Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – April 2020

It’s April, bringing the start of summer and with it nearly 140 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in April 2020.

My apologies for the lateness of this month’s list. My lovely Dad passed away on Tuesday 31 March from pneumonia/Covid-19 complications after an operation. He was 83. Other family members are now in isolation due to close contact. It’s a terribly sad and difficult situation at the best of time, made harder and scarier by the isolation and restrictions around the virus. So, this is an uncharacteristically short preamble – I don’t really have the energy for much else. All I really want to say is: stay home, wash your hands, read, write, make art, stay grounded. These are unprecedented times. Please take care and keep safe.

Whatever you’re up to with your writing during April, 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!

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April 2020

Ambit Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Fugue Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Leeds Peace Poetry – Poetry, theme: The Impact of Water – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Skylight 47 – Poetry, Art – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Adroit Journal – Poetry, Prose, Art – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize – All genres – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Comórtas Filíochta 2020 South Dublin Libraries Irish Language Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 6 Apr (submit online)

Bat City Review Editor’s Prize – Poetry – closes 7 Apr (submit online)

Harvard Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Reviews – closes 7 Apr (submit online)

Fugue Journal Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 8 Apr (submit online)

The Pinch Literary Awards – Poetry, Fiction – closes 8 Apr (submit online)

Splonk – Prose poetry, Flash – closes 13 Apr (submit online)

The York Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 13 Apr (submit online)

Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital National Poetry Day Competition – Poetry – closes 14 Apr (submit online)

South Downs Poetry Festival Competition – Poetry – closes 14 Apr (submit online)

Boston Review Annual Poetry Contest – Poetry, theme: Ancestors – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Dedalus Press: Virtual Poem-Card Competition – Poetry – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

New Ohio Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

New Ohio Review Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Queer Writers of Ireland Anthology – Poetry – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Rattle – Poetry (Service Workers only) – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Southern Indiana Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Visual Verse – Poetry, Flash, Non-Fiction – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Coast to Coast to Coast: Poetry Day Ireland – Collaborative Poetry Project – closes 16 Apr (submit online)

The Pinch Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-fiction – closes 16 Apr (submit online)

Boyne Berries: The Covid Issue – Poetry, theme: There Will be Time – closes 19 Apr (submit online)

Bracken Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Art – closes 19 Apr (submit online)

Palette Poetry Emerging Poet Prize – Poetry – closes 19 Apr (submit online)

Mooky Chick: The Medusa Project – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Essays – closes 24 Apr (submit online)

The A3 Review – Poetry, Flash, Art, theme: Hospitals – closes 25 Apr (submit online)

Abridged 0-19: Eris – Poetry, Art – closes 26 Apr (submit online)

Holland Park Press Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Royalty – closes 27 Apr (submit online)

Adrienne Rich Award for Poetry – Poetry – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Ballyroan Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Coast to Coast to Coast Individual Poet Journal – Poetry manuscript (12no. pages) – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Earth Shadow – Poetry, theme: Climate Change and the Natural World – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Grist ProForma Writing Contest – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Poetry International Prize – Poetry – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Split Lip Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir & more – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

The Broken Spine – Poetry, Photography, Art – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

The Missouri Review 13th Annual Miller Audio Prize – Poetry, Prose, Documentary, Humour – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Ulyanovsk UNESCO City of Literature International Literary Residency – Writers & Artists – closes 30 Apr (submit online)

Vers Poets Open Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Apr (submit by post)

Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Apr (submit by post)

Welshpool Poetry Festival Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Apr (submit by post)

Dundalk Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 1 May (submit online)

FACEBOOK Ireland & Culture Ireland present: Ireland Performs – Poetry – closes 1 May (submit online)

Poetry London Competition – Poetry – closes 1 May (submit online)

Prairie Schooner – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Reviews – closes 1 May (submit online)

The Rialto Nature & Place Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Nature & Place – closes 1 May (submit online)

Trócaire Poetry Ireland Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Standing her Ground – closes 1 May (submit online)

Fugue Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 2 May (submit online)

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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)

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN APRIL:

Barren Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction – closes 9 May or when full (submit online)

Parentheses Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Art, Photography – closes 10 May (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)

Dust Poetry – Poetry – 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)

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)

Pigeon Pages – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – 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 Offing – Poetry, Translation, Art and more – 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!

