Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – January 2023

Happy New Year! I hope you are ready to roll up your writing sleeves again because the list is back and its the biggest ever with a whopping 170 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in January 2023!

At this time of year, our ancestors’ lives slowed in tune with the season – an essential time of rest and reflection that we have lost to the demands of modern industry, whose measures of productivity and success have also seeped into the expectations we have for ourselves and our creative work.

Creativity is a slow process. We must gather ourselves before we sow and reap – gather our energies, our ideas, our resources.

Join me from tomorrow (7 January 2023) to gently navigate the post-holiday gloom and nurture our creativity with 30 days of creative sparks, carrying us through the winter darkness to the dawn of spring. Winter Almanac | A Writing Journey in January draws inspiration from the treasures of January, that we might view this much-maligned month with kinder eyes!

In addition to the usual prompts, creative exercises, images, music and writing tips, we’ll also be welcoming award-winning UK poet John McCullough for a special guest reading and a chat!

Together, we will gather our thoughts, our ideas, our hopes and take stock, with prompts, creative exercises, images, music and writing tips to fire the imagination, inspire new writing and provide the perfect creative boost to the start of a new year. Click the button below for more information and booking details.

SIGN ME UP to Winter Almanac | A WRITING JOURNEY IN JANUARY!

Praise for Previous 30 Day Writing Events:

The best poetry prompts I’ve ever seen, bar none! Full of great ideas, helpful guidance, and good humor and plenty of room to maneuver… What a wonderful way to spend the month!

– Caroline Wellman

‘A lovely way to read more poems. I loved the challenge! I signed up to the Facebook group and I found the sharing on there motivational; it made me keep going and even prioritise it in my day!’

– Julie Runacres

‘…a brilliant mixture of direction and freedom… Completely transformed my month, my mental health and, after a very tough year… helped me build a new creative practice in an area I’ve always loved.’

– Chloe Orrock

I do hope you can join us!

Whatever you’re up to with your writing this month – drafting, honing, editing or submitting – I wish you every luck and success. If you appreciate the monthly list and would like to support it, please consider making a small donation via the Paypal donation button (right) and/or share this post on your own blog or social media pages. Thank you!

---

JANUARY 2023

Passengers Journal   – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Art – closes 6 Jan (submit online)

The Banyan Review – Poetry, Non-fiction, Art – closes 6 Jan (submit online)

The Amphibian – Poetry, Fiction, theme: Wildlife/Nature – closes 7 Jan (submit online)

Archetype Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Photography & Art – closes 7 Jan (submit online)

Writer in the Park: Ljubljana UNESCO City of Literature International Literary Residency 2023 – All genres – closes 7 Jan (submit online)

Little Fires of Brigid Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Brigid – Spring, Fire, Renewal – closes 8 Jan (submit online)

Shepton Snowdrops Poetry Competition – Poetry, Photography, theme: Let Nature Thrive  – closes 8 Jan (submit online)

The Cormorant – Poetry, Flash  – closes 8 Jan (submit online)

Button Poetry Chapbook Contest – Poetry manuscript (20-30 pages)  – closes 9 Jan (submit online)

James Merrill House Writing Residency – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Plays  – closes 9 Jan (submit online)

CCI Artists Residency Programme – All disciplines – closes 12 Jan (submit online)

Listowel Writers Week Writing Retreat Bursary – All disciplines – closes 12 Jan (submit online)

Wales Poetry Award – Poetry – closes 12 Jan (submit online)

Alien Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Art – closes 13 Jan (submit online)

Discovery Poetry Contest – Poetry manuscript (unpublished poets only) – closes 13 Jan (submit online)

Colorado Prize for Poetry – Poetry manuscripts – closes 14 Jan (submit online)

Modern Poetry in Translation: Vietnam Focus – Poetry – closes 14 Jan (submit online)

Nightingale & Sparrow – Poetry, Prose, Photography, Art, theme: Crystalline – closes 14 Jan (submit online)

Anderson Center Residency – Writers, Artists, Musicians, Performers – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Butcher’s Dog Magazine – Poetry – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Columbia Journal Print Contest – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Translation – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Driftwood Press Writing Contests – Poetry, Fiction – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Defunct Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Gigantic Sequins – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Ink Sweat & Tears – Poetry, Prose, Film & Visual Poems – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Neon Magazine – Poetry, Prose, Photography, Comics, theme: Machines – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Palette Poetry: Previously Published Poem Prize – Poetry – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Ploughshares Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

The Edward Thomas Fellowship Poetry Award – Poetry – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

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

Wet Grain – Poetry – closes 15 Jan (submit online)

Eavan Boland Emerging Poet Award – Poetry (Unpublished Irish/US writers only) – closes 17 Jan (submit online)

Poetry Kit Competition – Poetry – closes 17 Jan (submit online)

Lambda Literary Writer’s Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, YA, Screenwriting & more – closes 18 Jan (submit online)

Wurlitzer Foundation Artist Residency – Poets, Writers, Playwrights, Screenwriters & more – closes 18 Jan (submit online)

Carcanet Press – Poetry manuscripts (15-20 pages) – closes 20 Jan (submit online)

Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Award – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction (Black writers only) – closes 21 Jan (submit online)

The Hyacinth Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art & more, theme: Heritage/Inheritance – closes 21 Jan (submit online)

