Poetry Bulletin: December 2022
14 deadlines + fellowships + good reads for poetry-making
Hey there, and welcome to the December issue of the Poetry Bulletin—
There are 14 manuscript deadlines to share this month, including some new opportunities and a new press. If you’re submitting your book now and need a boost, there’s a little money left in the fee support circle. Another poet and I have chipped in so that there’s $100 available right now.
This support is for full-length poetry books and chapbook submissions. It would be great if we could spread this $100 to a few poets. Is there one submission you really want to make before the end of the year, but the fee is a barrier? Send me a note with where you’re submitting, and as long as funds are left, we’ll help you get it covered.
Once these funds are out, I’ll pause the support circle until early 2023. It takes some time to get new supporters lined up, and at the start of the year, my first priority is doing a complete update of the big list of 175+ poetry book reading periods.
If you’re a publisher reading this: is anything changing for your full-length manuscript reading periods in 2023? Different deadlines? Fee waivers? New royalty or prize information? I’d love to hear from you, if you’re open to dropping me a note. Going through almost 200 websites to find this info gets daunting—direct notes with your updates are very appreciated!
Sending good thoughts to everyone as this year comes to a close, and hoping you have a happy, healthy holiday season—
Emily
Making the Manuscript
“A poem that holds tension — of approaching and leaving; of grasping and letting go; of delight so pure you feel you might disintegrate; of the realisation of truth in a time of pain — is true because it is true to life. D.W. Winnicott, the child psychoanalyst, writing about the game Hide & Seek, said, ‘It is a joy to be hidden, but a disaster not to be found.’ There’s tension there, too: that knife-edge of danger we are so drawn to.” — from
Thanks to Heer Salaiti for sharing Bernadette Meyer’s List of Journal Ideas and Writing Experiments.
Raegen Pietrucha has been writing a series of posts about handling your own PR as a poet—the complete series is gathered in this thread, or jump into the first post here.
- has released an updated "Guide to Writing Poetry Book Reviews" in the latest issue of her newsletter, Sticks & Stones. Thanks to for sharing this!
Seeking Fee Waiver Information
In 2023, I’m going to try and make a list of poetry book publishers that offer submission fee waivers. Many thanks to Millicent Borges Accardi, who has helped me get this list started! If you are publisher offering fee waivers or if you’re a writer who knows of some, please drop me a note so we can spread the word to more poets.
Creative Support: Fellowships, Residencies & More
Ongoing — Workers at HarperCollins are on strike. Take note of the company’s imprints, hold off on posting book reviews, and check out other ways to support the Harper Union.
Dec 31 — The Undocupoets Fellowship will award three $500 fellowships to poets currently or formerly undocumented in the U.S.
Jan 11 — The Good Hart Artist Residency is open to writers and artists for residencies in 2023 and 2024. And they’re offering childcare grants! This is in a gorgeous part of Michigan, along Lake Michigan… as a Michigan writer, I can vouch for the creative magic that is our big blue inland sea.
Feb 1 — The Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Fellowship at the Harvard Library is open for applications. And it’s great to see they’ve removed the requirement for letters of recommendation.
One to watch: Poets & Writers has started a publicity incubator for debut authors. They’ll open applications to a cohort of poets in early 2023.
Upcoming Manuscript Deadlines
New opportunity: Verse Daily Book Prize, with a deadline of January 15. Thanks to Jenn Givhan for sharing this one.
New press: End of the Line Press was created “to support emerging & established artists who are trans, non-binary, & Two-Spirit.” Submissions are open now.
Dec 16 — Wesleyan University Press (found via
)Dec 23 —Black Ocean is accepting manuscripts from debut poets
Dec 30 — Jack Leg Press is open for queries. (Also found via
)Dec 31 — Tupelo Press Dorset Prize (fyi: This is one of the larger prizes, with $8,500 plus a residency. And Diane Seuss is judging this year.)
Dec 31 — Wilder Series Poetry Book Prize at Two Sylvias Press, for women over age 50
Dec 31 — Burnside Review Press Book Contest
Dec 31 — Hollis Summers Poetry Prize
Jan 14 — Colorado Prize for Poetry
Jan 15 — New American Press Poetry Prize
Jan 15 — Diverse Voices Book Prize at Grand View University
There are about 12 ongoing opportunities on the big list of publishers (as in, presses reading throughout the year).
The poetry bulletin is made by Emily Stoddard. If you have ideas for the bulletin, updates to a publisher’s listing, or want to share a resource, say hello by replying to this note.