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If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in April 2020, and it is not included above, feel free to add the details with a link in the comments section below!

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(Illustration by Nicole Ray via Etsy)

JOIN THE 30 DAYS OF SPRING WRITING CHALLENGE FOR NAPOWRIMO 2020

What a strange time we’re living through right now. Wherever you are, I hope you are staying safe and well as we move into Spring with all its promise of endurance and rebirth. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed in uncertain times. Our physical and mental health are in such sharp focus at the moment that flexing the creative muscle might not seem like a priority, even when it has the potential to do us so much good. 

If you need to reclaim that creative space, this is a reminder that it’s almost April and National Poetry Writing Month or NaPoWriMo – the annual call to write a poem a day for 30 days. Once again, I’m running a 30 Day Writing Challenge with plenty of topical and Spring-themed prompts to spark your imagination and get you writing every day.

If ever there was a year to get things off your chest and onto the page, it’s 2020. There’s so much going on in the world and all of it moving so quickly, it’s hard to focus on big projects or ideas. The 30 Day Challenge helps you tap back into your writing, with bite-sized daily exercises, inspiration and opportunity to explore or vent in equal measure, and a supportive and encouraging community of writers in the private Facebook group.

Whether you’re looking for focus, connection or a creative kickstart, the challenge offers a reprieve from the world – plus a chance to conquer the inimitable #NaPoWriMo. Numbers in the Facebook group are limited and spots are allocated on a first come, first served basis – please book early to avoid disappointment as the last challenge sold out in 24 hours!

For the first time, I’m also offering an email only version of the challenge as a reduced price for those who want to avoid social media and the internet right now. You’ll receive all the materials direct to your inbox, without any external distractions. And no need to worry about meeting the challenge timescale – the prompts will be waiting for you in your inbox whenever you feel ready to engage.

All the information is on the website – just click the button below for details.

For those of you using this time to send your work out, a new poetry list will be out in a couple of days and there are still plenty of opportunities available in the March Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities list!

I completely understand that this might not be the right timing for you to take part in a challenge and that’s OK. Nurture your creative self in any way you can during this difficult time – DO WHAT YOU LOVE – play, read, make art, make something with your hands, knit, sew, mend, grow seeds, try something new. Stay grounded.

 

join the #30daysofspring writing challenge!

 

Image by Riz Mooney for Unsplash.

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – March 2020

March already and Spring is in the air! It’s also time for a brand spanking new list of nearly 140 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in March 2020!

I’m just back from a week’s residency at the Greywood Arts Centre in Killeagh, Cork where I worked on new poetry, along with larger projects, in their gorgeous white-washed writer’s room, overlooking the River Dissour. The centre is housed in a Georgian building, adjoining an older 18th century structure, and has been beautifully restored accommodating a library, movement and artist studios, as well as guest accommodation.

The residency was postponed from earlier in the month so there was no official reading but I was invited to take part in the local Arboreal Book Club, who are currently reading C.D. Wright’s beautiful book/object Casting Deep Shade, a series of observations, meditations and mini-essays exploring the human relationship to trees, especially the beech.

I responded to the book by reading a selection of my own poems about trees, forests and nature, and this was followed by a lively discussion with the group covering everything from moss to art installations and interventions in the local Glenbower Wood. It was a wonderful evening and so inspiring to see the commitment to both natural resources and arts practice within the Killeagh community.

I am incredibly grateful to hosts Jessica and Hughie Coogan who run Greywood Arts and the fab Sarah and Glenna, artists on work exchanges from Australia and Canada, respectively. I received such a warm welcome from everyone at the centre (including the family pets) and in the local community, that I felt thoroughly at home during my stay. Keep an eye out for their Winter Writer Residencies in 2021 but, if you can’t wait until then, paid creative residencies are available throughout the year. I highly recommend it as an experience.