Full House Literary – Poetry, Prose, Hybrid, Art & more – closes 22 Jan (submit online)

MudRoom Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – closes 25 Jan (submit online)

The London Magazine Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 25 Jan (submit online)

Bournemouth Writing Prize – Poetry, Fiction – closes 27 Jan (submit online)

The Face Project – Ekphrastic Poetry, Fiction – closes 29 Jan (submit online)

Cúirt New Writing Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Irish language – closes 30 Jan (submit online)

The Stockholm Review of Literature – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 30 Jan (submit online)

Allegro Poetry Magazine – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Amsterdam Quarterly – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Art – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Beloit Poetry Journal – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Dorset Prize – Poetry manuscript (48-88 pages) – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Epoch Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Frontier Poetry Hurt & Healing Prize – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Fruit Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art, theme: Interrelation (LGBTQ+ writers only) – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Magma Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Propel Magazine – Poetry (unpublished poets only) – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Seashores Haiku Journal – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

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

StoryTown Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Doorways – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Strix – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

SurVision Books – Poetry manuscripts (Irish writers only) – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Teignmouth Poetry Festival Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

The Cheshire Prize for Literature – Poetry, Fiction, Children’s Literature, Scriptwriting – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

The Deadlands – Poetry, Fiction (Black authors only in January) – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

The Dolores Alberola Poetry Prize – Poetry manuscript – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

The Iowa Review Awards – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

The Madrigal – Poetry, theme: Metamorphosis – closes 31 Jan (submit online)

Waxwing – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Translation & more – closes 31 Jan (may close sooner when limit reached – submit online)

Arc Poem of the Year – Poetry – closes 1 Feb (submit online)

Honest Ulsterman – Poetry, Prose, Critical Writing – closes 1 Feb (submit online)

Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Fellowship – Poets, Writers, Translators, Artists, Composers – closes 1 Feb (submit online)

Yeats Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 1 Feb (submit online)

Arts Council Ireland: Touring & Dissemination Scheme – All genres – closes 2 Feb (submit online)

---

OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

Ó Bhéal Five Words – Poetry – deadline each week, annual prize (submit online)

---

OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN JANUARY 2023

Arts Council Agility Awards – All genres – closes 9 Feb (submit online)

Arts Council Bursary Awards – All genres – closes 9 Feb (submit online)

Arts Council Markievicz Awards – All genres – closes 16 Feb (submit online)

Southword – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)

The Rialto Nature & Place Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 1 Mar (submit online)

Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)

Agenda – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit online)

Ambit – Poetry, Fiction, Art – open (submit online)

A New Ulster – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)

Anthropocene – Poetry – open (submit online)

Antipoetry Magazine – Poetry – open (submit online)

Apartment Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Atrium – Poetry – open (submit online)

Bear Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Artwork – open (submit online)

Bending Genres – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – 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)

Crow & Cross Keys – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, theme: Gothic – open (submit online)

Crowstep Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)

Damnation – Poetry, Prose, Flash – open (submit online)

Disabled Tales – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – open (submit online)

Dreich Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)

Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)

Dust Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Empty House Press – Poetry, Prose Poetry, Flash, Hybrid  – open (submit online)

Empty Mirror – Poetry, Non-fiction, Visual Art (committed to diversity & inclusion) – 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)

Irish Literary Review – Poetry – open (submit online)

Jaden Magazine – Poetry, Non-fiction, Flash, Art & Photography (writers of colour/underrepresented writers) – open (submit online)

Lighthouse Literary Journal – Poetry & Short Fiction – open (submit online)

LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)

Lunate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)

Narrative Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction. Plays – open (submit online)

New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)

Neon Magazine – Poetry, Flash, Art and more – open (submit online)

Omelette Literary Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction & more – 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 (under-represented and marginalized voices of all colors encouraged to submit) – 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 (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)

Prelude – Poetry – open (submit online)

Prole – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)

Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – (submit online)

River Styx – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama, Visual Art – open (submit online)

Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)

Sine Theta Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art (Sino diaspora only. People of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macau heritage, who live anywhere away from the original ‘homeland’ of that heritage – rolling deadlines, email to express interest (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)

Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry – open (submit online)

Tab Journal – Poetry, Poetics – open (submit online)

Tears in the Fence – 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 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 Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Essays and more (actively encourages writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds) – 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 New Yorker – 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 (submit online)

Tinderbox Poetry Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)

Trasna – Poetry, Fiction, Essays (open to writers across the world who consider Ireland a home in some regard) – 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 JANUARY 2023, 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)

Advertisement

Make 2023 Your Writing Year with a Special Wordbox Offer for Black Friday | Cyber Monday

You are probably drowning under Black Friday weekend stuff by now so I’m going to keep this simple. My new writing resource WORDBOX is on its way (up and running by the end of the year) and I’ve created a special offer to keep you on track with your writing in 2023 without breaking the bank.

50% OFF WORDBOX 2023 MEMBERSHIP BUNDLe

The WORDBOX ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BUNDLE will grant you automatic access to the following goodies in 2023:

• 1 x Writing Challenge (FB group or Email Only) – worth €30/45
• 1 x Half-day Writing Workshop – worth €35
• 1 x One-to-One Mentoring Session – worth €95
• 1 x Poetry workshop group (8 sessions) – worth €200
• Guest reader events on all Wordbox programmes (min. 4no.) – worth €40
• Private member’s area on Wordbox with bonus content and free resources – worth €50+
• New Wordbox community in private Facebook group and fabulous writing friends – priceless!

