Although market guides are useful for identifying magazines that might be appropriate for your poetry, it is best to obtain more complete guidelines before submitting. Most magazines will send you a printed guidelines sheet if you send a request along with an SASE. Many magazines now have complete guidelines on their websites—a quicker and easier way to obtain information.
Once you have obtained guidelines for a magazine, be sure to read and follow them carefully. Format your submission according to the preferences of the editor and include all of the requested information. If guidelines are unavailable, follow standard procedure for formatting poetry. Type your name, address, e-mail, and line count at the top of each submission. Space down a few lines and type your title. Space down another two lines and type the text of your poem, single-spaced. Use a standard font and font size on plain white paper. Editors don’t want to be distracted by colors, and fancy fonts are often difficult to read.
If a magazine accepts e-mail submissions, be sure to note whether the editor wants the work as an attachment or pasted directly into the e-mail message. Take the same care with e-mail submissions as you would with print submissions, and place your name and address at the top of each submission. Some editors will want each poem sent in a separate e-mail. Be courteous and follow each editor’s preference.