If you’re new to writing poems and need some guidance, our beginner’s guide to writing poetry will help you.
If you’ve already completed a collection of poetry and want to publish it, take a look at the following 19 poetry publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts.
1. Black Mountain Press
If you’re looking to collaborate with one of the biggest poetry book publishers in the US- ‘The Black Mountain Press’ can be your answer. Established in 1994, this Asheville based publishing house covers a wide range of genres like outdoor titles, coffee table books, self-help guides and most importantly, poetry books. Since their poetry books started grabbing plenty of attention, they soon shifted their entire focus on this genre, and the results have been overwhelming to say the least! But poetry isn’t just the only genre they excel in, as their short stories and creative novels are equally popular for their unconventional form and content. So, if you’re a budding or experienced poet, you can always send in a copy of your manuscript to them either via post or with Submittable. Click here to find out more about their submission guidelines.
2. Boa Editions Ltd.
Can you ever go wrong with a poetry book publishing house that is established by a famous poet himself? Well, in all probabilities you can’t, and this is exactly why you need to try Boa Editions Ltd. Established by poet and Editor Alfred Poulin Jr., this New York based publishing house was first established in 1976. Since the company was relatively new and unconventional back then, they didn’t get a lot of visibility in the beginning. However, people soon started noticing their works after they came up with ‘The Fuhrer Bunker: A Cycle Of Poems In Progress’ by W.D Snodgrass. This book managed to get tremendous critical response, and within just one year it was nominated for the National book Critics Circle Award. Over the last four decades, Boa Editions has published more than 300 American titles and many other translated titles. Most of their works have been lauded far and wide. So if you’re fond of writing poetry, you can always give them a try! Currently, Boa Editions isn’t accepting new poetry submissions. However, you can keep checking this page for the latest details about their upcoming reading period for the American Poets Continuum Series.
3. Kaya Press
If you’re fond of writing poetry that pushes people out of their comfort zones, Kaya Press is your go-to option. Founded in 1994, this company has established its reputation as one of the premier publishing houses for cutting-edge diasporic and experimental poetry. Their books haven’t just been praised for their content, but they also lauded for their form and style. And the best part- they’ve also been extensively recognized and awarded for their mind boggling content and unique forms of art. ‘Water Chasing Water’ and ‘The Flayed City’ are just some among the hundreds of best-selling poetry books from this company. So if you think you’ve written something on a similar note, feel free to contact them here. Note that in addition to your full manuscript, you will need to send your contact details, a brief description of the project, a short description of why you want Kaya to publish your work, a list of your previous publications, and a list of the awards you received.
4. Red Hen Press
Established by Mark Cull and Kate Gale, Red Hen Press is a California based publishing house specializing in poetry, fiction, non-fiction and memoirs. They’ve been in business for the last 24 years, and during this time, they’ve managed to establish a solid reputation for their gripping, moving and mind-boggling poetry titles. Interestingly, they are one of the few US based publishing houses that whole-heartedly welcomes and supports diversity. So it doesn’t matter where you’re from- if your work is compelling enough, Red Hen will definitely get it published. Some of their bestselling titles include ‘A Measure’s Hush’, ‘American Fractal’ and ‘Accounted For’. Each of these works aren’t just compelling but are rich in details and are truly evocative. So if you think your works follow a similar (or even) better tone, try sending a copy of your manuscript here. Since the company receives a high volume of submissions, you can expect to hear back within three to six months.
5. Black Lawrence Press
Black Lawrence Press is an independent publishing house that focuses on contemporary poetry, creative fiction, and general fiction titles. They also publish quite a few translated works every year. Unlike the other companies featured on our list, Black Lawrence is relatively new in the industry. However despite their inexperience, the company managed to leave their mark by publishing best-selling works like ‘This Bright Darkness’ and ‘Three Hands None’. The company is currently accepting individual poems and full-length poetry collections for Poetry Consultations with Marcela Sulak. The submission window will close on 1 February 2020 and details about the process can be found here. You can also send unpublished poems for the The Hudson Poetry Prize. Check this page for more details about the submission process.
