JOIN SPELLBOUND: 30 DAYS OF SAMHAIN WRITING CHALLENGE FOR OCTOBER 2021

As we look forward to crisp days of Autumn, the 30-Day Writing Challenge returns with all the inspiration you need to spark your imagination and write every day in October – plus a few extras tricks and treats! October is when we take stock of the year before the onset of winter. It is also the time of Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking Summer’s End – a time of celebration and remembrance, when spirits cross from the Otherworld into the human realm for a single day. In Christian times, it became All Hallow’s Eve, then Halloween, and many of our modern customs still have their roots in the old ways. For this challenge, we are taking inspiration from all things natural and supernatural – witches and woodland, fairy folk and fantastic creatures, moonlight, magic and things that go bump in the night…  Join me for the month of October to explore the myths, legends, superstitions and folklore of Samhain and Halloween! In addition to writing prompts, we’ll have a few surprise activities to help us flex our creative muscles in new directions. If you haven’t taken part before, the 30-Day Challenge is the perfect remedy for an uncertain world, with bite-sized daily exercises, inspiration, opportunity to explore, and a supportive and encouraging community of writers in the private Facebook group. Whether you’re looking for focus, connection or a creative kick-start, the challenge offers a reprieve from the everyday anxieties – plus all the tools you’ll need to build a daily writing habit. As before, I’m offering an email only version of the challenge for those who want to avoid social media and the internet right now, and have also introduced a tiered pricing system. All the information is on the website – just click the button below for details – and if you have any questions, please drop me a line. For those of you using this time to send your work out, there are still plenty of opportunities available in the September 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 – DO WHAT YOU LOVE – play, read, make art, make something with your hands, knit, sew, mend, grow seeds, bring something new into the world this Autumn.

join the SPELLBOUND: 30 days of SAMHAIN writing challenge!

Image by Mike Kenneally for Unsplash (edited)

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – September 2021

The summer is winding down and as we dig out the jumpers and cardis, light the fire and prepare for cosy autumn evenings, AKA writing time, the new poetry list is here with over 120 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in September 2021.

A big thank you to everyone who sent kind messages and condolences for Dad’s interment service in Donegal last month – I feel very lucky to be part of such a thoughtful and generous community of writers.

For those of you who have let the writing slide over the summer and are in the back to school mood, there is an all new 30 Day Writing Challenge coming in October – full details of upcoming spooky fun will be announced very soon, so keep an eye out here or jump on board the mailing list for early access.

Whatever you are writing or sending out in September, 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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September 2021

Guernica – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, theme: Dirt – closes 1 Sept (submit online)

Mono Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Sanity – closes 1 Sept (submit online)

Abridged 0-78 – Poetry, Artwork, theme: Judgement – closes 3 Sept (submit online)

Passengers Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Artwork – closes 3 Sept (submit online)

Stanza Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Choice – closes 5 Sept (submit online)

Kithe – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid, Art – closes 6 Sept (submit online)

Poetry School & Wayne Holloway Scholarships – Poetry – closes 6 Sept (submit online)

Arts Council Literature Agility Award – All genres (Irish, Ireland-based only) – closes 9 Sept (submit online)

Parentheses Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Art & Photography – closes 10 Sept (submit online)

Patrick & Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship – Established Irish poets in their middle years – closes 10 Sept (submit online)

The Bangor Literary Journal Ekphrastic Challenge – Poetry, Flash, Hybrid – closes 10 Sept (submit online)

The Bangor Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 14 Sept (submit online)

Black Warrior Review Contest – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-fiction – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

Cave Canem: Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize – Poetry manuscript (Black Writers only, 25-30 pages max.) – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

Padraic Fallon Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

Okay Donkey – Poetry, Flash – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

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

The Moth Nature Writing Prize – Poetry, Prose – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

Allingham Writing Competitions – Poetry, Flash – closes 17 Sept (submit online)

Bealtaine Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Photography & Art, theme, (Un)belonging – closes 19 Sept (submit online)

Frontier Poetry Award for New Poets – Poetry (no more than one collection published) – closes 19 Sept (submit online)

Hart House Review – Poetry, Fiction, Art – closes 19 Sept (submit online)

Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition – Poetry (in English and English as an Additional Language) – closes 20 Sept (submit online)

Gutter Mag – Poetry, Fiction – closes 24 Sept (submit online)

Troubadour International Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 27 Sept (submit online)