The Wordbox 2023 Membership Plan will launch in January at €25/month (still good value for a package worth €450+) but this weekend it’s yours for a one-time, never to be repeated introductory offer of €147.00.

Only a limited number of spots available. Bag one for yourself or gift to a writer this Christmas!

Offer closes 11.59pm GMT on Cyber Monday 29 November 2022, or when all the spots are gone:

https://www.thisiswordbox.com/shop/p/black-friday-membership-bundle-2022

And if you’re looking for a perfect Christmas gift, Secret Santa or stocking filler, WORDBOX GIFT CARDS are also available and can be used to purchase any Wordbox goodies, plus they never expire!

That’s it. Enjoy your weekend and if you have any questions, contact me and I’ll be happy to help.

All the best,
Angela x

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – June 2022

Hello Summer! The poetry list is back with over 140 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in June 2022.

It’s been a slow start to the month for me kicking off with an internet outage – Mercury retrograde or a reminder from the Universe that summer is a time to slow down and take things easy? History will decide. Despite tech woes, the Fool’s Gold | Writing the Tarot workshop went without a hitch last weekend and the Writing Slant | Making a Poem 6-week course is now up and running, with a new group of writers eager to develop and hone their craft. Last week, we looked at expanding the world of the poem and drew inspiration from Barbara Guest, Annie Dillard, Robert MacFarlane, Maggie Smith and more.

Ideas are already brewing for a new summer writing challenge – look out for more information at the beginning of July. And, if you want to get the scoop on upcoming events before everyone else, take advantage of early-bird prices, AND have the poetry list delivered straight to your inbox each month, jump on the mailing list here.

Whatever you’re up to with your writing this month – drafting, honing, editing or submitting – I wish you every luck and success. If you appreciate the monthly list and would like to support it, please consider making a small donation via the Paypal donation button (right) and/or share this post on your own blog or social media pages. Thank you!

---

JUNE 2022

Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year – Poetry – closes 3 June (submit online)

Write by the Sea Writing Competitions – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – closes 3 June (submit online)

Eat the Storms – Poetry, Fiction, Art, theme: Eat the Storms – closes 4 June (submit online)

iOTA Shot Poetry Pamphlet Awards – Poetry manuscript (15-20 pages) – closes 6 June (submit online)

Mslexia Showcase – Poetry, theme: Keys – closes 6 June (submit online)

Under the Radar Magazine – Poetry – closes 7 June (submit online)

Abridged 0-82 – Poetry, Art, theme: Axis – closes 10 June (submit online)

Live Canon Poetry Collection Competition – Poetry manuscript (35+ poems) – closes 10 June (submit online)

Geoff Stevens Memorial Poetry Prize – Poetry manuscript (20 pages) – closes 12 June (submit online)

HOWL Writing – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art & Photography – closes 12 June (submit online)#

Aurora Prize for Writing – Poetry, Fiction – closes 13 June (submit online)

Channel Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Art – closes 15 June (submit online)

Chicago Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 15 June (submit online)

Fourteen Hills – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Art – closes 15 June (submit online)

Imposter Lit – Poetry, theme: Geography – closes 15 June (submit online)

Petrichor Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Video, Art – closes 15 June (submit online)

The Four Faced Liar – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-Fiction, Art – closes 15 June (submit online)

The MacGuffin Poem Hunt – Poetry – closes 15 June (submit online)

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

Michael Hartnett Poetry Award – Poetry Collection in English (3rd or subsequent collection) – closes 17 June (submit online)

Palette Poetry Sappho Prize for Women Poets – Poetry – closes 19 June (submit online)

The Straid Poetry Collection Awards – Poetry manuscript (38+ pages) – closes 20 June (submit online)

The Poetry Kit Spring Competition – Poetry – closes 21 June (submit online)

The Arts Council Agility Award – All artists – closes 23 June (submit online)

The Arts Council Literature Bursary Award – All genres – closes 23 June (submit online)

The Mechanic Institute Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – closes 24 June (submit online)

The Puritan – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 25 June (submit online)

14 Magazine – Poetry (14 lines) – closes 30 June (submit online)

Alba – Poetry (12 lines max.) – closes 30 June (submit online)

Alchemy Spoon – Poetry, theme: Space – closes 30 June (submit online)

Bath Magg – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)

Candlestick Press – Poetry, theme: Christmas Stories – closes 30 June (submit online)

Fawn Press Poetry Pamphlets – Poetry manuscript (18-25 poems) – closes 30 June (submit online)

Fingal Poetry Festival Competitions – Poetry (English & Irish) – closes 30 June (submit online)

Granta – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 30 June (submit online)#

Long Poem Magazine – Poetry (75 lines min.) – closes 30 June (submit online)

Mud Season Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Art – closes 30 June (submit online)

Okay Donkey – Poetry, Flash – closes 30 June (submit online)

Poetry Birmingham – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)

Poetry London Competition – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)

Queen Mary Wasifiri New Writing Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Memoir – closes 30 June (submit online)

Rhino Poetry – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)

Rust + Moth – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)

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

The Fairy Tale Review: The Rainbow Issue – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Art (queer writers only) – closes 30 June (submit online)

Wells Festival of Literature Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)

