Calling ALL writers! Need help/info for talented student to get published!

[Whoa_Nelly]

I have a student who writes beautiful poetry. For the first time, this student showed me her work. She has a binder FULL of poetry that sent absolute shivers up my spine, tingles down my arms, and brought tears to my eyes. This child has real talent.

Help/info needed to get her on the path to being published.

I read somewhere that it's a good idea to copyright all your work...?

I would like to approach her parents with this, but want to have good info and sources.

This student has enough poetry written to publish a book, and I suspect that what she showed me today was just some of what she has produced.

Anyone???

Thanks! :hi:

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Writers' Market.

It's a reference book that you can probably get at the library. Has a blurb on all the publishing companies and what they specialize in. Also will tell you what publishing companies will accept manuscripts unsolicited.

I have heard two different things about the copyright laws. One that claims that anything you write is already your own, proving it in court is another matter. I also heard a writing teacher claim that nothing was copyrighted, which sent shivers up my spine because I think he use to take manuscripts and discuss them at writer's meets.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Thanks!

I know about that reference, and am going to get the Poet's Market for her.

Today I went into her English class where she was sharing her poems with her English teacher. I got the teacher fired up about seeking info and assist in getting this child's poetry published. She's SpEd, age 15, and wites witha deep and sweet passion.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. You stand by her.

She's going to needs someone on her side to get a chance to feel accomplished.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. And don't forget that some publishers are heartless

I am not kidding here... been there, done that.

[petgoat]

5. What makes you so sure publication is a good thing?

What exactly is it supposed to do for the child?

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

[petgoat]

7. Premature success can be bad for a writer.

(So I've heard, any way. It's not like I have direct experience!)

Self-consciousness, catering to a market, laboring to better
past achievements--these can all be bad for a writer.

Watch out that in trying to help you don't wind up hurting in the
long run.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Some of that is true, certainly.

But you're talking about someone who has special challenges to deal with, and probably needs all the encouragement they can get.

[Wetzelbill]

9. Try looking through these

Publishing is ultracompetitive though. Just keep trying. You might want to find her a mentor, like contact a university professor from a nearby school, somebody who has been published. See if they can help out, with editing etc. Maybe then when her work is polished up something can be worked out.

http://www.randomhouse.com/anchor/ohenry/magind.html

[bridgit]

10. Freedom Writers Foundation...

A good source, if anyone knows Freedom Writers know: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/site/c.kqIXL2PFJtH/b.2259975/k.BF19/Home.htm