I celebrated my birthday whilst in Killeagh (Baby Guinness, chocolate cake and late-night tarot readings!) then recovered with a chilled weekend in Cork, where I visited the Zurich Portrait exhibition and lunched at the Crawford Gallery, browsed in bookshops, sipped fizzy pink cocktails and ate too much cake and cheese. It was an absolute pleasure to catch up with poets Clodagh Beresford Dunne, Afric McGlinchey and Kathy Darcy during this trip. 

I’d also like to thank everyone who sent me their Poetry List success stories – these are still pouring in and I’m touched to hear how the list has helped so many people make an impact with their work. Thank you also for all your lovely birthday messages – they’ve helped make this a very special celebration!

Whatever you’re up to with your writing during March, 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!

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March 2020

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)

The Trinity Journal of Literary Translation – Poetry, Prose, theme: Audacity – closes 2 Mar (submit online)

Tiny Seed Literary Journal: Hindsight in 2020 – Poetry, Flash, Photography, theme: Nature – closes 2 Mar (submit online)

Newcastle Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 3 Mar (submit online)

Jane Martin Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 6 Mar (submit online)

Maria Edgeworth Festival Competitions – Poetry, Fiction – closes 6 Mar (submit online)

Into the Void – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – closes 7 Mar (submit online)

The Enfield Poets Poetry Competition – Poetry, Fiction – closes 7 Mar (submit online)

The Idaho Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction & more – closes 7 Mar (submit online)

Cave Canem Poetry Prize – Poetry manuscripts (Black writers of African descent) – closes 9 Mar (submit online)

Mslexia – Poetry, Fiction, Drama, theme: Other Worlds – closes 9 Mar (submit online)

Burningword Literary Journal – Poetry, Flash (Fiction & Non-fiction), Drama, Photography & Art – closes 10 Mar (submit online)

Gladstone Library Writers in Residence 2021 – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama – closes 13 Mar (submit online)

Feral Journal – Poetry, Art – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Greg Grummer Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Naugatuck River Review – Narrative Poetry – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

The Kerouac Project Residency – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

The Norton Island Residency – Writers and artists – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Visual Verse – Poetry, Flash, Non-Fiction – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

The Laurel Prize – Poetry collections, theme: ecology, environment – closes 16 Mar (submit online)

Cathalbui Hedge School Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 17 Mar (submit online)

The Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 17 Mar (submit online)

Trócaire Poetry Ireland Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Standing her Ground – closes 20 Mar (submit online)

Fosseway Writers Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Remote – closes 21 Mar (submit online)

Poetry Jukebox – Poetry – closes 23 Mar (submit online)

The A3 Review – Poetry, Flash, Art, theme: Hope – closes 27 Mar (submit online)

The Ireland Funds Monaco Residential Bursary – Published writers and poets – closes 30 Mar (submit online)

Bracken Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Art – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Bray Literary Festival Applications – Published writers – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Candlestick Press Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: ‘Getting Older’ – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Fish Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Federation of Writers Vernal Equinox Competition – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Live Canon Pamphlet Competition – Poetry manuscript (18-35 poems) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Lunch Ticket – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-fiction, Art & more – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Magma Poetry – Poetry, theme: Collaborations – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Nightingale & Sparrow – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Photography – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

North West Words – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal – Poetry, Reviews – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Poetry Wales – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Rattle: Ekphrastic Challenge – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Red Shed Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Reliquiae – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, theme: landscape, nature and mythology – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Split Lip – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir & more – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

The Bangor Literary Journal – Poetry, Flash, Art & Photography – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize – Poetry (for children) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

The Hudson Prize – Poetry or Fiction manuscript – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

The Lascaux Prize in Poetry – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Waxwing – Poetry – CLOSED (submit online)

Ambit Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Fugue Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Fugue Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Leeds Peace Poetry – Poetry, theme: The Impact of Water – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Skylight 47 – Poetry, Art – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Adroit Journal – Poetry, Prose, Art – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize – All genres – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

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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)

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN MARCH:

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)

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!

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If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in March 2020, and it is not included above, feel free to add the details with a link in the comments section below!

