Esther HellerYou’ve just completed a Poetry School course and have written and edited a few new poems, so what now?
Submitting your poems to a magazine, journal, or press is the first step to sharing your work with an audience and building up a readership, which is crucial if you’re looking to publish your work in a pamphlet or collection later down the line. To help you in this process, we have compiled a list of places to submit your wonderful poems this year!
Aesthetica Magazine Creative Writing Award – Aesthetica is looking for the best new writing talent. The international literary prize is open to poetry and short fiction submissions on any theme, celebrating innovation in content, form, and technique. Entries open until 31 August. Submit here.
Abergavenny Small Press – is a new publishing agency that focuses on local authors, poets and artists. Do follow them to find out about their next poetry submission window. More info here.
Ambit Magazine – Each issue of Ambit is compiled from submission of unsolicited, previously unpublished poetry and short fiction. Their portal opens twice a year 1 March – 1 April and 1 September – 1 October. Submit here.
Anamot Press – Queer experiences across borders and other stories told with no shame. Anamot Press is an independent small publisher based in London. Follow them here, to find out more about next submission windows.
Anthropocene Poetry – Anthropocene is an online poetry journal. They publish in English and in Spanish [the Spanish poems are accompanied by Laia Sales Merino’s English translations]. They are also open to translations from any other language into English. Free submissions are open from 1 March – 1 April. Submit here.
Atrium Poetry – Atrium is a poetry webzine based in Worcestershire, UK. Edited by Holly Magill and Claire Walker. Open for submissions throughout the year, however, they do close their inbox from time to time. Find out more here.
Arachne Press – is a micropublisher of award winning short story anthologies, poetry, & a Carnegie Medal nominated YA novel. Organiser of The Story Sessions and Solstice Shorts. Find out more about their submissions here.
AUB International Poetry Prize 2021, judged by Poetry School MA in Writing Poetry Tutor Glyn Maxwell – The Creative Writing team at Arts University Bournemouth, presents the AUB International Poetry Prize. This year’s theme is ‘Change’ and is open to all writers over the age of 16. The competition closes on July 2. Submit here.
Bad Betty Press – is an independent publisher of new poetry, run by Amy Acre and Jake Wild Hall. They print full collections, anthologies, pamphlets, and a limited edition mini-pamphlet series called Bad Betty Shots. Find out more here.
Bath Magg – Founded by poets Mariah Whelan and Joe Carrick-Varty in 2019, bath magg is an online poetry magazine and a home for the best new writing. They publish three times a year: in April for the Spring Issue, August for the Summer Issue, and December for the Winter Issue. Their submission windows are as follows: February 1–29 for Spring Issue, June 1–30 for Summer Issue, and October 1–31 for Winter Issue. More info here.
Bed Head Poetry Press – is a new poetry publication for writers exploring their experiences with mental health. Find out more about submissions here.
bind – is a digital platform for creative work examining ecology, the environment and the natural world. They are currently accepting submissions. Find out more here.
Bitter Melon Poetry – Bitter Melon 苦瓜 is a small press founded in London in May 2019 by Poetry School tutor and friend Nina Mingya Powles. They publish limited-edition, risograph printed poetry pamphlets, and poem broadsides by poets from the Asian diaspora. They are currently, not accepting submissions, but there will be a month-long open submissions window in the near future – keep an eye on their Twitter for updates here.
Black Bough Poetry – publish micro-poems from across the world. They open submission periods throughout the year for poets to send us up to three new poems (up to ten lines each) each time. Submit here.
Black Rabbit Press – provides a platform for voices which are culturally more marginalised. It produces slim, elegant pamphlets of work by invited writers, on a sometime basis. It is edited and produced by Mab Jones. Find out more about their work here.
Broken Sleep Books – are a small, innovative press, who publish a range of pamphlets and collections, from a range of writers. They particularly encourage working-class writers, LGBTQ+, and BAME writers to submit. Find out more about their submission periods here.
Butchers Dog – is proudly edited and published in the heart of North East England. They print two unthemed poetry magazines each year in Spring and Autumn. Submissions are currently closed but do follow them on Twitter here, for announcements about their next submission period.
