Edgar Allan Poe started his writing career by submitting stories to magazines and journals. He also wrote reviews and criticism, which helped him to gain exposure and notoriety. His first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems," was published in 1827, but it was not a success. In 1831, he published "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems," which also received little attention. Poe then turned to prose and achieved success with his short story "MS. Found in a Bottle," which won a contest and was published in 1833. This led to more opportunities to publish his work, and Poe soon became one of the most popular writers of his time."