I've not got the funds, right now, to be able to afford fees to publish my writing. And, even if I ever do, I doubt very much I'll be spending MY hard earned dollars in paying publishers so they can profit from MY poetry!! Thanks Emily, what an eye opening read!
Thanks so much, Emily. I belonged to a collective a few years back. The hard parts are always laying out the by-laws, selecting and motivating the membership. Here's one source of information about these organizations: https://janefriedman.com/author-collectives-coops/
There are 42 presses that don’t require upfront payment for deigning to glance over your immortal verse? That’s way more than I thought. Everywhere I look, it’s fee fee fee. Thanks for laboring over this database. I have to see what’s in it.
What a tremendous resource and discussion — thank you so much! It never occurred to me to think of asking judges to leverage their power by advocating for more accessibility (and probably putting their paychecks where their priorities are) but it's such a great point. I also loved this comment (on the linked update last year): "Compensation needs to be able to put food on the table or keep the heat on." Nothing makes me gnash my teeth more than the old saw "poetry is a gift economy." I understand the spirit of this but economic transparency reveals that phrase for what it is — an aphorism that assumes privilege so you can keep trading in these 'gifts' while others are denied them because of the reality of their lives/costs. We need more honesty about the economics of publishing — this kind of analysis is so critical.
Hi Emily, just came across your post and am excited to read it when I have more time. I have another engagement I have to attend to but will comment more. Don't know if I would fit into any of this as I'm writing for truth about what's really going on in our world and how it affects us all. I don't know...we'll see. The reason I publish on Substack IS specifically to bypass all the gatekeepers, naysayers, suppressors of free speech, critical thinking, independent thought, etc. Will add more later. Thanks and have a nice evening.
Emily, thank you so much for this amazing resource. I'm getting ready to submit my first full-length collection, and have started my own spreadsheet, but this is so much more comprehensive.
Thank you so much for doing this work and sharing all of this! I'm definitely going to limit my submissions to presses/contests that are accessible for all (both in solidarity with other poets and because of my own financial limits).
Oh, dear, oh, dear! I believe there are way more than "42 presses that don't require fees."
Besides when the poetry traffic is headed all in one direction, towards a 42 lane bottleneck, how good do you think your chances are?
I ask because I got a poetry book accepted (in June 2022) by a press who was NOT EVEN TAKING any poetry chapbooks at the time. I convinced the publisher that it was a good idea to take a chance on my manuscript. How did it fare? This book sold 170 copies during its pre-sale, received rave reviews in Ireland, South Korea, Japan, Canada, the USA - - and was nominated for 7 awards.
If you have a very good ms and a good pitch, maybe think about not following the rules.........?
You're just incredible. I really appreciate you and, because of that, I have an almost compulsive need to read every paragraph you offer on these newsletters. It's all so thoughtful, so organized and empowered / empowering. I love the spirit of solidarity and inclusion you're fostering. With you 100%. If it weren't for you, btw, I also wouldn't have an account on this site. lol #PoetryInfluencer! Appreciate you, dear Emily. Sending abundant love and gratitude.
As far as comments / adds: I really like what Button Poetry is doing as far as supportive infrastructure (/ diversity of voice and cause) for their poets, etc. So I have been engaging with their Chapbook Contest these two years. I also submitted to Liminal Spaces this year. There are a couple others I'll share later as well (names slipped). Finally, while I may be wrong on this, GAME OVER, which I think was your publisher? ... seems to report no open calls on their Submittable despite the fact that their deadline appears on the spreadsheet for February.
Most small indie presses struggle to stay afloat. I'm less interested in blaming them for charging fees and more interested in finding ways to ensure we all can make submissions. Yes, presses can offer access, but so can we. First, we can establish publishing collectives. Second, we can establish a submission fund for low-income poets.
I've not got the funds, right now, to be able to afford fees to publish my writing. And, even if I ever do, I doubt very much I'll be spending MY hard earned dollars in paying publishers so they can profit from MY poetry!! Thanks Emily, what an eye opening read!