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(Illustration by Nicole Ray via Etsy)

Submitting to Poetry Journals & Competitions: A Beginner’s Guide

Chatting to writers during the recent #JanuaryWriteOff 30 Day Challenge, it became clear many people find the process of submitting to poetry journals and competitions quite daunting. From formatting to bios to fees, there can be a lot of hoops to jump through and I thought it might be useful to walk you through the process.

What Goes into a Submission?

When you’re preparing work to send out into the world, you will need to put together a package of information comprising some, or all, of the following:

• Your work, presented in accordance with the competition or journal’s Submission Guidelines;
• A short writer’s bio;
• A cover letter and/or a completed application form;
• An author’s photo;
• Competition or Submission fees (if applicable).

Let’s take a look at each of these in more detail.

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – February 2020

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!

JOIN THE 30 DAYS OF WINTER WRITING CHALLENGE

Do you want to set some new writing resolutions this winter? Fancy getting a jump on a new year and new decade by having 30 crisp new first drafts by 1 February 2020?

Following the success of the January & April Write-Offs and 30 Days of Summer, the 30 Day Writing Challenge returns next month with #30DaysofWinter – a series of fun new year and winter-themed prompts to spark your imagination and get you writing every day during January 2020.

Writers on my mailing list always get first dibs on new opportunities and places on the new challenge have already been snapped up overnight. Numbers are limited and the remaining spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The challenge takes place online – follow at your own pace at home or interact with the Facebook group and community, it’s up to you. All the information is on the website – just click the button below for details. And if you have any questions, drop me a line.

Hope to see you in the Challenge!

join the #30daysofwinter writing challenge!

 

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – December 2019

It’s the end of the year and the end of a decade but there’s there’s still time to send your work out before the clock hands, cogs and levers turn to embrace the Twenties!! Here are over 120 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in December – so get cracking and end the year in style!

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – November 2019

The clocks are turned back and we’re heading into the end of the year and those deep, dark winter evenings by the fire. All the better for reviewing our poems and checking out a bumper crop of over 140 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in November 2019!

JOIN THE 30 DAYS OF SUMMER WRITING CHALLENGE

Do you want to keep your daily writing practice on track this summer? Fancy having 30 crisp new first drafts by 1 September?

Following the success of the January & April Write-Offs, the 30 Day Writing Challenge returns next month with #30DaysofSummer – a series of fun summer and sun-themed prompts to spark your imagination and get you writing every day during August 2019.

Writers on my mailing list always get first dibs on new opportunities and places on the new challenge have already been snapped up overnight. Numbers are limited and the remaining spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The challenge takes place online – follow at your own pace at home or interact with the Facebook group and community, it’s up to you. All the information is on the website – just click the button below for details. And if you have any questions, drop me a line.

Hope to see you in the Challenge!

join the #30daysofsummer writing challenge!

 

Surviving NaPoWriMo: Tips for a 30-Day Poetry Challenge

NaPoWriMo kicks off on April 1 and writers around the world will attempt to write a poem a day for 30 days. I’ve taken part in NaPoWriMo and other 30-day challenges, and I’ve also hosted them. I thought it might be useful to share some tips about how to get the most out of an intensive creative challenge.

Why Do It?

Writing is a solitary experience – we are only accountable to ourselves and that can be isolating. A 30-day challenge provides the opportunity to:

• Focus: Put your writing front and centre for a set period of time.
• Commit: Show up at the page every day.
• Establish Boundaries: Protect your writing time as an integral part of your day.
• Create a Writing Habit: It only takes 22 days to form a habit.
• Be Part of a Community: Enjoy support and encouragement around a shared experience.
• Be Surprised: At what you can accomplish in a single month!

What to Expect?

Week 1 – enthusiasm, excitement, fun – it’s a novelty and you’re full of ideas!

Week 2 – life intrudes, miss a day and it feels like failure, habit starts to slip.

Week 3 – inspiration fades, repeating yourself, overwhelm, time to push through.

Week 4 – almost there, renewed spurt of energy, rush of adrenaline, triumph!