Whale Road Review – Poetry, Flash – closes 30 June (submit online)

AUB International Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 1 July (submit online)

The Barbara Mandingo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards – Poetry, theme: Peace & the Human Spirit – closes 1 July (submit online)

Duck Duck Mongoose – Poetry, Flash – closes 3 July (submit online)

Coverstory Books International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 4 July (submit online)

Lyrik Kabinett Poet-in-Residence – Poetry – closes 4 July (submit online)

---

OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

Ó Bhéal Five Words – Poetry – deadline each week, annual prize (submit online)

---

OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN JUNE 2022

The Shahidah Janjua Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 8 July (submit online)

McLellan Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 10 July (submit online)

Frontier Open Poetry Award – Poetry – closes 17 July (submit online)

Ambit Competitions – Poetry, Fiction, Art – closes 31 July (submit online)

Winchester Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 Jul (submit online)

Impossible Archetype – Poetry (LGBTQ+ poets of all genders) – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)

Agenda – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit online)

Ambit – Poetry, Fiction, Art – open (submit online)

A New Ulster – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)

Anthropocene – Poetry – open (submit online)

Antipoetry Magazine – Poetry – open (submit online)

Apartment Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Atrium – Poetry – open (submit online)

Bear Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Artwork – open (submit online)

Bending Genres – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – 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)

Crow & Cross Keys – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, theme: Gothic – open (submit online)

Crowstep Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)

Damnation – Poetry, Prose, Flash – open (submit online)

Disabled Tales – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – open (submit online)

Dreich Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)

Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)

Dust Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Empty Mirror – Poetry, Non-fiction, Visual Art (committed to diversity & inclusion) – 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 (submit online)

Irish Literary Review – Poetry – open (submit online)

Jaden Magazine – Poetry, Non-fiction, Flash, Art & Photography (writers of colour/underrepresented writers) – open (submit online)

Lighthouse Literary Journal – Poetry & Short Fiction – open (submit online)

LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)

Lunate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)

New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)

Neon Magazine – Poetry, Flash, Art and more – open (submit online)

Omelette Literary Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction & more – 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 (under-represented and marginalized voices of all colors encouraged to submit) – 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 (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)

Prole – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)

Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – (submit online)

River Styx – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama, Visual Art – open (submit online)

Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)

Sine Theta Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art (Sino diaspora only. People of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macau heritage, who live anywhere away from the original ‘homeland’ of that heritage – rolling deadlines, email to express interest (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)

Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry – open (submit online)

Tears in the Fence – 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 Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Essays and more (actively encourages writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds) – 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 (submit online)

Tinderbox Poetry Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)

Trasna – Poetry, Fiction, Essays (open to writers across the world who consider Ireland a home in some regard) – 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 JUNE 2022, 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)

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – March 2021

It’s March and the poetry list is back and bringing you over 140 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in March 2021!

If you’ve been wondering what happened in January and February, I’ve been at a low ebb for a while now (Exhaustion + YOU-KNOW-WHAT fatigue + Winter + Lockdown = 😥🤒🤕🤧🥴😱) and I finally hit a wall when a bug knocked me on my arse for several weeks in February, incl. my birthday – oh joy…

Self-care is such an important part of surviving in our strange new world – and I don’t mean the pampering and bubble bath kind (although that’s nice too) but recognising our own limitations – physically, mentally, emotionally – working within our actual energy levels at any given time and not over-committing out of financial necessity (not an easy call) or a misguided wish to please others. Let’s just say there have been a lot of plates spinning and crashing at my end. If you’ve been waiting to hear from me, I’ll be in touch with a tube of UHU, a Pritt stick, Blu Tac and a giant roll of gaffer tape very soon. As always, I’m grateful for the understanding, encouragement and support of this community of writers. Take care of yourself and each other as we head toward Spring, new growth, brighter days and – hopefully – happier and healthier times.

I’m starting to toss around ideas for the next 30 day challenge and National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) in April. If you’d like to hear about it as soon as it launches, jump on the mailing list for first dibs on a spot!

Whatever you are writing or sending out in 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!

---

MARCH 2020

The Mechanic’s Institute Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – closes 5 Mar (submit online)

Dreich Summer Anywhere Anthology – Poetry – closes 7 Mar (submit online)

Feral: A Journal of Poetry & Art – Poetry, Visual Art, theme: Weather – closes 7 Mar (submit online)

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

Kissing Dynamite – Poetry, Visual Art – closes 7 Mar (submit online)

Forward Prizes for Poetry – Poetry / Manuscripts (publishers only) – closes 8 Mar (submit online)

We Only Want the Earth Residency 2 – Visual Art / Multidisciplinary (artists with experience of homelessness only) – closes 8 Mar (submit online)

Marble Poetry Broadsheet – Poetry, theme: History – closes 10 Mar (submit online)

Parentheses Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Visual Art – closes 10 Mar (submit online)

Bracken – Poetry, Visual Art – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Brian Dempsey Memorial Prizes: Single Poem – Poetry – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Brian Dempsey Memorial Prizes: Short Collection – Poetry (10 poems, UK only) – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Cheltenham Poetry Festival Single Poem Contest – Poetry, theme: Transformation – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Frosted Fire: New Voices – Poetry manuscript (10 poems, poet aged 25 or under) – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Ledbury Poetry Critics – Poets / Poetry critics of colour (UK only) – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Lumiere Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, theme: Party Time – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Poetry Day Ireland Bright Ideas – Poetry Event / Project, theme: New Directions: Maps & Journeys – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

