Skylight magazine submissions

Late notice I know but...


Submission deadline for the Spring issue of Skylight 47 is 1 December 2014.

Please send up to four poems, along with a short biographical note (no more than 60 words), to skylightpoets47@gmail.com. Poems to be no longer than 40 lines and should be previously unpublished.

Please send your poems as an attachment (.doc, .docx, .txt or .rtf) and in the body of the email.
The editors would be interested to receive ideas for reviews, particularly of recent debut poetry collections, and original artwork.

Contributors will receive one copy of the magazine.

The North Magazine

The North is a first rate poetry magazine based in Sheffield. Get yourself a couple of copies or subscribe first.

Guidelines:

• Please send work by post and not email. 
• Include either a stamped addressed envelope, or IRCs and an addressed envelope. Tell us if you don't need the copies back.

Well, these don't exist in Ireland so I'd suggest telling them that and giving them your email. Failing that, I think it is possible to buy UK stamps online. 

• Send up to 6 poems.
• Please put your name and address on every sheet. Our office is full of pieces of paper, and things can slip astray of their moorings.
• We have no restrictions on subject matter or style, but remember we're a magazine of contemporary poetry. We have high editorial standards. We look for energy, imagination and technique.
• We try to reply within 6 weeks of receipt.
• Taking out a subscription won't affect your chances of publication. But it will win you our love and respect, and help to keep us afloat.
• We also need good critical articles and reviews to do with contemporary poetry. In first instance, just send us ideas, synopsis, etc.

Link here

Note: If I mention a magazine, paper or online, I do endorse that magazine's standards and ethos. The opposite does not hold though, just because I haven't mentioned a magazine, doesn't mean that I don't endorse it. I may not even had read a copy. Magazine publishers, feel free to get in touch about possible future posts.

Penny Dreadful Seeks Submissions

The Cork based publication 5th edition is looking for

Ball-grabbing, punch-in-the-face writing from nice, courteous ladies and gents.

Deadline: 6th December

Stories = Up to 2 of up to 3000 words each.

Poetry = 6 of whatever length you like as long as you don’t take the piss. (Note: Please include all submitted poems in the same file, or they may not be considered for publication)

Bio = Please include a short bio (100 words max) and any internet website linking things which are suitable for good, Christian eye-balls.

Link here

You could always buy a copy to see what rings their bells (and give it to someone else for Christmas-why-not?)

The 2014 Whitby Residential Week

This sounds brilliant. We could do with something like this in Ireland.

“One of the most vital and vitalising literature organisations in the country” Andrew Motion

Sunday 7th December (evening) to Friday 12th December (morning) 2014

The second annual (completely upgraded, with all-new brilliant writing exercises) Poetry Week on the wonderful East Coast. This will be a highly-structured, demanding but hugely enjoyable course with ‘the best poetry tutors in the world’ (The Guardian).

Mornings will be devoted to tailor-made exercises based on classic and contemporary poems.

Afternoons will include small group work and writing time/free time in Whitby. We will brave the 199 steps, the piers, the bookshops, the Abbey by night and there will be time for you to try ‘the best fish and chips in the world’ (Whitby Gazette).

Evenings will include the Poetry Business’s unique ‘World Poetry Festival’: where each course member will give a ten minute reading ‘as’ a 20th Century poet of their choice. Also the Poetry Business’s celebrated ‘Secret Poem’ game, with truly amazing prizes.

The week will involve a little (enjoyable) pre-course work, and depends upon the willingness to share your own writing and collude in the study of favourite poets. (Re)reading Dracula before you arrive is optional

Rates
Places are £500 or £600 each. The higher rate gets you a 4* ensuite double room with hospitality tray. For £500, you get a standard room (with 4* hostel rating) that includes an in-room wash-basin and bathroom on the corridor.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided for all writers, plus cake. There is a set menu but special diets can be provided for. There is also a bar.

The course will be held at Sneaton Castle in Whitby (YO21 3QN).

The centre is situated in beautiful and extensive grounds adjacent to St Hilda's Priory, and within walking distance of the historic seaside town of Whitby.

Please e-mail office@poetrybusiness.co.uk to reserve a place.

Angry Manifesto - Political Poems sought

Subtle or in your face? The Angry Manifesto is looking for political poems.

The Angry Manifesto is a brand new poetry magazine, aimed at protest and the current political world we live in today.

They want to hear your words of dissent: why we should vote? why we should'nt vote? why you feel alienated from the current political parties today? They want your bile, your angry, your  words of protest, they want poems that will change and mould peoples views at the next general election in May 2015.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Send no more than five poems with no more than thirty lines each, they don't want poems about London, Religion, Love, and Sparrows.

All poems most be on a political theme, as this is a political / protest magazine.

Please send your poems theangrymanifesto@gmail.com with a short bio, because the poems should do the talking.  

Deadline: 1st Jan 2015.

Each issue will have a guest editor, so get writing.  

