Writing & Poetry Competitions & Submissions – May 2024
Happy May Day! Another month rolls around with a brand new list of over 150 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in May 2024.
Today is also the Irish celebration of Bealtaine, one of the traditional fire festivals of the Celtic calendar and you can explore into these ancient summer rituals in a brand new writing prompt on the blog.
We’ve just finished up our NaPoWriMo 30-day writing challenge Songs of a Pagan Place | Writing the Irish Myths & Legends with a fantastic group reading - it’s also a real pleasure to hear the work generated by these courses and I was blown away by the imagination and talent these writers brought to the materials. Congrats to everyone who took part!
Coming up this month, I’ll be running my popular 6-week intermediate course - Writing Slant | Making a Poem which takes a deep dive into the making of a poem. It’s the perfect way to revisit all those first drafts and put them through their paces before sending them out for publication. And in June, I’ll be running a couple for daytime 4-week Poetry Workshop groups on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoons, which are filling up fast. More details on courses and workshops below.
Whatever you’re up to with your writing this month — drafting, honing, editing or submitting — I wish you every luck and success. Please consider sharing a link to this post on your own blog or social media pages. Thank you!
Writing Courses and Events:
If you’re looking for a writing course or feedback on your writing, here’s what’s coming up in May & June at Wordbox.
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Writing Slant | Making a Poem: 6-Week Online Course - An intermediate taught course focusing on transforming first drafts into polished poems starting 22 May 2024.
Daytime Poetry Group Workshops - New 4-week poetry feedback workshops starting Tues 4 May at 10.30am and Weds 5 May at 2pm. **Filling up fast!**
DIY ONLINE COURSES
The Winter Almanac | A Writing Journey in January
Gods & Monsters | Writing the Greek Myths & Legends
Miracle Machine | Writing the Body
More self-study courses to be announced shortly - keep an eye on your inbox.
Keep in Touch
For the latest poetry lists, writing prompts, events and news, find Wordbox online here:
Please save/follow these links and remember, if the list is not already on the blog, it’s not published.
Alternatively, have the list delivered direct to your inbox by joining the mailing list here.
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Submission Opportunities in May 2024
Humana Obscura – Poetry, Flash, Art – closes 1 May (submit online)
Montreal Poetry Prize – Poetry – early bird closes 1 May (submit online)
Mulberry Literary – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir, Art & more – closes 1 May (submit online)
Gorse – Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Translation – closes 3 May (submit online)
The Poetry Society Members' Competition – Poetry, theme: My Place – closes 3 May (submit online)
Cave Canem Prize – Poetry (emerging Black Writers) – closes 5 May (submit online)
Goldsmith Festival Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 5 May (submit online)
The Adroit Prizes – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction – closes 5 May (submit online)
Tolka Journal – Nonfiction – closes 5 May (submit online)
Welshpool Poetry Festival Competition – Poetry – closes 5 May (submit online)
The Polari Prize – Books by emerging and established LGBTQ+ writers – closes 6 May (submit online)
Arts & Disability Connect Scheme – All disabled artists – closes 7 May (submit online)
Arts Council Touring of Work Scheme – All disciplines – closes 9 May (submit online)
John Hewitt Society Community Literary Bursary Award – All writers – closes 9 May (submit online)
Sean Dunne Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 12 May (submit online)
Shooter Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Creative nonfiction, theme: Nightlife – closes 12 May (submit online)
AIC Artist Mentoring Award – Socially-engaged Artists – closes 13 May (submit online)
The Interpreter’s House – Poetry, Fiction – closes 14 May (submit online)
Ache Magazine Anthology: Fit Notes – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, theme: Feminist Writing on Illness & Work – closes 15 May (submit online)
Fourteen Poems – Poetry – closes 15 May (submit online)
Grist ProForma Writing Contest – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Hybrid – closes 15 May (submit online)
Montreal International Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 15 May (submit online)
Ploughshares Emerging Writers’ Contest – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction – closes 15 May (submit online)
Creative Future Writers Award – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, theme: Reveal – closes 19 May (submit online)
Coverstory Books Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 19 May (submit online)
National Landscapes: Nature Calling – Writers & Artists – closes 24 May (submit online)
The Stinging Fly – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – open 15-29 May (submit online)
Well Project Open Call for New Writing: Resurrection Charms – Poetry, Fiction, Visual Essay, theme: Ecology – closes 29 May (submit online)
Abridged 0-101: Rebecca – Poetry, theme: Haunting, Convention, Repression & Resistance – closes 31 May (submit online)
And Other Poems – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
Biblioasis – Poetry manuscripts (48-100 pages) – closes 31 May (submit online)
Broken Sleep Books – Poetry manuscript (40+ pages) – closes 31 May (submit online)
Carmen Et Error – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
Crannog – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
Culture Moves Europe – Arts Projects Across Europe – closes 31 May (submit online)
Frogmore Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
HNDL Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Art, theme: Dream (Neurodivergent, Disabled, Health Impaired) – closes 31 May (submit online)
LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
Okay Donkey – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
Oyster River Pages – Poetry, Fiction, Creative nonfiction, Art – closes 31 May (submit online)
Postcard Lit – Poetry, Prose Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
Rhino Poetry – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
River Heron Review – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
Sonder – Flash, Fiction, Nonfiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
Spelt Magazine – Poetry, Creative Non-fiction, theme: Nature Unbound – closes 31 May (submit online)
Split Lip Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir, Art & more – closes 31 May (submit online)
Strix – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Bridport Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Novel – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Laurel Prize – Poetry manuscript (40+ pages, nature, environmental or ecological theme) – closes 31 May (submit online)
The New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Plaza Poetry Prize – Poetry (40 lines max.) – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Poetry London Pamphlet Prize – Poetry manuscript (24 pages max.) – closes 31 May (submit online)
The River Heron Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Rooney Prize for Literature – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction & more (emerging writer under 40) – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Yeovil Literary Prize – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
The Wilde Foundation Writers Festival Competition – Poetry, Fiction – closes 31 May (submit online)
Two Sylvias Press Chapbook Contest – Poetry manuscript (17-24 pages) – closes 31 May (submit online)
UNESCO City of Literature International Residency Programme: Krakow – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Drama – closes 31 May (submit online)
Wirral Poetry Festival Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 31 May (submit online)