Burning Eye Books – is a small independent publisher in the South West predominately specialising in promoting spoken word artists. They are currently closed for submissions but do follow them here for updates.
Clav Mag – is a digital literary magazine who publishes creative writing by LGBTQIA+ people. Follow them to find out when the next submission window is here.
Coast to Coast to Coast – publishes poetry between unique handmade covers. They are open April 8-July 8 for submissions of mini portfolios for prizes of Limited Edition hand-stitched poetry journals. Find out more here.
Creative Future 2021 Writers’ Award Competition – This year’s theme is Essential. Your work should respond to the theme, implicitly or explicitly, but they are looking for quality writing first and foremost. The theme is a creative prompt, not a requirement. The deadline is Sunday 6 June at 11.59pm (BST). This competition is for underrepresented writers in the UK only, who are over 18 years old. Apply here.
Dodging the Rain – has evolved into a poetry journal, having been founded and edited by MA graduates of NUI Galway (Áine Ni Mhaoileoin, Rebecca Spicer, and Neil Slevin) and Uversity (Dana Rabe) in 2016. It provides an internet platform that showcases poetry to the world. They are open for submissions all year round. Submit here.
Ffraid – is a literature and arts journal named after Saint Ffraid, who is said to have travelled from Ireland to the banks of the river Conwy on a raft. Deadline for Issue 1 submission is 31 March. Find out more here.
Finished Creatures Poetry Magazine – From March 1–31 they are accepting submissions on the theme of SURFACE – textures, layers, seen, hidden, emerging, appearing – interpret freely and creatively. Send no more than four (previously unpublished) poems in one word document plus and an optional short bio to [email protected]
Flipped Eye – Founded in 2001 by Nii Ayikwei Parkes, an editor and award-winning writer, flipped eye publishing has won global critical acclaim, playing a key role in developing poets such as Inua Ellams, Malika Booker, Miriam Nash, Nick Makoha, and Warsan Shire. Find out more about future submission dates here.
Fruit Queer Literary Journal – Are open for submissions from anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+. Submission window: 1 February – 31 March. Submit here.
Frontier Poetry – are looking for poetry that pushes language forward, for poets and poems that strive to place themselves at the edge of what language can do. Find out more here.
The Ginkgo Prize for Ecopoetry – is a major international award for poems embracing ecological themes. The Prize aims to highlight the role poetry can play in raising awareness, gaining insight, and provoking concern for the ecological imperatives of our time. The 2021 Submissions window will open in August. More info here.
Granta – is committed to championing new voices and is open to unsolicited submissions of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. They are open for non-fiction, fiction, poetry and art and photography submissions during the following periods: 1 January – 31 January, 1 May – 31 May, and 1 September – 30 September. More info here.
Green Ink Poetry – Welcome Chaos, Calamity, And The Natural World. Hope Punks & Witches. Find out about their submission windows here.
Harana Poetry – Submit no more than three poems of up to 60 lines. Poems should not have been previously published in any magazine or online format. Submission windows are the months of April, August, and December. More info here.
Horrorscope Press – are accepting submissions for their poetry anthology, Horror Without Borders. Volume 2: Hidden Realms. They are interested in horror-themed and dark poetry written in English.Deadline: 8 December. Submit here.
IF P THEN Q – is a publisher of experimental poetry edited by Poetry School friend and tutor James Davies. The press was set up in 2008, publishing important collections by contemporary poets. Follow them to find out about future submission periods here.
Ink Sweat and Tears – is a UK based webzine that publishes and reviews poetry, prose, prose-poetry, word & image pieces, and everything in between. They will be accepting submissions from 1 April. Find out more here.
Liminal Transit Review – is looking for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction relating to borders and migration for its May issue, with a deadline of 31 March. Find out more here.
Living Artists zine – is published biannually in December (Winter) and June (Summer). Submission windows are open 1–31 October for their Winter issue and 1–30 April for their Summer issue. Find out more here.
Lolwe – is an online magazine that publishes fiction, literary criticism, personal essays, photography, and poetry by Black (African, Caribbean, Diaspora) artists. Find out more here.