Corvid Queen – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Hammond House International Literary Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Scriptwriting, Songwriting – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Hedgehog Press: A Slim Volume of One’s Own Pamphlet Competition – Poetry manuscript (20 poems max.) – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Indigo International Wild Nature Poetry Award – Poetry, theme: Wildlife, Natural World, Environment, Cruel Sports – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Kenyon Review – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Essay, Play, themes, Work or Climate – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Manchester Cathedral 600 Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Religious/Spiritual & connected to the Cathedral (max. 15 lines) – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Open Door Career Advancement Grants for BIPOC Women Writers – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction (unpublished writers) – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Osmosis Press – Manuscripts, poetry, hybrid genres – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Perhappened – Poetry, Flash, theme: Disguise – opens 9 Sept, closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Rhino Founders’ Prize – Poetry – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Split Lip – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir, Artwork – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

The North Magazine – Poetry – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Violet Indigo Blue Etc. – Poetry, Art Criticism – closes 30 Sept (submit online)

Waxwing – Poetry – closes 30 Sept (submit online – may close earlier due to submissions cap)

Skylight47 – Poetry, Artwork – closes 1 Oct (submit online)

The Missouri Review Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – closes 1 Oct (submit online)

The Honest Ulsterman – Poetry, Prose, Critical Writing – closes 3 Oct (submit online)

The Liminal Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – opens 6 Sept, closes 3 Oct (submit online)

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

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

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN september 2021

The Aryamati Poetry Prize – Poetry pamphlets (20-30 pages) – closes 5 Oct (submit online)

The Moth Nature Writing Prize – Poetry, Prose – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

The Prole Pamphlet Competition – Poetry pamphlet (20-40 pages) – closes 17 Oct (submit online)

Fawn Press Anthology – Poetry, theme: Elements: The Natural & Supernatural – closes 31 Oct (submit online)

National Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Oct (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 (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!

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If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in September 2021, 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)

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!

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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)

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

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

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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!

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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!

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(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 – August 2021

How’s your Summer going? If you’re tired of sunning yourself (or have been driven indoors by the weather) there’s plenty to keep you busy in the new poetry list with over 130 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in August 2021!

I’m still in catch-up mode from earlier in the year due to health and personal stuff. My lovely Dad who died back at the beginning of COVID-19 is finally going to be laid to rest in his beloved Donegal on Saturday. I still can’t travel for the funeral which is tough but I’m happy to know that he is being brought gently home by family and friends. Please keep him and us in your thoughts this week.

Last month, I mentioned new developments for Autumn/Winter – these are still in the planning stages and I hope to share more info very soon – keep an eye on the blog or, if you’d like to be first to hear about new and shiny happenings, jump on the mailing list for the scoop.

Whatever you are writing or sending out in August, 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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August 2021

Dreich Chapbook Competition – Poetry manuscript (20 poems) – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

Gigantic Sequins Annual Poetry Context – Poetry – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

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

Mud Room Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

Muzzle Magazine – Poetry – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

The Poetry Society Members’ Competition – Poetry, theme, Surreal Cities – closes 4 Aug (submit online)

Guernica – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction (Emerging writers only – max. 5 publication credits across all genres) – closes 6 Aug (submit online)

Passengers Journal – Poetry, Non-fiction, Art, Photography – closes 4 Sept (submit online)

Second Light Poetry Competition – Long & short Poetry by women – closes 6 Aug (submit online)

Here Comes Everyone – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Artwork, theme: Gods & Monsters – closes 8 Aug (submit online)

The Mechanic Institute Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – closes 12 Aug (submit online)

The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award – Poetry manuscript (20 poems, Irish, Ireland-based poets only) – closes 12 Aug (submit online)

The Shahidah Janjua Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 12 Aug (submit online)

The Rialto – Poetry – closes 13 Aug (submit online)

Black in White Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Racism & Prejudice – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Diode Editions Chapbook Contest – Poetry manuscript (25-50 pages) – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Diode Editions Full-Length Book Contest – Poetry manuscript (55-85 pages) – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Grist Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Visual Art – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Palette Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Re-Creation: An Anthology of Queer Poetry – Poetry (BIPOC poets and resistant, liminal, and nonconformist queer voices, UK only) – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Room Magazine 2021 Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

The Boiler – Poetry. Fiction, Essay – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

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

Wine Cellar Press – Poetry, Visual Art – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Arts Council Literature Project Award – All genres – closes 19 Aug (submit online)

