Call for Submissions: Poet Lore

Poet Lore 

Our general submissions are open April 1st – May 31st and October 1st – November 30th each year.

Translation submissions are open year round, but close for the months of December and July.

Poet Lore pays contributors $50 per published poem. Contributors also receive one copy of their issue, plus a copy of the following printed issue of Poet Lore.

We accept submissions via Submittable. Generally, our response time falls between 6 and 8 months due to the volume of submissions we receive. We are a small staff and our readers and editor read every submission thoroughly.

Poet Lore requires first serial rights. We request (but do not require) the right to publish accepted poems on our website, social media outlets, monthly newsletter, and via our publisher’s (The Writer’s Center) triennial magazine. All other rights revert to the author upon publication; although, Poet Lore expects to be credited when poems are republished.

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity and highly encourage submissions from marginalized voices. We do not tolerate racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, ableism, or any work that promotes harmful stereotypes and viewpoints.

At Poet Lore, we are always looking for poems that excite us. Send us your experimental pieces, your long sequences, your poems that create new ways of meaning and surprise readers. Poetry is urgent and expansive, and we want our pages to reflect your unique voices and perspectives.

• You may submit up to 5 poems (maximum 10 pages). Include all poems in 1 single document and please only submit once per submission period.

• Include the titles of all poems in your cover letter (bullet points or numbers are easiest).

• We accept simultaneous submissions, however, let us know in your cover letter if poems are simultaneously submitted, and please inform us via a message in Submittable if a poem is accepted elsewhere.

• We do not accept work that has been previously published. This includes on personal blogs and social media.

• We do not publish any AI-generated works or works edited/constructed with the use of AI. By submitting, you affirm that no AI has been used to modify your submission.