As I am finally feeling ready to send out a small collection of my recent work for publication, I’ve been on the hunt for as many poetry chapbook contests as I can find. The good news is that there are many. The bad news is that they all charge. Even those that “don’t” require you to buy a book from their catalogue.
I have to admit that I am not altogether against these charges though, especially when payment buys you a poetry book. How else are these small presses going to survive? From the throngs of people lining up to buy poetry books written by unknown authors? Unlikely. But, I
It is up to us writers of poetry to not only support small presses, but also to promote our work as best we can so that if and when we do get published, our books sell.
So, for all writers of poetry out there, here is a list I’ve compiled of the most legit-looking chapbook contests, with their respective deadlines:
- Cutbank
- March 31
- Omnidawn
- March 31 deadline
- Sundress Press
- February – March 31
- The Rusty Toque
- April 1
- Backbone Press
- February– April
- July – August
- Salt Hill Journal
- April 15
- The Diagram
- April 27
- Ahsahta Press
- April 1- 30
- 1913 Press
- Spring 2015
- Gertrude Press
- May 15
- Black Lawrence
- April 1 – May 31
- September 1 – October 31
- Mslexia
- June 15
- Two Sylvias Press
- Feb 1 – June 15
- Burnside Review
- March 15 – June 30
- Dream Horse Press
- June 30
- Tebot Bach
- July 15
- Red Bird Chapbooks
- July 1 – August 30
- Encircle Press
- September 1
- Tupelo Press
- August 1 – October 31
- Comstock Review
- August 1 – October 31
- Concrete Wolf
- November 1
- Minerva Rising Literary Journal
- September 15 –November 15
- Poetry Society of America
- October 1 – December 1
- Imaginary Friends Press
- September 1 – December 15
- Finishing Line Press
- Year-round
- Coconut Books
- Closed for now
If I’ve left out a contest that should be on the list, please send me a comment with the info and I will gladly add it.
