Where to Submit Poetry: Finding the Right Outlets

Understanding the Poetry Publishing Landscape

The poetry publishing world has changed significantly over the past two decades. According to the Poets & Writers Magazine survey, there are currently over 1,500 literary magazines, journals, and anthologies in the United States alone that accept poetry submissions. Beyond traditional print publications, hundreds of online platforms now publish poetry, reaching audiences across the globe. This expansion means poets have more outlets than ever before, but it also requires understanding where different types of poetry find the best home.

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Poetry submissions fall into several broad categories. Literary magazines and journals represent the most common outlet, ranging from prestigious publications like The New Yorker and The Paris Review to small independent magazines run by university creative writing programs. Online literary journals have exploded in popularity, offering faster response times and often lower submission fees than print publications. Anthologies focused on specific themes, regions, or poetic styles provide targeted opportunities. Poetry book publishers accept full-length manuscripts, usually 48 to 100 pages. Newspapers and magazines with general readerships sometimes publish poetry, though spots are competitive. Finally, platforms like Medium and Substack allow poets to build their own audiences through self-publication.

Each outlet has its own standards, pay rates, and audience size. The New Yorker pays $3 per line for poetry, making it one of the most lucrative markets. Many literary magazines offer contributor copies instead of payment but provide credibility and exposure. Understanding these differences helps you match your work with publications where it fits both stylistically and practically.

Practical takeaway: Create a spreadsheet tracking different types of outlets that interest you—note whether each pays, offers contributor copies, publishes online or in print, and how long their response times typically are. This foundation makes targeting submissions much more organized.

Finding Literary Magazines and Journals That Match Your Work

The first step in submitting poetry is finding publications that already publish work similar to yours. Reading published poets is not optional—it's essential market research. When you read a poem in a magazine that speaks to you, that publication likely welcomes similar work. Most successful poets maintain a reading list of 10 to 20 target publications where they'd genuinely want to see their work published.

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Several resources help you discover matching publications. The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) maintains a database of member publications, many searchable by region, format, and submission status. Submittable, a popular submission management platform, hosts thousands of literary magazines and lets you filter by genre, reading period, and submission fee. The submission call aggregator Duotrope tracks thousands of publications and provides response time data from actual submitters—showing you which magazines typically respond in weeks versus months.

When evaluating whether a publication matches your work, spend time actually reading it. Most literary magazines and journals make recent or sample issues available online, often for free. Read at least three to five poems from the publication you're considering. Ask yourself: Does the tone match yours? Are the poems experimental or traditional? What length poems do they typically publish? How do they handle contemporary themes or social issues? Publications that publish work you admire will likely appreciate your submissions more than submitting blindly to random outlets.

Many successful poets also track publications' submission announcements through social media. Poets & Writers maintains a searchable database of submission opportunities updated regularly. Literary magazine social media accounts often announce open reading periods, themes for upcoming issues, and special calls for work. Following 15 to 20 literary magazines on social media keeps opportunities visible without requiring constant searching.

Practical takeaway: This week, read five poems from three different literary magazines. Write down what drew you to each publication and whether your recent poems might fit there. These become your first target publications for submission.

Online Platforms and Digital Publishing Outlets

Digital platforms have democratized poetry publishing, creating opportunities that didn't exist 15 years ago. Online literary journals typically respond faster than print magazines—often within 4 to 8 weeks rather than 3 to 6 months. Many online platforms operate with lower overhead, meaning they can afford shorter response times and sometimes offer modest payment or contributor copies to published poets. The digital landscape ranges from prestigious online journals comparable to print publications to community-based platforms where poets share work more informally.

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Established online literary journals like Diode, Passages North, Shenandoah, and The Sun maintain high editorial standards and attract significant readership. These operate similarly to print journals but deliver work instantly. Mid-tier platforms like Medium, which hosts poet communities with follower systems, allow you to build an audience while developing your portfolio. Substack has become popular for poets who want to publish weekly or monthly collections directly to subscribers. While these platforms don't provide editorial selection, they offer control and direct connection to readers.

Several specialized platforms focus specifically on poetry. AllPoetry hosts a community of over 200,000 members who share work and provide feedback. Write Out Loud publishes original poetry and offers a community forum. Button Poetry focuses on spoken word and performance poetry, accepting video submissions. Emerging Writers Network provides publication and networking opportunities specifically for poets early in their careers. Finding the right digital outlet depends on whether you want editorial selection (more like traditional journals) or direct audience building (more like social platforms).

Many poets use digital platforms strategically. They might submit to online literary journals for credibility and publication credits, while simultaneously building an audience on Substack or Medium for regular readers. Some use platforms like AllPoetry or Write Out Loud for feedback and community before submitting polished work to formal journals. This multi-platform approach builds both credentials and audience over time.

Practical takeaway: Choose one online literary journal and one digital community platform to explore this month. Read published work on each, understand their submission process, and consider whether your poetry fits their style and audience.

Book Publishers, Contests, and Anthology Opportunities

Publishing a poetry book remains a significant achievement in a poet's career. Traditional poetry book publishers like Copper Canyon Press, Wave Books, and BOA Editions select manuscripts through reading periods that usually occur once or twice yearly. These publishers have editorial teams that review submissions and publish 20 to 40 titles annually. According to data from the Academy of American Poets, poets typically face acceptance rates between 1 and 3 percent at major poetry publishers, making it highly competitive. However, a published book from a respected publisher significantly increases a poet's standing in the literary community.

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Poetry contests offer another path to book publication. Many contests require entry fees (typically $15 to $30) and result in publication of the winning manuscript, with the winner often receiving a cash prize ranging from $500 to $5,000. The National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, and Academy of American Poets awards represent the highest tier of contests, but hundreds of regional and themed contests exist. Organizations like Cave Canem, a community for Black poets, run contests specifically for their communities. LGBTQ+ poetry contests and contests focused on specific regions or themes proliferate. Researching contests aligned with your work and values increases your likelihood of success.

Anthologies provide intermediate opportunities between journal publication and book publication. Themed anthologies seeking poems about motherhood, grief, nature, or specific identities publish regularly. Anthologies often provide broader readership than literary journals and sometimes offer payment or royalties. The risks are lower than submitting to book publishers—anthology selections are more frequent and acceptance rates higher. Building a publication record through anthologies before submitting a full manuscript to book publishers creates a stronger portfolio that publishers consider during their selection process.

Independent and self-publishing options have also expanded. Services like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing allow poets to publish books with no upfront cost, though distribution is limited. Small presses and vanity publishers offer middle ground, though quality and support vary widely. Many poets combine approaches, publishing individual poems in journals while self-publishing collections for direct sales and readings.

Practical takeaway: Identify three poetry contests or anthologies aligned with your work and values. Note their deadlines, entry fees, and submission requirements. Mark one contest deadline on your calendar as a target for your next manuscript.

Understanding Submission Guidelines, Fees, and Rights

Every publication has specific submission guidelines that determine how and when they accept work. These guidelines exist for practical reasons—they help publications manage thousands of submissions efficiently. Following them precisely dramatically increases your chances of having work considered seriously. Guidelines typically specify: the acceptable file format (Word, PDF, or pasted text), line length requirements (how many characters per line), poem length or number of poems allowed per submission, required formatting for headers with your name and contact information, and whether

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