It’s February 1st, the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, and officially the end of winter. It’s also time for a brand spanking new list of nearly 130 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in February 2020!
I’ve just finished up January’s 30 Days of Winter Writing Challenge and was struck once again by how supportive writers are to one another. Maybe it’s because what we do is so solitary that we welcome the opportunity to find community among like-minded people. It’s been a fantastic experience and I love seeing the group’s writing evolve and grow.
February is a big month for me – the blog’s just turned six (and had its 100,000th visitor – whoop!) and I’ll be hitting a MAJOR BIRTHDAY. With a scary number looming and the dawn of a new decade, I been thinking a lot about the experiences of the last ten years.
My professional career as an architect went off-track with the collapse of the Celtic Tiger, and the global recession that followed, but writing and poetry (a childhood passion) blossomed in its place. I’m also one of thousands of Irish homeowners whose mortgage-lenders were embroiled in a major financial scandal – my case against the bank will come before the Irish Supreme Court this Spring. When I entered the fight back in 2010, I never imagined it would take this long to resolve or that my life would be so unsettled and precarious, as a result.
I’ve been wondering how to celebrate this milestone birthday. I don’t have any big plans but would like to mark the occasion somehow, acknowledge the positives and feel good about where I am right now.
Each month, this list goes right around the world, thanks to you reading and sharing on social media, in writing groups, by word of mouth and beyond. And I wondered has it made it a difference in your writing life? Has it helped you get a piece of writing published or have work long/shortlisted or placed in a competition? Have you landed a bursary, gig or residency from one of the opportunities shared here? What did this achievement mean to you?
I’d love to hear your story, wherever you are – consider it a birthday gift!
I’d also like to map the responses and share them (digitally, if possible) – make that connection between us all visible in a tangible way. If you’d like to be part of this project, here’s how you can share your story:
- Leave a comment beneath this post;
- Tweet it and tag me @adreamingskin with the hashtag #PoetryListSuccess;
- Send it via my website contact page here: http://www.adreamingskin.com/contact
- Or if you have my email address already, drop me a line with ‘Poetry List Success’ in the Subject box!
Depending on the response, I may share the stories on social media and/or the blog so let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous. I’m really looking forward to reading your submission success stories!
Whether you’re writing or submitting during February, I wish you the very best of luck! If you appreciate the monthly list and would like to support it, consider making a small donation via the Paypal donation button (right) and/or share the link on your own blog or social media pages. Thank you!
February 2020
The Account – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 1 Feb (submit online)
The Southhampton Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction. Art – closes 1 Feb (submit online)
Yeats Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 1 Feb (submit online)
Not Very Quiet – Poetry, theme: Open – Surprise us! – closes 2 Feb (submit online)
Tiny Seed Literary Journal – Poetry pamphlet, theme: Nature (25-45 pages) – closes 2 Feb (submit online)
The Crazyhorse Prizes – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 4 Feb (submit online)
Abridged 0-59: Persephone – Poetry – closes 7 Feb (submit online)
The Honest Ulsterman – Poetry, Fiction, Essay & more – closes 7 Feb (submit online)
Finished Creatures – Poetry, theme: Balance – closes 9 Feb (submit online)
Poetry Ireland Introductions – Poetry (unpublished poets, Ireland only) – closes 9 Feb (submit online)
Trim Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 12 Feb (submit online)
Butcher’s Dog – Poetry – closes 14 Feb (submit online)
Frosted Fire Firsts – Poetry pamphlet (10 pages, unpublished poets only) – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Headline Poetry – Poetry, Micro-fiction/creative non-fiction – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Kathryn A. Morton Poetry Prize – Poetry manuscript (min. 48 pages) – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Pigeon Pages Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Stockholm Writers’ Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Drama – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
The Boiler – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Vermont Studio Center Residencies – All genres – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Visual Verse – Poetry, Flash, Non-Fiction – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Columbia Journal Spring Contests – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 16 Feb (submit online)
Tinderbox – Poetry – closes 16 Feb (submit online)
The Straid Collection Awards – Poetry manuscript (min. 38 pages) – closes 17 Feb (submit online)
Granta – Poetry – closes 20 Feb (submit online)
The A3 Review – Poetry, Flash, Art, theme: Teenagers – closes 22 Feb (submit online)
Acumen International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Bucheon UNESCO City of Literature Residency – All genres – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Historic Joy Kogawa House Residency – All genres – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Ireland Chair of Poetry Student Award – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Ireland Chair of Poetry Travel Award – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Listowel Writers’ Week Poetry Awards – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Ninth Letter – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Bath Magg – Poetry – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Beloit Poetry Journal – Poetry – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Clav Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-fiction & more (LGBTQ+ poets) – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Fly on the Wall – Poetry, Flash, Fiction, Art, theme: Identity – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Geoff Stevens Memorial Poetry Prize – Poetry manuscript (15 pages) – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Slipstream Poets Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Southword Journal – Poetry – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
The Brian Dempsey Memorial Competition – Poetry pamphlet (10 poems) – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
The Interpreter’s House – Poetry, Fiction – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
The Penn Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Art – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
The Scores – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Wild Poem Competition: Cheltenham Poetry Festival – Poetry – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Writer in the Park: Ljubljana City of Literature Residency – All genres – closes 29 Feb (submit online)
