Poetry SchoolPrimers: guide your poems into print
with the Poetry School and Nine Arches Press
The Poetry School and Nine Arches Press are delighted to announce the arrival of Primers, a new annual scheme creating a unique opportunity for talented poets to find publication and receive a programme of supportive feedback, mentoring and promotion. The scheme will select three poets whose work will feature together in the first volume of Primers, a book showcasing short debut collections of work.
The Primers scheme aims to provide an important platform for emerging poets who are seeking to develop their writing and build towards a full collection of poems. With the involvement of Jane Commane (Nine Arches’ poetry editor), Kathryn Maris (poet and guest editor) and the Poetry School, Primers’ intention is to nurture and support new talent that may otherwise not find an outlet. It also aims to provide an important opportunity for poets to develop their skills, work on their poetry practice, and find audiences for their work. Following editing and mentoring with Kathryn and Jane, the Primers collection will be published by Nine Arches Press, and a further series of live events will showcase the three chosen poets at festivals and shows around the country.
‘Primers presents a really exciting opportunity; for poets it will offer an excellent first step, with the full support of Kathryn Maris, the Poetry School and myself. I am already looking forward to seeing the new writing that will be submitted. It also enables Nine Arches to do more of what we like doing best; nurturing talent, working closely with poets to support their creativity, and keeping our finger on the pulse of contemporary poetry’
– Jane Commane, Nine Arches Press
‘The Poetry School has a long history of working with poets to develop their creative talents. Primers is the next stage in this work, taking poets out of the classroom and onto the bookshelf and the festival stage. We’re very excited about the new poets and poems that are going to emerge from this scheme.’
– Ollie Dawson, The Poetry School
‘Primers is, potentially, a more meritocratic take on anthologies and other introductory platforms for which the usual procedure is the hand-picking of writers already known to an editor. By contrast, the poets to be included in Primers will be chosen from anonymous submissions, so poets need not have a proven track record of publication nor ‘visibility’ within the poetry world. There is so much strong work being written by poets of all ages who have not yet had their first break, so I expect the decision-making will be difficult. But I look forward to the process, and I’m delighted to be involved with Nine Arches, a press that consistently delivers attractive books by first-rate poets.’
– Kathryn Maris, poet and guest editor
How to Submit
Download Primers’ rules and regulations here … Primers Submission Guidelines. Submissions will only be accepted online, via Submittable, to keep administration costs as low as possible.
The important dates to note are …
- Submission deadline: 1 September 2015
- Shortlist announced: late October 2015
- Final selection announced: late November 2015
- Publication of Primers Volume 1: April 2016
Good luck with your submissions! For more details, contact John Canfield at [email protected]
Excellent! Am I right that this is only available to UK residents, though?
Sadly, I think so Janelle.
Should one also assume it’s not suitable for someone unable for any reason to join in the live events – or could this be got around with recorded or live video readings?
hi Trish, I would also have difficulty making some events, and being blind I’d need somebody to actually help reading the poems aloud for me … this is something I’m exploring with local writing groups as we speak!
[…] details can be found on The Poetry School campus and on Nine Arches Press’ […]
[…] Primers (the Poetry School and Nine Arches Press. Entry fee: £14. This was an exciting joint venture to “provide an important platform for emerging poets”. Unfortunately, the shortlist went up online in early October, but not a word was spoken to the unsuccessful entrants – even though this was administrated through Submittable, which makes this sort of thing easy. No need to set up a mailing list yourself! Just set up a “polite rejection” template and everyone’s told. The submission is still technically “in-progress” even though the winners are on the verge of being announced. If I hadn’t gone looking, I’d still be thinking I had a chance. […]