Call for Submissions to Anthology About Poetry: Whistling Skin

Whistling Skin anthology seeks submissions

“…we were whistling skin,
to remember how our ears never listened
to the birdsong of the bones….”

I am very excited to announce an open call for submissions for an anthology of writing that I have been wanting to bring to life for almost a decade now! Tentatively titled Whistling Skin, this collection seeks to explore a subject often overheard but rarely explored in full –Poetry Saved My Life.

I have had the opportunity to speak with many poets who make this claim with sincerity and genuine, honest experience behind it. As an editor and a lover of poetry, I want to ensure that these stories are told and
shared with those out there who may need to hear them. This anthology, to be published by Swimming With Elephants Press, will create the space for starting that dialogue.

We are accepting submissions of poetry, memoir, and creative nonfiction centered around this theme. Regardless of which genre you submit in, your work should speak to the ways in which poetry saved your life or the life of someone you know. We are open to a certain degree of interpretation on the subject but are especially interested in the literal examples of poetry’s impact on someone choosing or learning to continue living, after trauma, mental health issues or other reasons.

Submissions will be accepted until April 30th and selections announced no later than May 15th. Authors whose work appears in the anthology will receive one free copy and may purchase additional copies at a discounted rate.

Poetry – Submit up to 5 poems. There is no length limit for poetry but poems more than 3 pages long are much less likely to be published, though we will make exceptions for exceptional work.

Memoir & Non-Fiction – Submit up to 3 pieces of memoir, preferably no longer than 3 to 5 pages. Please include a word count with your submissions.

Submissions should include a cover letter with your name and contact information as well as a brief bio (no more than 100 words). Do not include your name on the work itself as all submissions will be read blind.

Poetry should be single spaced, and in 2 pointTimes New Roman font. Nonfiction and Memoir should be double spaced, in a 2point times New Roman font as well.

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable but please let us know if a piece you submit is picked up byanother publisher so we can give credit where due. Multiple submissions are acceptable also, but no more than 3 submissions per author will be read. Previously published work is welcomed for this anthology as well, provided you include the proper acknowledgements in your submissions.

Submissions should be sent as an attachment to the editors at:

zacharykluckmanATgmailDOTcom (Change AT to @ and DOT to .)

Zachary Kluckman
Albuquerque Slam Poet Laureate Program Director
Executive Director - NM Poetry Tangents
"What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible." -
Theodore Roethke
"Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it" -
Dalai Lama