Deadlines for December: Full-Length Manuscripts
We’ve got to be thankful to live in a world which offers so many opportunities for poets to get their work out there. Here are six presses and contests to submit your manuscripts to this month.
Deadline: 12/7
Tinderbox Editions
This is Tinderbox’s generous free reading period for their press arm—send them something around 48-68 pages of poetry. TE’s editor reads each and every manuscript, a signal of dedication and fairness that can be hard to find.
Reading Fee: FREE (paid submissions are open until later this month)
Deadline: 12/7
Sunshot Book Awards
Winners of the Sunshot Book Award gets a $1500 prize, publication and 100 author copies. New Millennium Writings has been around for over two decades—send them 50-80 pages of poetry. All reading is blind—make sure to take out acknowledgements and personal info from the manuscript.
Reading Fee: $35
Deadline: 12/10
Crab Orchard Series in Poetry
Another extension on the list here—make sure to get your work in to them. We’re in the 30th year of the CO Series, submit now to get your name on a long and esteemed list of published poets. Each spring, they’ll choose two books: an editor’s selection and a First Book Award.
Reading Fee: $20
Deadline: 12/14
Hurston/Wright Legacy Award
This contest, from the literary organization named after the African-American authors Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright, is open internationally, but only to Black writers—however, they’re looking to award your published book (including self-published), not unpublished manuscript. Contact your publisher and get them to submit your book!
Reading Fee: $40
Deadline: N/A
Kwame Dawes Poetry Manuscript Consultation
Kwame Dawes has his own manuscript consultation hustle. If you’ve got the $$$, this opportunity may be worth it. Very rarely do you get a chance to get one of the most prominent living poets to give you feedback on your work.
Feedback Fee: $750
Deadline: 12/31
Tupelo Press’ Dorset Prize
Mary Jo Bang is judging this year’s Dorset Prize. The winning manuscript will earn $3,000 cash, a week long residency, as well as publication (with national distribution). Get on this one. Send them 48-88 pages of poetry.
Reading Fee: $30