OPPORTUNITIES WITH RECURRING DEADLINES
Ó Bhéal Five Words – Poetry – deadline each week, annual prize (submit online)
OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP IN JUNE 2024
PEN Heaney Prize – Poetry collection (Publishers only) – closes 6 June (submit online)
Arts Council Markievicz Award – All disciplines – closes 6 June (submit online)
Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year – Poetry – closes 7 June (submit online)
Under the Radar Magazine – Poetry – closes 7 June (submit online)
Mslexia Showcase – Poetry, Fiction, theme: Red – closes 10 Jun (submit online)
Black in White Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 21 June (submit online)
Write by the Sea Writing Competition – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir – closes 21 June (submit online)
14 Magazine – Poetry (max. 14 lines) – closes 30 June (submit online)
International Welsh Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)
The Poetry London Prize – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)
Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 June (submit online)
OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS
Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)
Agenda – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit online)
A New Ulster – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
Anthropocene – Poetry – open (submit online)
Apartment Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Atrium – Poetry – open (submit online)
Bear Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Artwork – open (submit online)
Bending Genres – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)
Carve Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
Confingo Publishing – Poetry, Fiction, Art, Photography – open (submit online)
Crow & Cross Keys – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, theme: Gothic – open (submit online)
Crowstep Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)
Damnation – Poetry, Prose, Flash – open (submit online)
Disabled Tales – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – open (submit online)
Dreich Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)
Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)
Dust Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Empty House Press – Poetry, Prose Poetry, Flash, Hybrid – open (submit online)
Empty Mirror – Poetry, Non-fiction, Visual Art (committed to diversity & inclusion) – open (submit online)
Fecund Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Essay & more (POC only) – open (submit online)
Frontier Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Fruit Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid (LGBTQI+, with emphasis on unheard voices – POC, trans, working class) – open (submit online)
Guernica – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Photo Essays – open (submit by post)
Hosking Houses Trust Residencies – Women writers over 40 (all genres – must have contract to publish / broadcast / perform) – open (submit online)
LitMag – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)
Lunate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)
Narrative Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction. Plays – open (submit online)
New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Neon Magazine – Poetry, Flash, Art and more – open (submit online)
Obsessed with Pipework – Poetry – open (submit online)
Omelette Literary Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction & more – open (submit online)
One – Poetry, a single poem – open (submit online)
Only Poems – Poetry – open (submit online)
Orbis – Poetry – open (submit by post (UK) or online (overseas only))
Palette Poetry – Poetry (under-represented and marginalized voices of all colors encouraged to submit) – open (submit online)
Peepal Tree Press – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction manuscripts from Black & Caribbean writers – open (submit online)
Pigeon Pages – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – open (submit online)
POETRY Magazine – Poetry (submit online)
Poetry Ireland Review – Poetry – open (submit by post)
Poetry London – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Poetry Salzburg – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Poetry Wales – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Porridge Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – open (submit online)
PN Review – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit by post)
Prelude – Poetry – open (submit online)
Prole – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)
Psaltery & Lyre – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Hybrid – open (submit online)
Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – (submit online)
River Styx – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama, Visual Art – open (submit online)
Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)
Sine Theta Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art (Sino diaspora only. People of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macau heritage, who live anywhere away from the original ‘homeland’ of that heritage – rolling deadlines, email to express interest (submit online)
Spry Literary Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
Squawk Back – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews, Plays – open (submit online)
Stand Magazine – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Stepaway Magazine – Poetry, Flash Fiction, theme: walking in the city – open (submit online)
Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry – open (submit online)
Tab Journal – Poetry, Poetics – open (submit online)
Tears in the Fence – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Brooklyn Quarterly – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Translation, Humour – open (submit online)
The Curly Mind – Poetry, theme: experimental – open (submit online)
The Dalloway – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)
The Dark Horse – Poetry – open (submit by post)
The Galway Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews, Plays – open (submit online)
The Lake – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Lascaux Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)
The Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Essays and more (actively encourages writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds) – open (submit online)
The London Magazine – Poetry, Non-Fiction, Art – open (submit online)
The Missouri Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
The New Absurdist – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction – open (submit online)
The New Yorker – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
The Offing – Poetry, Translation, Art and more – open (submit online)
The Oxonian – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation – open (submit online)
The Poetry Village – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Poetry Review – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Pomegranate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Nonfiction, theme: Writing about Artists – open (submit online)
The Seventh Quarry – Short Poetry – open (submit online)
The Southeast Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Reviews, Artwork – open (submit online)
The Sun Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Interviews – open (submit online)
The Times Literary Supplement – Poetry (submit by post)
Tinderbox Poetry Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)
Trasna – Poetry, Fiction, Essays (open to writers across the world who consider Ireland a home in some regard) – open (submit online)
Wildness – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
Wishbone Words – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Visual Art & more (disabled and chronically ill writers/artists) – open (submit online)
Best of luck!
If you have a poetry competition or journal with a deadline in MAY 2024, and it is not included above, feel free to send me the details.