Crow Name – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Comics & more, theme: Bud, Blossom, Bloom – closes 20 Aug (submit online)

Goldsmith Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 20 Aug (submit online)

Raftery Returns Poetry Competition – Poetry (max. 20 lines) – closes 20 Aug (submit online)

The Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition – Poetry (unpublished poets only) – closes 27 Aug (submit online)

Granta – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art & Photography – closes 29 Aug (submit online)

Dedalus Press: Local Wonders – Poetry (Irish/Irish-based poets only) – closes 30 Aug (submit online)

Aesthetica Creative Writing Awards – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Broken Sleep Books Ecopoetry Anthology – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Crow of Minerva – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Drawn to the Light – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition – Poetry pamphlets (16-24 pages) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Gloucestershire Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Poetry Archive NOW WordView 2021 – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Saveas Writers’ International Writing Competition – Poetry, Prose, theme: Horizons – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

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

The 8th Annual Ó Bhéal International Poetry-Film Competition – Poetry films – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

The Adroit Journal – Poetry, Prose, Art – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

The Hedgehog Press Stickleback Micro-Pamphlet Competition – Poetry (4 poems) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

The Hedgehog Press White Label Pamphlet Competition – Poetry manuscript (20 poems) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

Guernica – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, theme: Dirt – closes 1 Sept (submit online)

Mono Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Sanity – closes 1 Sept (submit online)

Abridged 0-78 – Poetry, Artwork, theme: Judgement – closes 3 Sept (submit online)

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

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

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN August 2021

Stanza Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Choice – closes 5 Sept (submit online)

The Moth Nature Writing Prize – Poetry, Prose – closes 15 Sept (submit online)

Allingham Writing Competitions – Poetry, Flash – closes 17 Sept (submit online)

Frontier Poetry Award for New Poets – Poetry (no more than one collection published) – closes 19 Sept (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 (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!

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If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in August 2021, 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)

Poetry Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities – July 2021

Hello Summer! The poetry list is back with over 150 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in July 2021!

Despite my best intentions, health and technical issues got the better of me during the past few months but – fingers crossed – the poetry list is back on track for the rest of 2021. I’m posting July a little early to include some opportunities for the last day of June – these are closing in the next 6-12 hours, so be quick if you don’t want to miss out!

And although I’ve been struggling with my energy levels for a while, it hasn’t all been bad news. I was delighted to be awarded an Arts Council Literary Bursary in May to support the completion of my second poetry collection, due to be published by Dedalus Press in 2022/3.

This was my first successful application after trying many times over the past 10 years – a reminder to keep doing the work, honing the craft and practicing resilience in the face of rejection. If you have been experiencing any disappointments in your work lately, don’t give up. Take a step back, give yourself and the work some space, place your energy somewhere else for a while, perhaps a different genre or art form. Do something that makes you feel good and return to the work when you are replenished and it starts to intrigue you again.

At the moment, I’m trying to catch up on commitments that stalled in Spring but I have lots of exciting things planned for late Summer and Autumn, and hope to share more about those with you next month. If you’d like to be first to hear about new developments, jump on the mailing list for the scoop!

Whatever you are writing or sending out in July, 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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JulY 2021

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

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

Abridged 0-69: Nemesis – Poetry, Visual Art, theme: Nemesis – closes 30 June (submit online)

Analogies & Allegories – Poetry, Fiction, Photography & Visual Art, theme: Fate – closes 30 June (submit online)

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

Catatonic Daughters – Poetry, Prose, Script, Visual Art (welcomes under-represented communities including people of colour, disabled writers, and LGBTQIA+ writers, including trans & non-binary writers) – closes 30 June (submit online)

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

Los Angeles Review Literary Awards – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Non-fiction – closes 30 June (submit online)

Present Tense – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction – closes 30 June (submit online)

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

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

The Well Review – Poetry manuscripts (20 – 35 poems) – closes 30 June (submit online)

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

Diversifying Irish Poetry: Poetry Critics of Colour in Ireland Call – Poetry (Irish/Irish-based writers of colour) – closes 1 July (submit online)

Oxford Poetry – Poetry – closes 1 July (submit online)

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

Poetry Magazine: Collaborative Issue – Poetry, Prose, theme: Collaboration – closes 1 July (submit online)

AUB International Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 2 July (submit online)

Charlotte Mew Chapbook Contest – Poetry manuscript (35 pages max, lesbian-identified poets (see submission guidelines)) – closes 4 July (submit online)

York Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 4 July (submit online)

Perhappened – Poetry, Fiction, theme: Saltwater – closes 6 July (submit online)

The Fairy Tale Review: The Lilac Issue – Poetry, Fiction, Comics, Artwork & more, theme: Sleep & Dreams – closes 6 July (submit online)

Arts Council Agility Award – All genres – individual artists and arts workers – closes 8 July (submit online)

Coast to Coast to Coast Competition – Poetry mini pamphlet (max 12 pages) – closes 8 July (submit online)

McLellan Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 11 July (submit online)

Ambit Annual Competitions – Poetry, Fiction, Illustration, theme: Metamorphosis – closes 14 July (submit online)

Bangor Literary Journal – Poetry, Flash, Art & Photography – closes 14 July (submit online)

Bellevue Literary Review Prizes – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, theme: Health, healing, illness, the mind and the body – closes 15 July (submit online)

Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry – Poetry manuscript (48 pages min.) – closes 15 July (submit online)

Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers – Poetry, Fiction – closes 15 July (submit online)

Ledbury Poetry Festival Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 15 July (submit online)

Vallum Award for Poetry – Poetry (strongly encourages submissions from LGBTQI2S, Indigenous writers, writers of colour, gender non-conforming writers, differently abled writers or persons with mental or physical challenges) – closes 15 July (submit online)

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

Narrative Magazine Annual Poetry Contest – Poetry – closes 16 July (submit online)

The Stephen Spender Prize – Poetry in Translation – closes 16 July (submit online)

Frontier Poetry OPEN Award – Poetry – closes 18 July (submit online)

Poetry Wales – Poetry – closes 21 July (submit online)

Words Ireland National Mentoring Programme – Poetry, Literary Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Children’s/YA Fiction – closes 22 July (submit online)

Varuna Residential Fellowships – Poetry, Fiction, Narrative Non-fiction, Drama and more – closes 29 July (submit online)

Allegro Poetry – Poetry, theme: Georgraphy – closes 31 July (submit online)

Amsterdam Quarterly – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Art & Photography, theme: The Future – closes 31 July (submit online)

Arc Poetry Magazine – Poetry – closes 31 July (submit online)

Bad Lilies – Poetry – closes 31 July (submit online)

Foyle Young Poets of the Year – Poetry – closes 31 July (submit online)

Magma – Poetry, theme: Obsidian (Black poets only) – closes 31 July (submit online)

Re-Creation: An Anthology of Queer Poetry – Poetry (BIPOC poets and resistant, liminal, and nonconformist queer voices, UK only) – closes 31 July (submit online)

Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 July (submit online)

Seashores – Haiku, Senryu – closes 31 July (submit online)

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition – Poetry (50 lines max.) – closes 31 July (submit online)

Spelt Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Rural – closes 31 July (submit online)

The A3 Press Chapbook – Poetry, Fiction, Art (12-14 pages) – closes 31 July (submit online)

The Haibun Journal – Haibun – closes 31 July (submit online)

The Gravity of the Thing – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction – closes 31 July (submit online)

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

Dreich Chapbook Competition – Poetry manuscript (20 poems) – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

Gigantic Sequins Annual Poetry Context – Poetry – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

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

Mud Room Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

Muzzle Magazine – Poetry – closes 1 Aug (submit online)

The Poetry Society Members’ Competition – Poetry, theme, Surreal Cities – closes 4 Aug (submit online)

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES

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

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JOURNALS / OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN JULY 2021

Second Light Poetry Competition – Long & short Poetry by women – closes 6 Aug (submit online)

The Mechanic Institute Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – opens 4 July / closes 6 Aug (submit online)

The Rialto – Poetry – closes 13 Aug (submit online)

Grist Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Visual Art – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Palette Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

The Boiler – Poetry. Fiction, Essay – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

Wine Cellar Press – Poetry, Visual Art – closes 15 Aug (submit online)

The Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition – Poetry (unpublished poets only) – closes 27 Aug (submit online)

Dedalus Press: Local Wonders – Poetry (Irish/Irish-based poets only) – closes 30 Aug (submit online)

Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition – Poetry pamphlets (16-24 pages) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

The 8th Annual Ó Bhéal International Poetry-Film Competition – Poetry films – closes 31 Aug (submit online)

The Adroit Journal – Poetry, Prose, Art – closes 31 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)

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 (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!

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If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in July 2021, 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)

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.