This directory aims to provide poets with comprehensive information on publishers actively seeking poetry submissions during the 1985-86 period. It serves as a crucial resource for writers navigating the complex landscape of literary publication. The work is compiled by Ellen Ferber and Len Fulton, who leverage their expertise in the publishing industry to identify and list relevant opportunities. The primary argument is that access to accurate and current publisher information is essential for poets to successfully bring their work to a wider audience.

This directory is a specialized reference tool for poets and writers interested in the poetry publishing market of the mid-1980s. Its value lies in its focused scope, providing specific contact and submission details that would have been difficult to aggregate elsewhere at the time of its publication. The work is likely regarded as a practical, albeit dated, resource for historical research into literary publishing trends.