London Magazine – England’s oldest literary periodical, with a history stretching back to 1732. Today – reinvigorated for a new century – the Magazine’s essence remains unchanged: it is a home for the best writing and an indispensable feature on the British literary landscape. Find out more about submitting here.
Long Poem Magazine – is the only magazine dedicated to publishing long poems and sequences. LPM showcases the best of traditional and innovative new writing from established and emerging poets in the international community. Find out more about submitting here.
LUMIN – are an indie small press, curatorial / collaborative collective, and radio programme for experimental, radical, and personal literature and art. Submissions are now open for LUMIN Journal 4 (Summer 2021) Deadline for submissions: 14 April. Submit here.
Magma Poetry – Like all the best poetry, Magma is always surprising. Every issue of Magma has a different editor, either members of our board or a prominent poet acting as a guest editor. Currently accepting submissions for Issue 81: Anthropocene. Deadline: 31 March. Submit here.
Mal Journal – is a journal themed around radical approaches to sexuality, gender, and the erotic. Their Poetry Editor is Poetry School friend and tutor Kathryn Maris. Find out more here.
Mslexia – are committed to helping women writers progress and succeed, through their quarterly magazine, women’s writing weekend, and annual writing competitions. They are currently accepting submissions for their June 2021 magazine (Issue 90), deadline: 12 April. Submit here.
New Walk Editions – is a small press specialising in extremely high quality poetry pamphlets. Find out more about their submissions here.
Obsessed With Pipework – a quarterly magazine that has been running for over two decades, and is always open for submissions. Find out more about their submissions here.
Pain Magazine – is a print journal dedicated to new poetry and short, creative essays. The submissions window is currently closed, but do follow them on here, to find out when they reopen.
Palette Poetry – endeavors to uplift and engage emerging and established poets in our larger community. Submissions for their Featured Poetry category are open year round to poets at any stage of their career. Submit here.
Perverse Mag – a poetry magazine for “deliberate, obstinate, unreasonable or unacceptable poems, contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice”. It is edited by Poetry School tutor and friend, Chrissy Williams. Submissions for PERVERSE are currently closed but will open later in 2021. Find out more here.
The Plough Prize – Now in its eighteenth year, the Plough Poetry Prize is an international open competition for a poem up to 40 lines on any subject. The competition this year will be judged by Roger McGough & closes for entries on 31 March. Find out more here.
Poetry For Good – A new national poetry competition celebrating the UK’s key workers. Deadline: 9 April. One of the judges for this year is Poetry School tutor and friend Rachel Long. Enter here.
Poetry London – is a leading international magazine, where new names share pages with acclaimed contemporary poets. They also publish a wide range of poetry in translation. Find out more here.
Polari Press – is a new publishing enterprise seeking out hidden voices and helping them be heard. Find out more about submissions here.
The Poetry Bus Magazine – provides a high quality vibrant showcase for new and more established poets and artists alike from across the world. Find out more here.
SAND Journal – Founded in 2009, SAND looks for submissions that push the boundaries of form, message, and voice in fresh and unpredictable ways – work that is haunting for its soul, edge, and truth. Submissions are open 20 March – 10 April. Find out more here.
salò press – an independent publisher of poetry & prose. Find out more about their submission windows here.
Soulful Group – An emerging micropublisher with 10 authors and 17 titles. They are closed for book submissions until January 2023 however they are happy to consider single poems for their future poetry magazine. Find out more here.
Southbank Poetry Magazine – From haikus to short experimental pieces to roaming ballads, South Bank Poetry accepts poetry of all kinds and aims to publish the best new writing, regardless of the writer’s experience. Find out more here.
SPAM Zine – It is time for poetry to enter the post-internet age, and SPAM zine wishes to take upon its shoulder the weight of this herculean enterprise. They are currently not accepting submissions, but their pamphlet submission period will open soon, find out more here.
Spoonfeed Mag – is an online literary magazine publishing creative and experimental food writing. Submissions are currently closed but do follow them for updates for when their submissions re-open here.
the CRANK Mag – Most kinds of poetry will be considered, though poets who don’t engage with tradition are less likely to find a home here. Deadline: 1 April. Submit here.
