owned for 18 years the champion of the 1998 Poetry Olympics worked as a poet-in-residence at a hotel (leaving 45,000 copies of his poems on guests pillows!), secured sponsorship to take 100 poets on an 8,000-mile tour of America and even got Pontiac to hire him to promote a new car. From the story of his own project using poetry to help Alzheimer’s patients to an interview on the nuts and bolts economics behind the world’s only "Poetry Diner," Glazner details how creativity off the page can spark even new approaches to writing itself. From marketing ideas for how to break out of the "poetry ghetto" to the how’s and why’s of analyzing the economic impact of slam festivals, Glazner shows exactly how its possible to not just survive but thrive off one’s art.

Genres: Poetry, Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

284 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2005

Reviews

[Erika Dreifus]

Ever considered being a poet-in-residence - for a hotel? Dreamed of finding some magical patron to give you a place to live (rent-free) while you worked on your writing? In his new book, Gary Mex Glazner describes how he and others have accomplished such feats, how they've been able to "make a living as a poet."

Glazner, whose impressive resume includes directing the Alzheimer's Poetry Project and serving on the board of New Mexico Literary Arts, for which he oversees the Rural Poetry program, has essentially assembled a tripartite handbook in How to Make a Living as a Poet. The first section, "The Poetry Entrepreneur: Creative Poetry Programming," offers detailed examples of ways to earn money as a poet, such as those mentioned above.

The book's second part features interviews with prominent poets/writers, including Sherman Alexie, Mary Karr, Naomi Shihab Nye, and others. Finally, "Nuts/Bolts/Rants/Manifestos" offers helpful hints on everything from writing a press release to giving a good reading.

Together, the book's elements provide practical tips to manage the basic business of a poet/writer's life, plus creative suggestions to increase income while still doing the work one loves. That's an excellent combination. And according to the very interesting page 147, where the author invites reader response, we won't have to wait long for the sequel.

(This review was based on a copy provided by the publisher, and appeared in the August 15, 2005, issue of the WriteSuccess newsletter.)

[Richard]

After selling the flower shop he owned for 18 years, the champion of the 1998 Poetry Olympics worked as a poet-in-residence at a hotel (leaving 45,000 copies of his poems on guests pillows!), secured sponsorship to take 100 poets on an 8,000-mile tour of America and even got Pontiac to hire him to promote a new car. From the story of his own project using poetry to help Alzheimer’s patients to an interview on the nuts and bolts economics behind the world’s only "Poetry Diner," Glazner details how creativity off the page can spark even new approaches to writing itself. From marketing ideas for how to break out of the "poetry ghetto" to the how’s and why’s of analyzing the economic impact of slam festivals, Glazner shows exactly how its possible to not just survive but thrive off one’s art.

[Laura Roberts]

How to Make a Living as a Poet, by Gary Mex Glazner, is a book that all poets — and indeed all creative writers — would do well to study, digest, and ultimately use to help build a career.

From its humorous warning plastered across the first page, suggesting “EXTREME INJURY AND/OR DEATH MAY RESULT FROM READING HOW TO MAKE A LIVING AS A POET,” it’s clear that the book is meant to poke a bit of fun at the altogether overly serious objective of “making a living as a poet,” yet at the same time it also contains plenty of great advice.

To read the rest of this review, please see my post at Poetry Has Value: http://poetryhasvalue.com/post/124710...

[Diane]

Very enjoyable. To dare to write such a book in such times where doing what the (seemingly oxymoronic) title suggests is impossible is an act of courage and creativity in itself. The book is interesting and surprisingly helpful. Many of the people inside it's covers are friends and innovators. To be read repeatedly by anyone who gets discouraged doing what they love in a mercenary world.

[Katlyn]

It did cover a wide range of ideas and I liked the tie-in to digital film/making video, but they weren't all practical ideas and a few were admitted to not actually make profits. Also, some of the explanations were lacking or unclear. I probably gained a few things from it. Mostly: collaborate, use new media, be bold in asking and press releases.

[Sara]

Very practical, helpful, amusing, and inspiring. Want to reread in more depth later.

[Zack]

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