6. BlazeVox Press
BlazeVox Press initially started as a student-run college press that published mind-boggling poetry, beautiful art and gripping creative fiction. However, their efforts soon paid off and by the fall of 2000, they managed to gain plenty of momentum by collaborating with authors like Bill Berkson, Anne Waldman and Tom Clark. The company has since established their reputation as one of the leading poetry book publishers of New York. And as of now, they have more than 280 titles and 1000 writers in their publishing outlets and web-based journals. While BlazeVox publishes any and everything pertaining to poetry, your work is likely to make the cut if it’s challenging, creative and incredibly gripping. So if you think your work can impress their editors, read the submission guidelines and send in your works here.
7. Arte Publico Press
Affiliated with the University of Houston, Arte Publico Press is a Houston based publishing house that comes with a rich history spanning back to 1979. Established by Nicolas Kanellos, this press claims to be the biggest publisher of poetry, drama and fiction titles in the US. While they accept works of every kind, the company is particularly fond of poetry pertaining to women’s rights, cultural issues and Hispanic themes. Since the company is now accepting submissions, you can always reach out to them on this page. Their response time is 2 to 3 months for manuscript queries and 3 to 6 months for full length manuscripts.
8. Manic D Press
Based in San Francisco, California, Manic D Press is best known for their poetry, short stories and fiction novels. The inception of the company dates back to more than three decades when author Jennifer Joseph came up with this platform to create an alternative outlet for budding writers looking to get their works published. Luckily enough, things worked in her favour, and right now, the company is still going strong with their gripping fiction and moving poetries. Manic D offers consistent and widespread distribution across the US, UK and EU. So, you can always count on them for consistent representation. Since the company also follows an open submissions policy, you can send in your work any time on this page. If you are sending a poetry manuscript, try to send 5 to 10 poetry pieces together. Also note that while the company does accept postal submissions, email submissions are preferred.
9. Anhinga Press
Established in 1974, Anhinga is driven by the mission of bringing quality poetry on board. And going by their recent records, this Florida based company definitely seems to have achieved their goal. Over the last couple of years, the company has collaborated with both emerging and experienced poets who’ve managed to leave a mark with their compelling poetry series. Anhinga Press hosts several poetry competitions every year. Currently, they are open to submissions for the Rick Campbell Chapbook Prize. You need to send 18 to 24 pages of your poetry to qualify for the competition and the submission window will close on 1 February 2020. You can find more details about the submission process here. The company will also be open to submissions for the Anhinga Prize for Poetry. The submission window will open from 15 February until 31st May. Details about the submission guidelines can be found here. Note that they are currently closed for the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry. You can, however, keep checking this page for the latest details about the open submission window.
10. Futurepoem
As evident from their name, Futurepoem is a NYC based publishing house that is entirely focused on publishing contemporary poetry from emerging and newbie writers who are looking for some solid representation in the industry. The company is fond of beautiful yet complex poetry that leaves a lasting impact on readers. Futurepoem is currently open for poetry submissions until 25 January 2020. Check this page for more information about the submission process and guidelines. Details about their poetry contest, the Other Futures Award, will be announced on Spring 2020.
11. ECW Press
ECW Press is one of the most diverse independent publishing houses of Toronto that publishes everything from fiction to poetry. As of now, they have already managed to publish around 1000 books that are widely lauded for their simplicity, style and content. Some of their best works include ‘One Thing- Then Another’ and ‘Panicle’. So if you’ve written something along a similar line, visit this page for a full list of their submission guidelines. Note that ECW Press only accepts poetry submissions from Canadians.
12. Canadian Poetry Press
Established in 1986 for publishing the scholarly versions of the Canadian long poems, Canadian Poetry Press is a leading publisher of poetry and fiction in Canada. Over the last couple of years, the company has worked with both classics as well as new editions that include the gripping works of the confederation poets. In addition to poetry, Canadian Poetry Press is also fond of drama and literary fiction. As of now, the company follows an open submissions policy and can be reached on this page. Your submitted manuscripts should follow the MLA Style Manual.