The Gentian Journal – Open for submissions of poetry and photography on the theme ‘Beginnings & Ends’. Deadline: 11:59 PM GMT, 17 April. Submit here.
The Interpreter’s House – publishes new poetry and short fiction. The editorial team welcomes dare and rigour, work that destabilises cultural or stylistic classification and boundaries. Fiction and poetry submission windows for October issues are open 1 April – 14 May. Submission windows for April issues are open 1 October – 14 November. More info here.
The Lumiere Review – is a literary magazine dedicated to shining the light on all voices through poetry, prose, and art. Find out more about their next submission window here.
The Poetry Business – is a publisher and writer development agency with a strong reputation for discovering, developing and publishing outstanding new poets. They are currently accepting submissions of full collection length manuscripts of poetry as part of their Apart Together: 2021 Digital Poetry Project. Deadline March 31. Find out more here.
The Poetry Review – welcomes submissions of unpublished poems and translations of poems. They have a policy of publishing work by new and upcoming poets as well as that of established poets. Find out more about their submission guidelines here.
The Scores – is not a journal of student work but rather a journal edited, curated, and managed by the postgraduate students in the School of English at St Andrews working with a team of experienced editors and an advisory board of esteemed professors and instructors both within and beyond the programme. To submit your work click here.
The Rialto – The magazine appears three times a year and each issue, with its spacious A4 pages, has fifty or so poems, an editorial and occasional, commissioned, prose pieces. They are currently accepting submissions for Rialto 96, deadline: 31 March. Submit here.
The White Review – is an arts and literature quarterly magazine, with triannual print and monthly online editions. They are currently closed for submissions, but please do follow them for announcements of their next submission period here.
Tears in the Fence – is an internationally recognised independent literary journal established in November 1984. Submissions for Tears in the Fence Issue 74 are now being accepted for publication in Autumn 2021. Submit here.
Trickhouse Press – is open for submissions of visual and/or procedurally generated poetry. Manuscripts should be between 40 and 120 pages long, ideally A5, and either in colour or B&W submissions. Deadline: 31 March. Submit here.
Prototype – Create new possibilities in the publishing of fiction and poetry through a flexible, interdisciplinary approach, and the production of unique and beautiful books. Submissions for their annual anthology, PROTOTYPE 3 (July 2021), are open until 1 April. Submit here.
Quilab – are open for submissions. Quilab accept work from South Asian and South Asian diasporic trans/non-binary creatives. Find out more here.
Quince Magazine – is a new online literary and visual arts journal that looks to provide a platform for new writing and art from emerging and established writers and artists from around the world. Follow them here, for updates for their Spring 2021 submission window.
Riggwelter Press – is a journal of creative arts. Riggwelter is open for submissions and accepts submissions of poetry, short fiction, short scripts, visual art (of any kind – photography, collage, traditional art etc.) experimental/mixed media, essays, and reviews. Submit here.
V. Press – Shortlisted in the Michael Marks Publishers’ Award 2017, V. Press is an independent publisher of poetry and flash fiction. To learn more about their future submission periods click here.
Verve Poetry Press – is a prize-winning Birmingham based publisher dedicated to promoting and showcasing Birmingham and Midlands poetic talent in colourful and exciting ways. They are currently accepting submissions for full manuscripts, till the 31 March. Submit here.
Zeno Press – is a London based, brand new independent press founded by Christian Patracchini. The catalogue consists of poetry, experimental writing, art, sound, performance art and essays and is dedicated to work of interdisciplinary reach, inquiring critically but especially creatively into ideas. Submit here.
ZimZalla – is a publishing project releasing literary objects and administered by Tom Jenks.To stay informed about their latest collaborations and projects sign up for their newsletter here.
3am Magazine – Poetry Submissions are open until June 1st. They are open only for the Poem Brut series – Visual Poems / Sound Poems. No other submissions will be read.
As a further resource, we recommend poetsdirectory.co.uk.
Photo by Julia Joppien on Unsplash.
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