Wow, this is great, Emily. A truly generous offering. And lots of data to reflect on as a takeaway. Grateful for this!
Thanks so much, Emily. I belonged to a collective a few years back. The hard parts are always laying out the by-laws, selecting and motivating the membership. Here's one source of information about these organizations: https://janefriedman.com/author-collectives-coops/
this is so helpful, thank you for sharing!
There are 42 presses that don’t require upfront payment for deigning to glance over your immortal verse? That’s way more than I thought. Everywhere I look, it’s fee fee fee. Thanks for laboring over this database. I have to see what’s in it.
What a tremendous resource and discussion — thank you so much! It never occurred to me to think of asking judges to leverage their power by advocating for more accessibility (and probably putting their paychecks where their priorities are) but it's such a great point. I also loved this comment (on the linked update last year): "Compensation needs to be able to put food on the table or keep the heat on." Nothing makes me gnash my teeth more than the old saw "poetry is a gift economy." I understand the spirit of this but economic transparency reveals that phrase for what it is — an aphorism that assumes privilege so you can keep trading in these 'gifts' while others are denied them because of the reality of their lives/costs. We need more honesty about the economics of publishing — this kind of analysis is so critical.
Hi Emily, just came across your post and am excited to read it when I have more time. I have another engagement I have to attend to but will comment more. Don't know if I would fit into any of this as I'm writing for truth about what's really going on in our world and how it affects us all. I don't know...we'll see. The reason I publish on Substack IS specifically to bypass all the gatekeepers, naysayers, suppressors of free speech, critical thinking, independent thought, etc. Will add more later. Thanks and have a nice evening.
Emily, thank you so much for this amazing resource. I'm getting ready to submit my first full-length collection, and have started my own spreadsheet, but this is so much more comprehensive.
Thank you for putting this together--and asking the questions people need to be asking!
wow this is an unbelievable amount of work, both the deep dive and the spreadsheet! thank you so much!
Thank you so much for doing this work and sharing all of this! I'm definitely going to limit my submissions to presses/contests that are accessible for all (both in solidarity with other poets and because of my own financial limits).
Oh, dear, oh, dear! I believe there are way more than "42 presses that don't require fees."
Besides when the poetry traffic is headed all in one direction, towards a 42 lane bottleneck, how good do you think your chances are?
I ask because I got a poetry book accepted (in June 2022) by a press who was NOT EVEN TAKING any poetry chapbooks at the time. I convinced the publisher that it was a good idea to take a chance on my manuscript. How did it fare? This book sold 170 copies during its pre-sale, received rave reviews in Ireland, South Korea, Japan, Canada, the USA - - and was nominated for 7 awards.
If you have a very good ms and a good pitch, maybe think about not following the rules.........?
Thanks so much for the very helpful spreadsheet of manuscript opportunities, Emily. Could you tell me what the yellow highlighting indicates?
Also, New American Press has EXTENDED to February 16!
You're just incredible. I really appreciate you and, because of that, I have an almost compulsive need to read every paragraph you offer on these newsletters. It's all so thoughtful, so organized and empowered / empowering. I love the spirit of solidarity and inclusion you're fostering. With you 100%. If it weren't for you, btw, I also wouldn't have an account on this site. lol #PoetryInfluencer! Appreciate you, dear Emily. Sending abundant love and gratitude.
As far as comments / adds: I really like what Button Poetry is doing as far as supportive infrastructure (/ diversity of voice and cause) for their poets, etc. So I have been engaging with their Chapbook Contest these two years. I also submitted to Liminal Spaces this year. There are a couple others I'll share later as well (names slipped). Finally, while I may be wrong on this, GAME OVER, which I think was your publisher? ... seems to report no open calls on their Submittable despite the fact that their deadline appears on the spreadsheet for February.
Most small indie presses struggle to stay afloat. I'm less interested in blaming them for charging fees and more interested in finding ways to ensure we all can make submissions. Yes, presses can offer access, but so can we. First, we can establish publishing collectives. Second, we can establish a submission fund for low-income poets.