Up the Stairs – Poetry, Visual Art – closes 15 Mar (submit online)

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

Same Page Anthology – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction – closes 17 Mar (submit online)

iOTA Shot Pamphlet Awards – Poetry manuscript (16-20 pages) – closes 22 Mar (submit online)

Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 24 Mar (submit online)

Indigo Literary Journal – Poetry, Prose – closes 25 Mar (submit online)

Creative Ageing Writing Bursary – Poet, Writer, Artist (aged 50+, Republic of Ireland only) – closes 26 Mar (submit online

York Literary Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Essay, theme: Time & Memory – closes 26 Mar (submit online)

The Rialto – Poetry – closes 30 Mar (submit online)

192 Magazine – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

American Poetry Journal – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Banshee – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Essay – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Cinnamon Press Poetry Pamphlet Competition – Poetry manuscript (15-25 poems) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Glass Poetry Press – Poetry manuscript (15-25 pages) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

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

Four Way Books Levis Prize in Poetry – Poetry manuscript (48-80 pages) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)#

Hedgehog Press: A Slim Volume of One’s Own Pamphlet Competition – Poetry manuscript (up to 20 poems) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Hedgehog Press: Selected or Neglected Book Competition – Poetry manuscript (up to 40 poems) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

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

Split Lip – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir, Visual Art – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

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

The Antivenom Poetry Award – Poetry manuscript (first or second collection, 48+ pages) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

The Gutter & Edwin Morgan Trust Poetry Competition – Poetry (unpublished poets, aged 40+) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

The Plough Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

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

Tupelo Press Snowbound Chapbook Award – Poetry manuscript (20-36 pages) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Verve Poetry Press – Poetry manuscript (60+ pages) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

Waxwing – Poetry (limited submissions – may close early) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)

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

American Poetry Journal Chapbook Series – Poetry manuscript (up to 42 pages) – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Anthropocene – Poetry – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Prototype Anthology – Poetry, Prose, Visual, Experimental – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, theme: Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Essay, Creative Non-fiction, Visual Art / Comics – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Momentist – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Translation, Visual Art – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

The Tiny Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – closes 1 Apr (submit online)

Full House Lit Mag – Poetry, Prose, Script, Visual Art – closes 2 Apr (submit online)

---

JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

Ó Bhéal Five Words – Poetry – deadline each week, annual prize (submit online)

---

JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN MARCH 2021

South Downs Poetry Festival Competition – Poetry – closes 6 Apr (submit online)

Spelt Magazine – Poetry, Creative Non-fiction (special segment for writers under 25 years of age) – open 5 Mar – 10 Apr (submit online)

The Peseroff Prize Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 15 Apr (submit online)

Cathalbui Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 17 Apr (submit online)

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

Tether’s End Magazine – Poetry, theme: Folklore – closes 1 May (submit online)

Seek Poetry Magazine – Poetry – closes 1 May (submit online)

The Liminal Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)

Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)

Agenda – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – 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)

Bending Genres – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – 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)

Dreich Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)

Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)

Dust Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Empty Mirror – Poetry, Non-fiction, Visual Art (committed to diversity & inclusion) – 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 (submit online)

Irish Literary Review – Poetry – open (submit online)

Lighthouse Literary Journal – Poetry & Short Fiction – open (submit online)

LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)

Lunate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)

Marble – Poetry – open (submit online)

New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)

Omelette Literary Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction & more – 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 (under-represented and marginalized voices of all colors encouraged to submit) – 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 (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)

Prole – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)

Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – open 31 March 2020 (submit online)

Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)

Sine Theta Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art (Sino diaspora only. People of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macau heritage, who live anywhere away from the original ‘homeland’ of that heritage – rolling deadlines, email to express interest (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 Aurora Review – Poetry (quick turnaround / feedback) – 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 Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Essays and more (actively encourages writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds) – 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 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 March 2021, 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)

Black Lives Matter: What Can I Do As a Writer?

For those of you waiting for the new list of poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in June 2020, it will be published tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.

I’ve held it back a day for #BlackOutTuesday – to show respect for the death of George Floyd, highlight the senseless loss of black lives due to police brutality and protest the disturbing use of state force against the citizens of the US right now.

We all live in a world shaped by racism and now more than ever, we need to acknowledge and understand that Black Lives Matter. This quote from a 2014 essay by Scott Woods is particularly resonant.

In immediate response to the murder of George Floyd, here’s a great summary of direct action options from Black Lives Matter.

