Deadlines: June & July
Every middle of the month: new deadlines, new contests, and new opportunities for your voice to find the world. The next few weeks include: Palette’s Sappho Prize for Women Poets, the Adriftwood Chapbook Prize, manuscript open reading periods, the Hedgebrook residency, and more.
DEADLINE: 6/20
Submissions are open to ALL women writers (cis, trans, etc…). The winning poet will be awarded $3000 and publication on Palette Poetry. Second and third place will win $300 & $200 respectively, as well as publication. The top ten finalists will also be recognized. The guest judge this year is Maggie Smith.
Reading Fee: $20
DEADLINE: 06/30
Black Lawrence Press
Black Lawrence Press is currently open for their annual summer reading period. They are accepting submissions of full and/or chapbook-length poetry manuscripts through Submittable. Through their open reading periods, they are seeking innovative, electrifying, and thoroughly intoxicating manuscripts that ensnare themselves in their hearts and minds and won’t let go. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable and encouraged, but please notify them by withdrawing your manuscript on Submittable immediately if it is accepted for publication elsewhere.
Reading Fee: $12
DEADLINE: 06/30
Four Way Books
Four Way Books is open for their annual open reading period for poetry and fiction manuscripts. This. is open to all poets and fiction writers. Book-length poetry collections, story collections, and novellas are accepted. They do not publish novels, translations, or non-fiction. Submissions accepted online only through their online submissions manager.
Reading fee: $30
DEADLINE: 06/30
Hedgebrook Writers-in-Residence
Hedgebrook’s mission is to support visionary women writers whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. The Writers in Residence (WiR) program is Hedgebrook’s core program, which (for 33 years in 2022) has supported fully-funded residencies for writers representing diversity in citizenship status, nationality, current place of residence, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, professional experience, and economic resources. The 2022 residency cycle will be primarily dedicated to honoring the residencies that were awarded in 2020 and cancelled due to Covid-19. This open application cycle is for a limited number of 2-week residencies to fill the remaining spots in 2022.
Reading fee: $30
DEADLINE: 7/01
Pleiades is open for submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and reviews until July 1st. For poetry, send 3-5 poems via their online submissions manager. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. They are particularly interested in submissions from writers from historically marginalized communities, and looking for poetry that “embraces risk and is lyrically inventive.”
DEADLINE: 07/05
Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize
Awarded annually to a poet writing in English who has not yet published a full-length poetry book, this prize is named in honor of a great supporter of young poets, and the grandmother-in-law of the contest’s final judge, Bob Hicok. Prospective entrants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Conduit, which champions originality, intelligence, irreverence, and humanity. Because the prize is judged anonymously, the author’s name should not appear anywhere in the collection. The winning poet will receive $1,500 and 30 author copies.
Reading fee: $25
DEADLINE: 07/15
Driftwood Press is open for submissions of poetry chapbooks. Prose poetry, experimental poetry, and poetry with a visual component (color images accepted) are all welcome. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. The winner will receive $500 dollars and 20 copies of their chapbook. The winner will also receive the opportunity to be interviewed about their work. The guest judge this year is Traci Brimhall.
Reading fee: $12
DEADLINE: 7/17
GASHER is open for submissions across genres until 7/17. For poetry, submit up to 4 unpublished poems via Submittable for consideration. Simultaneous submissions are permitted.