13. Anansi Press
Anansi Press is a Canadian publishing house that was established in 1967 to collaborate and work with Canadian writers. The company has evolved since then, and right now, they have more than 1000 titles in their portfolio. ‘A Pillow Book’ and ‘Box Kite’ are just two among the several best-selling titles from the press. So if you have your best works to share, feel free to contact them on this page. However, before getting in touch, note that this company only considers the works of established poets. They won’t accept religious tracts or unsolicited submissions from non-Canadian poets.
14. Borealis Books
Established in 1972, Borealis Press is an Ontario based publishing house that was created to encourage and represent newcomers in the publishing industry. The company is a division of the Borealis Press, and over the last four decades, they’ve managed to collaborate with several best-selling authors like Carol Shields, Cyril Dabydeen and Fred Cogswell. The press has been constantly lauded for their works as they resonate and reflect the problems and possibilities of our modern society. Luckily enough, Borealis is now accepting manuscript queries and can be reached on this page. Note that while the company publishes diverse titles, they are particularly fond of works from Canadian authors. They also love manuscripts with Canadian backdrop or elements. Borealis Books does not accept multiple submissions and require at least four months to send a response.
15. Seren Books
Based in Wales, Seren Books is one of the biggest publishers of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Most of their books have been nominated for and won iconic literary awards across UK and the US. Some of their best works include ‘No Far Shore: Charting Unknown Waters’ by Anne-Marie Fyfe, ‘Footnotes to Water’ by Zoë Skoulding and ‘The Black Place’ by Tamar Yoseloff. The company accepts submissions from established poets whose works have been published in leading literary journals like Poetry Wales, New Welsh Review, Planet, and others. If you meet this parameter, send 50 pages of your work with a cover letter addressed to Amy Wack. Note that your work needs to be sent in a hard copy format. More details about the submission process can be found here.
16. Faber & Faber
Can you ever go wrong with a publishing house that has represented leading literary geniuses like Ezra Pound and T.S Eliot? Well, this is exactly the reason why you need to collaborate with Faber & Faber. Established in 1929, this company had been entirely focused on representing true literary merit. And perhaps this is the reason why they are particularly stringent with quality. Some of the leading authors represented by this company include Sylvia Plath, Kazuo Ishiguro, Alan Bennett and Ted Hughes. So if you think your work can match their merit, send in your submissions on this page.
17. Carcanet Press
Carcanet Press is a British publishing house that’s still going strong in their fifth decade. Over the last couple of years, they’ve published comprehensive and diverse classic poetries in both English and other languages. Yes. Unlike many other publishing houses featured on our list, Carcanet works with translated poetry. Some of their best poetry titles include ‘1829’ and ‘The Vampyre and Other Writings’. So if you’ve written something on a similar note, contact them on this page. Note that Carcanet only accepts submissions between 1 July and 31 July.
18. Agenda Editions
Agenda Editions is a small Sussex based publishing house that is focused on publishing small, limited edition poems written by newbie and experienced authors. Since its inception, the company has been driven to represent insightful works that ring a chord among readers. And going by their recent list of works, they definitely managed to achieve their goal. Like many other publishing houses on this list, Agenda Editions too follows an open submissions policy. So you can always contact them with your work on this page.
19. Nine Arches Press
‘Nine Arches Press is a publisher of quirky, contemporary poetry that reflects the individual experiences of our lives. While this British publishing house accepts almost every type of good poetry (regardless of the genre), they’ve grown a special fondness for poems revolving around the theme of travel. Some of their best works include- ‘In her Shambles’ and ‘Visiting the Minotaur’. So in case you’re looking to collaborate with them, contact them on this page.
Do you know any other poetry publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
I am Ruposhree, a regular happy-go-lucky girl with not-so-regular (read extraordinary) dreams. I love reading, obsessing over random TV series, dreaming of unrealistic vacations, and most importantly, trying my hand at writing. I want to believe that I somehow have a way with words and maybe one day I’ll manage to see and be everything that I ever dreamt of!