If you want to better understand the issues surrounding racism, the POC Online Classroom is curated by and for people of colour and has a fantastic database of reading and resources, including articles, essays and poems on everything from identity to organizing to self care with writing by Audre Lorde, Bell Hooks, Angela Davis, Langston Hughes, Marlon James, Angel Nafis and more. Here are a few relevant sections to check out:

• White supremacy & empire

• Prisons, police, and state violence

• Self care, mental health and healing for people of color and within activist movements

I’ve been thinking about how I could better educate myself and help amplify black voices within the literary community. If you feel as helpless as I do and want to know what you can do to take a stand against racism, here are some of the things I’m pledging to:

1. Make a donation – to the family of George Floyd, to Black Lives Matter, to Reclaim the Block who work to make communities like George’s safer, without police intervention, or to Minnesota Freedom Fund to help with bail funds for protesters who have been arrested. In Ireland, you can tackle racism by supporting MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland) or MERJ (Migrant & Ethnic-Minorities for Reproductive Justice). Petition your local TDs and councillors to end Direct Provision. If you are in the UK, check out this poem and list of resources by poet, Salena Godden.
2. Educate myself. Do the work to understand the insidious nature of racism and how it impacts on everyone’s lives. None of us are free from its impact, as Scott Woods explains above. Don’t ask black friends or colleagues to do this work for me. The information is widely available. There are lots of resources being shared under the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on Twitter and Instagram right now. Here are a few ideas to get started:
   • How to Be an Anti-Racist, Ibram X. Kendi;
   • This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work, Tiffany Jewell;
   • Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge;
   • Me and White Supremacy, Layla F. Saad;
   • Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehesi Coates;
   • So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo;
   • This thread on racism in Ireland by Dr. Justine Akase.
3. Support the work of black writers and poets. As a writer, read and share their work. Here are some great books to get started:
   • Citizen, Claudia Rankine;
   • Don’t Call Us Dead, Danez Smith;
   • Incendiary Art, Patricia Smith;
   • The Evidence of Things Not Seen, James Baldwin (pretty much anything by Baldwin);
   • White Teeth, Zadie Smith;
   • The Black Flamingo, Dean Atta;
   • Don’t Touch My Hair, Emma Dibiri;
   • This Hostel Life, Melatu Uche Okorie;
   • Correspondences: An Anthology to Call for an End to Direct Provision, ed. Stephen Rea and Jessica Traynor;
   • The Jhalak Prize is also a great reference point for recent work by British BAME writers.
4. Amplify. I actively seek out and highlight submission opportunities for Black writers, as well as other marginalised groups, in my monthly poetry list but am painfully aware how few journals and competitions make their work a priority. As an editor or publisher, please ensure your submissions policy is inclusive toward black and other marginalised groups of writers. Make space for their voices.
5. Listen. Who am I following on social media? Whose voices and experiences am I paying attention to? Am I only listening to voices and experiences that chime with my own? Break out of the echo chamber. Accept that my opinion is neither relevant nor necessary in every conversation.
6. Know that I will make mistakes. Know that those closest to me will make mistakes and some will not be interested in doing the work. Don’t dig in behind these errors. Learn from them. Apologise and pledge to do better. Continue to hold myself and others accountable for words or actions that are harmful to others. Do this with compassion.

Will you join me?

Don’t forget, when buying books, please try and support local, independent and/or black-owned bookshops. 

For some poetry to read right now, here’s a great compilation of Poems of Protest, Resistance, and Empowerment by Poetry Foundation. It includes one of my all-time favourite poems: Rosa Parks by Nikki Giovanni.

…they noticed his stutter and probably understood
why his mother wanted him out of Chicago during the summer
when school was out. Fourteen-year-old Black boys with limps
and stutters are apt to try to prove themselves in dangerous ways
when mothers aren’t around to look after them.

Rosa Parks – Nikki Giovanni

Update: Here’s a fantastic thread of poems and recommended reading by black poets from Luther X. Hughes on Twitter.

Update: Here’s a link to an Antiracist Allyship Starter Pack from Kandice Le Blanc’s post ‘Dear White People, This is What We Want You to Do’, with thanks to writer and editor Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi for sharing on FB.

Update: Here’s a link to Racial Equity Tools: Arts & Culture Strategies, with thanks to Chiamaka, as above, for sharing on FB.

Update: For those who prefer visual materials, Two Thumbs Up: Movies and Documentaries to Use (and Avoid) When Teaching Civil Rights, an article by Hasan Kwame Jeffries at Zinn Education Project, is a great run-down of good, bad and downright ugly documentaries and films covering civil rights history.

I realise this only scratches the surface of a pervasive problem and if you have any other ideas or reading recommendations, please feel free to add them in the comments section below. I’ll keep updating this post as more ideas about useful information come to me.

Featured Image: Black Lives Matter

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 – NOVEMBER 2022

The clocks have gone back and winter is here, along with the November poetry list and 140 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities – open or with deadlines between now and the end of the month!

If you missed the monthly list in September and October, my apologies – health issues got the better of me and I took some time out to reset and recharge. Happily, the Miracle Machine Writing Challenge was not affected – it went off without a hitch, including a fantastic evening with our guest reader (and the busiest woman in poetry), Victoria Kennefick!

Now that the dark winter evenings are rolling in, it’s the perfect time to focus on honing your writing craft and, to help you fine-tune those poems before you send them out into the world, Writing Slant | Making a Poem, a 6-Week online course is back for another run from Mon 7 November.

Course Content

Each week we’ll focus on a different aspect of building a poem, with targeted exercises, inspirational reading and a live online discussion exploring:

• Breaking In – Finding the core idea and expanding the world of the poem.
• Grounding the Reader – Titles, opening lines and setting the tone.
• Picture Perfect – Understanding imagery: Abstract v. Concrete.
• Throwing Shapes – Reinforcing core ideas through language and form.
• Getting Into Character – Exploring voice and the power of persona.
• Exit Strategy – Endings, edits and the element of surprise.

