Do People Still Read Poetry?

In honor of National Poetry Month, I’ll be sharing tips and news for poets this month. Today, I’m going to address the common question, “Do people still read poetry?” A recent study called Poetry in America by the Poetry Foundation revealed some interesting information on this topic. Here is what you need to know.

People who love to read often read poetry.

Poetry users tend to be more omnivorous in their consumption of reading materials than are non-poetry readers. Poetry readers do not read poetry to the exclusion of other types of literary and non-literary materials. Instead, poetry is but one of many genres that they choose to read.

Young readers are a great audience to target.

Most people begin their relationship with poetry early in their lives, usually around the time they are teenagers. Young readers could be lifetime fans. Even children who are reading picture books enjoy poetry, especially if it rhymes.

Get involved with your local schools.

Current poetry users were significantly more likely to have studied poetry at every grade level than were nonusers. Overall, 82 percent of poetry users studied poetry in school compared to 73 percent of non-users. You can help expose young readers to poetry by hosting readings at schools or talking to them about your career as a poet.

Even people who don’t normally read poetry enjoy it when they come across it.

Non-poetry readers do read or listen to poetry when they come across it in unexpected places. Non-poetry books and magazines reach many people who might not otherwise read poetry. More than half of the people who said that they have never read poetry, also said that they read it at least some of the time when they come across it in non-poetry books and magazines. If you get creative, you can reach a larger audience.

As a self publishing poet, it is essential that you understand who your readers are and how to reach them. There are plenty of people who are open to reading great poetry, and you can ensure that feature generations continue to enjoy this genre by reaching out to young readers.

I’d love to know, how often do you read poetry and what types of poetry do you read?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.