Top TIPS for Surviving NaPoWriMo

It’s easy to become overwhelmed and burn-out when doing an intensive challenge like this, or to miss a day due to the everyday responsibilities and feel like a failure. Here are some ideas to help you make it through.

1. Go easy on yourself: NaPoWriMo is a bit of fun, not another chore. If you miss a day, start again the following day. If need to take a day to catch your breath, same. Don’t write off the whole challenge because of a couple of missed days. At the end of the month, you will still have achieved much more than you normally would or had even thought possible.
2. Manage your mindset: The challenge is derived from NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month in November, where the focus is on quantity, not quality. Think of it as a 30-day scavenger hunt – you want to spark an idea, capture the essence of it and move on. Switch off your critical voice. Knowing that these are fast first drafts takes the pressure off. As Jodi Picoult says: ‘You might not write well every day but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.’
3. Limit your writing time: I recommend a 15-minute free-write. It’s enough time to explore an idea or prompt but not so much that it will interfere with the rest of your day. It keeps the bar nice and low and the challenge manageable. Setting your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier or taking the time out at the end of the day isn’t too much of a hardship.
4. Use prompts: Prompts focus the mind on finding the best way to write about a subject, rather than finding something to write about. It’s one less barrier to getting started and they can startle interesting responses that, otherwise, you might never have written. There are lots of resources online for writing prompts and the official NaPoWriMo site publishes a prompt every day.
5. Join a group: Because it’s a global phenomenon, there’s so much support out there for poets during the month of April. A group provides encouragement for when the novelty wears off and you need to dig a little deeper. Check in once a day to keep yourself accountable. I recommend a ‘no critique’ environment as the work is just at the first draft stage – the focus of the group should simply be on supporting and encouraging one another in the task.
6. Don’t try to write a complete poem in a day! Poems need time to come to fruition – this is about catching an idea, getting enough down on the page to pick up again later but do try to get the complete shape of the poem if you can. You’re creating a store of potential poems to come back to and develop.
7. Manage Expectations: Not every idea will be genius and that’s OK. There is more to be gained in showing up at the page every day. It trains your mind to be receptive and open to new ideas. Think of it as a month of new beginnings, of exploration rather than achievement.
8. Don’t Cheat: If you’re working with prompts, it can be tempting to pull a poem with a similar theme out of a drawer to give yourself a day off. The problem is your brain knows you didn’t do the work, that you’ve let yourself off the hook, and – because brains like problem-solving – it immediately goes looking for other ways to bunk off, the scamp! I recommend the fifteen-minute free-write for this reason – it’s achievable, even on the busiest of days. And if you need a day off, it’s better just to acknowledge this and start fresh the next day.
9. Experiment with Poetic Form: Not every poem has to be an epic! On the days when the words are in short supply, try one of the many short poetic forms like Haiku, Cinquain, Triolet or Sonnet. Here’s a great resource of 100 Poetic Forms to play with.
10. Ego & Competition: Challenges and group dynamics can quickly bring out your competitive streak – ignore it! The only person you are competing with in writing is yourself – your last poem, your best ideas. Don’t get caught up in ego trips or mind-games.
11. To share or not to share? It’s daunting to share a first draft with a group of strangers – I leave it up to you to decide if it’s the right choice for you. Other options are to share a line or two that you like from your free-write or to simply report how you got on that day. I do think it’s important to post something every day even if you’re finding it hard to write (especially if you’re finding it hard to write). It’s a good way to check in with your writing self and reading the group’s responses to the challenge may shake something loose!
12. Read other poems: Whenever I feel stuck in my writing, I’ll pick up a collection, start to read and within minutes ideas are sparking! In order to draw from the well of inspiration, we first have to fill it. A great resource is the Poetry Foundation’s Poem a Day – sign up to their mailing list and you’ll receive a poem a day in your inbox.
13. Enjoy!

If that’s whetted your appetite, there are still a few places left in my NaPoWriMo April Write Off – a private Facebook group with prompts, daily advice, inspiration and lots of feedback and encouragement. Click the button below to sign up.

***April 2019 Challenge Now Closed***

 

Featured image by Anna Sullivan for Unsplash.