Writing Slant is hosted in a private online member’s space, supplemented by a private Facebook group for sharing and discussing work and a live Zoom discussion each week which is recorded so you’ll never miss a lesson and can refer back to them again and again.

You’ll find all the details at the link below – it’s been hugely popular with past writing challenge participants (see below), helping them make quantum leaps with their work, especially when readying poems to send out for publication.​

This is a very hands-on course, with exercises designed to be applied to your works-in-progress, whether it’s a first draft in search of direction or a developed poem that isn’t quite hitting the spot. In the live classes, we’ll explore that week’s theme and touchstone texts, through reading and discussion, with lots of opportunities to ask questions and engage with the group.

writing slant | making a poem – info & bookings

Praise for Writing Slant | Making a Poem

Beautifully put together, visually clear and easy to navigate. An excellent course which will help you to develop your draft poems into something clearer and stronger, that you can feel is beginning to really sing. Angela has put together a wonderful range of tools, inspiration and knowledge to help you grow as a writer.

– Aisling O’Gorman

Writing Slant was the next step for me, having enjoyed three separate month-long writing challenges with Angela. The live sessions were consistently supportive, Angela is a very sensitive and skilful leader of these groups – which is not that easy on Zoom! Even when I wrestled with a difficult poem, there was real pleasure in following the trail of crumbs. I found it so very exciting, like a treasure hunt, somehow. It opened doors for me. I loved it!

– Danica Ognjenovic

I developed a helpful new set of revision strategies for my writer’s toolbox, and a great deal more about the craft of poetry, all in a wonderful “no pressure,” enthusiastic environment with incredibly talented, helpful fellow writers and terrific encouragement from a wonderful teacher. The class had a great convivial atmosphere, with a “we’re all in this together” feel to it. A wonderful experience!

– Caroline Wellman

Halloween Discount

As a sweetener and a thank you for being part of my writing community, there’s a 10% Halloween discount on all bookings up to midnight on 6 November, with the code ALLSOULS10 – just pop it in the discount code box at checkout.

I do hope you can join us!

Whatever you’re up to with your writing this month – drafting, honing, editing or submitting – I wish you every luck and success. If you appreciate the monthly list and would like to support it, please consider making a small donation via the Paypal donation button (right) and/or share this post on your own blog or social media pages. Thank you!

---

NOVEMBER 2022

Ninth Letter (Web Edition)  – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, theme: Constellations – closes 1 Nov (submit online)

The Poetry Society Members’ Competition – Poetry, theme: Jazz – closes 1 Nov (submit online)

Passengers Journal – Poetry – closes 4 Nov (submit online)

Austin Clark Prizes – Poetry, Fiction – closes 5 Nov (submit online)

Prole Laureate Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 5 Nov (submit online)

The Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award – Poetry – closes 5 Nov (submit online or by post)

Poetry Book Society Metro Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Home – closes 6 Nov (submit online)

Anthology Magazine Poetry Prize – Poetry, theme: Dreams – closes 7 Nov (submit online)

Finished Creatures – Poetry, theme: Shelter – closes 7 Nov (submit online)

The Martello Journal – Poetry, Flash, Art, theme: Sanctuary – closes 7 Nov (submit online)

Defunkt Magazine – Poetry, Fiction – closes 13 Nov (submit online)

Cafe Writers Poetry Competition – Poetry, Fiction – closes 14 Nov (submit online)

The Interpreter’s House – Poetry, Fiction – closes 14 Nov (submit online)

Abridged 0-92: The Violet Hour – Poetry – closes 15 Nov (submit online)

Carve Magazine Prose & Poetry Contest – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 15 Nov (submit online)

Frontier Global Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 15 Nov (submit online)

Room Short Forms Contest – Prose poetry, Flash Fiction/Non-fiction (max. 500 words) – closes 15 Nov (submit online)

The Hellebore – Poetry, Flash – closes 15 Nov (submit online)

The Pig’s Back – Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 15 Nov (submit online)

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

The Penn Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Art – closes 18 Nov (submit online)

The Bird in Your Hands Contest – Poetry, Fiction Non-fiction under 500 words (BIPOC writers only) – closes 20 Nov (submit online or by post)

The Rialto – Poetry, theme: Machine – closes 20 Nov (submit online or by post)

Shooter Literary Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, theme: On The Body – closes 20 Nov (submit online)

Ink Sweat & Tears – Poetry, Prose – closes 22 Nov (submit online)

Cutleaf Journal – Poetry – closes 24 Nov (submit online)

Wales Poetry Award – Poetry – closes 26 Nov (submit online)

Shooter Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 27 Nov (submit online)

Fahmidan Publishing – Poetry chapbooks (20 pages, POC & Women writers only) – closes 28 Nov (submit online)

Birmingham Poetry Journal – Poetry – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Broken Sleep Books – Poetry pamphlet (up to 40 pages) – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Cc: Zine – Poetry, Fiction, Visual Art, Mixed Media  – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Crannog – Poetry, Fiction – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

East Riding Festival of Words Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Ink Sweat & Tears – Poetry, Prose, theme: Christmas – opens 23 Nov / closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Lammergeier – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Nine Pens Pamphlet Series – Poetry manuscripts (max. 40 pages) – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Propel Magazine – Poetry (unpublished poets in UK/Ireland) – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

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

The Boiler Prize – Prose Poem/Flash/Hybrid – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