Columbia Journal: Womxn’s History Month – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Copper Nickel – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Translation – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Grondal’s House City of Literature Residency – All genres – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Impossible Archetype – Poetry (LGBTQ+ poets) – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Poetry Book Society Autumn 2020 Recommendations – Poetry books and pamphlets (Publishers only) – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Sonic Boom – Poetry, Japanese short forms, Prose, Art – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
The Blue Nib – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Artlyst Art to Poetry Competition – Ekphrastic poetry – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts Residency – All genres – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
The Stinging Fly: Galway 2020 – Poetry, Fiction – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
Tiny Seed Literary Journal: Hindsight in 2020 – Poetry, Flash, Photography, theme: Nature – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES
Ó Bhéal Five Words – Poetry – deadline each week, annual prize (submit online)
Rattle: Poets Respond – Poetry, theme: current events – deadline each week (submit online)
JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN FEBRUARY:
Maria Edgeworth Festival Competitions – Poetry, Fiction – closes 6 Mar (submit online)
The Enfield Poets Poetry Competition – Poetry, Fiction – closes 7 Mar (submit online)
Feral Journal – Poetry, Art – closes 15 Mar (submit online)
Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)
Agenda – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – re-opening early 2020 (submit online)
Algebra of Owls – Poetry – open (submit online)
Ambit – Poetry, Fiction, Art – open (submit online)
A New Ulster – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
Anthropocene – Poetry – open (submit online)
Apartment Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Atrium – Poetry – open (submit online)
Bear Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Artwork – open (submit online)
Brittle Star – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Carve Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
Cheat River Review – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)
Fecund Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Essay & more (POC only) – open (submit online)
FIVE:2:ONE – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Artwork by underrepresented writers (POC, LGTBQ, non-binary, neurodivergent, trauma survivors etc.) – open (submit online)
Frontier Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Fruit Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid (LGBTQI+, with emphasis on unheard voices – POC, trans, working class) – open (submit online)
Guernica – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Photo Essays – open (submit by post)
Hosking Houses Trust Residencies – Women writers over 40 (all genres – must have contract to publish / broadcast / perform) – open (submit online)
I Am Not A Silent Poet – Poetry, theme: protesting abuse – open (submit online)
Idler – Poetry, Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)
Ink Sweat & Tears – Poetry – open 13 Jan 2020 (submit online)
Irish Literary Review – Poetry – open 1 Jan 2020 (submit online)
Lighthouse Literary Journal – Poetry & Short Fiction – open (submit online)
LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)
Marble – Poetry – open (submit online)
New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
One – Poetry, a single poem – open (submit online)
Orbis – Poetry – open (submit by post (UK) or online (overseas only))
PANK – Poetry – open (submit online)
Palette Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Peepal Tree Press – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction manuscripts from Black & Caribbean writers – open (submit online)
POETRY Magazine – Poetry – open 2 Jan 2020 (submit online)
Poetry Ireland Review – Poetry – open (submit by post)
Poetry London – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Poetry Salzburg – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Poetry Wales – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Porridge Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – open (submit online)
PN Review – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit by post)
Rattle – Poetry – open (submit by post and online)
Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – open 31 March 2020 (submit online)
Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)
South Bank Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Spry Literary Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
Squawk Back – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews, Plays – open (submit online)
Stand Magazine – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Stepaway Magazine – Poetry, Flash Fiction, theme: walking in the city – open (submit online)
Tears in the Fence – Poetry – open (submit online)
The American Journal of Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Brooklyn Quarterly – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Translation, Humour – open (submit online)
The Cardiff Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Flash (preference given to students and unpublished graduates of Creative Writing, English Literature & Journalism) – open (submit online)
The Compass Magazine – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Curly Mind – Poetry, theme: experimental – open (submit online)
The Dark Horse – Poetry – open (submit by post)
The Ellis Review – Poetry, published weekly – open (submit online)
The Galway Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews, Plays – open (submit online)
The Lake – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Lascaux Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)
The London Magazine – Poetry, Non-Fiction, Art – open (submit online)
The Missouri Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
The Moth – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
The Ofi Press Magazine – Poetry & Short Fiction – open (submit online)
The Poetry Village – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Poetry Review – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Sea Letter – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
The Selkie – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Features (marginalised and/or under-represented voices incl. women (or identify as), people of colour, immigrants, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and more) – open (submit online)
The Seventh Quarry – Short Poetry – open (submit online)
The Southeast Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Reviews, Artwork – open (submit online)
The Sun Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Interviews – open (submit online)
The Times Literary Supplement – Poetry (submit by post)
Three Drops From a Cauldron – Poetry, Flash, theme: Myth, Folklore, Fables, Fairytales – on hiatus until 2021 (submit online)
Tinderbox Poetry Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)
Wildness – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – open (submit online) Best of luck!
If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in February 2020, and it is not included above, feel free to add the details with a link in the comments section below!
(Illustration by Nicole Ray via Etsy)