The Fiddlehead – Poetry – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

The Maine Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

The Purposeful Mayonnaise – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Art, theme: Places – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

The Stinging Fly – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – opens 15 Nov / closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Waxwing – Poetry (note: 300 entry limit – may close earlier) – closes 30 Nov (submit online)

Okay Donkey – Poetry, Flash – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

C.P. Cavafy Prize – Poetry – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

Petrichor Magazine – Poetry, Creative Non-fiction, Art, theme: Ecopoetics – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

The Common – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-fiction – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

The Indianapolis Review – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Art – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

The Normal School – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Multimedia – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

The Ralph Gustafson Prize – Poetry – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

Washington Square Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Translation – closes 1 Dec (submit online)

---

OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

Ó Bhéal Five Words – Poetry – deadline each week, annual prize (submit online)

---

OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN NOVEMBER 2022

Poetry Wales – Poetry – tbc (submit online)

Bealtaine Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Photography & Art, theme: Capturing the Ordinary – closes 4 Dec (submit online)

Cove Park Residency – All creative disciplines – closes 5 Dec (submit online)

Puca Lit – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction – closes 5 Dec (submit online)

Under the Radar – Poetry, theme: Journeys – closes 7 Dec (submit online)

ROPES Literary Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Memoir, Art & more – closes 31 Dec (submit online)

The Moth Poetry Prize – Poetry, Prose – closes 31 Dec (submit online)

WoLF Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Dec (submit online)

The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 1 Jan (submit online)

Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)

Agenda – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit online)

Ambit – Poetry, Fiction, Art – open (submit online)

A New Ulster – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)

Anthropocene – Poetry – open (submit online)

Antipoetry Magazine – Poetry – open (submit online)

Apartment Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Atrium – Poetry – open (submit online)

Bear Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Artwork – open (submit online)

Bending Genres – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – 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)

Crow & Cross Keys – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, theme: Gothic – open (submit online)

Crowstep Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)

Damnation – Poetry, Prose, Flash – open (submit online)

Disabled Tales – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – open (submit online)

Dreich Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)

Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)

Dust Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)

Empty House Press – Poetry, Prose Poetry, Flash, Hybrid  – open (submit online)

Empty Mirror – Poetry, Non-fiction, Visual Art (committed to diversity & inclusion) – 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)

Irish Literary Review – Poetry – open (submit online)

Jaden Magazine – Poetry, Non-fiction, Flash, Art & Photography (writers of colour/underrepresented writers) – open (submit online)

Lighthouse Literary Journal – Poetry & Short Fiction – open (submit online)

LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)

Lunate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)

New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)

Neon Magazine – Poetry, Flash, Art and more – open (submit online)

Omelette Literary Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction & more – 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 (under-represented and marginalized voices of all colors encouraged to submit) – 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 (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)

Prelude – Poetry – open (submit online)

Prole – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)

Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – (submit online)

River Styx – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama, Visual Art – open (submit online)

Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)

Sine Theta Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art (Sino diaspora only. People of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macau heritage, who live anywhere away from the original ‘homeland’ of that heritage – rolling deadlines, email to express interest (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)

Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry – open (submit online)

Tab Journal – Poetry, Poetics – open (submit online)

Tears in the Fence – 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 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 Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Essays and more (actively encourages writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds) – 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 New Yorker – 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 (submit online)

Tinderbox Poetry Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)

Trasna – Poetry, Fiction, Essays (open to writers across the world who consider Ireland a home in some regard) – 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 NOVEMBER 2022, 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)

TIMEY RYMEY: A FREE ONLINE WRITING CHALLENGE FOR POETRY DAY IRELAND 2020

‘Time is a storm in which we are all lost.’ – William Carlos Williams

‘…it’s more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff.’ – The Doctor

‘There Will Be Time’ is the theme for Poetry Day Ireland 2020 and to celebrate you’re invited to become Time Lords for the day and explore the phenomenon of Time in all its glory in this FREE online writing challenge!

We are living in the eye of a global storm right now but through poetry we can write the words to change the weather, unravel the wibbly-wobbly bits or find our way home.

The rules of the challenge are simple. 

• Read the Time-themed prompts and poems.

• Listen to the Time-themed tunes.

• Write for 15 minutes.

• Share your poem in the Facebook group.

• Read and respond to other posted work.

Most of all, be creative and enjoy yourself!

how do i join the writing challenge?

Here’s what to do:

• Sign up for the FREE challenge on Eventbrite by clicking the button below.

• Join the Timey Rhymey Challenge Facebook group on 29 April.

• Get ready to enjoy a day of Timey Rhymey poetry writing fun!

What are you waiting for? Click here to sign up:

join the Timey Rhymey Poetry Day Ireland 2020 Challenge!

The group opens on the 29 April, with a welcome, introductions and time-related stuff to get you in the mood for writing.

The challenge proper kicks off on Thursday 30 April for Poetry Day Ireland 2020, with poet Angela T. Carr sharing new prompts and inspiration throughout the day.

This event is hosted in conjunction with Poetry Ireland as part of their Bright Ideas programme for Poetry Ireland Day 2020.

what’s next?

Please share the challenge on social media with the hashtags #PoetryIrelandDay #ThereWillBeTime #TimeyRhymey.

Don’t forget to tag me @adreamingskin and @poetryireland (Twitter & Instagram).

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.