Read more: www.the-angry-manifesto0.webnode.com

Granta is Accepting Unsolicited Submissions

After a long hiatus Granta, one of the world’s most prestigious literary magazines, is again accepting unsolicited submissions.

Granta publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry. There are no strict word limits, though most prose submissions are between 3000 and 6000 words and the editors advise they are unlikely to read more than 10,000 words of any submission.

Alongside the print edition, the online New Writing program publishes stories, poems, essays, interviews, animations and more from established Granta alumni as well as new voices.

All submissions will be considered for both the print and online editions (unless otherwise stipulated in the cover letter). Selection is extremely competitive and only a very small fraction of submissions will be chosen for publication. Reading recent editions of Granta will help you assess whether your work is likely to be a good match.

Writers must submit their work via Submittable and there are no reading fees. For further information visit the Granta website

Deadline: 1 April 2015.

As usual, do read a few copies of the magazine, paper and online to see what shakes their tree. It's very classy and quite highbrow. Fantastic opportunity.

Submissions sought for Mslexia Magazine - Earth Songs

Mslexia, the fabulous magazine of writing by women is looking for submissions for the theme Earth Songs.

Issue 65 (Mar/Apr/May 2015):

Our planet is under threat. This is an opportunity to create its many intricate marvels - in fiction or poetry - or to mourn against their loss. 

Deadline: 9 December 2014
Mslexia welcomes previously unpublished submissions from women for every part of the magazine.New Writing is a substantial section of new poetry and/or prose in the magazine, written by published and unpublished authors, selected and introduced by our New Writing Guest Editor.

Submission details here

100 Words, 100 Books

The Book Show, RTÉ Radio has launched a very short fiction/flash competition. 

Prizes: 100 books, publication in a book of the best short fiction received and the shortlisted writers will have their stories read out on stage at a live recording of The Book Show to be simultaneously broadcast live on radio on 6 December.

Deadline: 23 November 2014

rte.ie/radio1/the-book-show/

Guidelines

• The competition is open to people born or resident in Ireland and must be in English.
• Submitted stories must be a minimum of 100 words, up to a maximum of 200 words.
• All stories must be original and unpublished (including online).
• No more than three stories by the same author can be entered.
• A small panel of judges will be judging these with these entries.

Who are the judges?

Enter By Post: 
100 Words, 100 Books, The Book Show, RTE Radio 1, Donny brook Dublin 4. 

or By Email:

bookshow@rte.ie with “100 Words, 100 Books” in the subject line. 

Belfast Launch of Nessa O'Mahony's new poetry collection 'Her Father's Daughter'

And while I'm on the subject of launches, this Friday 14th November if you are in or around Belfast, do get along to Nessa O'Mahony's poetry reading at 6.30pm in No Alibis Bookshop, 83 Botanic Avenue. I've never been but it's enticing and I hear they throw a very good launch. Soon, soon.

In the new poetry collection, she examines the nature of those bonds through poems that combine the autobiographical with the historical as she explores poetically two very contrasting father-daughter relationships from two very contrasting periods of Irish history. 

Nessa’s grandfather, Michael McCann, was a quintessential Irish nationalist of the early part of the 20th century. He fought for the British in World War I, then fought against the British in the Irish War of Independence and finally fought his fellow countrymen in an Irish Civil War.

In this collection, Nessa presents a parallel sequence of poems, one relating to her relationship with her own father, whose decline and death she charts with painful honesty, the second exploring the life of her grandfather, a more mysterious figure whose story slowly emerges through her mother’s memories, and her own research. The result is a meditation on love and losing and on what is retained through narrative and memory.

Reading alongside Nessa will be local poet Colin Dardis, who I believe is also well worth a listen.

Later in November, Friday 28th at 7pm to be precise, the poet Kerrie Hardie will be launching her new collection. Should be another good one.

Launch of Angela Carr's First Collection

One name that has been popping up on the poetry radar a lot recently is Angela Carr. That's Angela T Carr by the way as there is another poet in the US.

Angela was selected to read at this year's Poetry Ireland Introductions, won the Allingham Festival Poetry Competition, has an unsettling poem in the latest issue of Abridged (Torquemada), has been published in Mslexia, The Pickled Body, upcoming in Boyne Berries and the Cork Literary Review, was shortlisted for Over The Edge writer, the Listowel single poem and Gregory O'Donoghue competitions. Her manuscript was highly commended in the Patrick Kavanagh Award and won the Cork Literary Review Poetry Manuscript Competition in 2013.

There's no end to it!

So the manuscript, named "How to Lose your Home & Save Your Life" is being published by Bradshaw Books, launched this week, Friday 14th November at 7pm in the Vintage Room upstairs at Workman's Club, Dublin.

All welcome. Should be a good evening.

Angela blogs here adreamingskin.com 

Top 10 tips for being a successful poet

Here's some well worded tips on being  successful poet from former Laureate, Andrew Motion.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29538180

I like his comments about rhyme

Use everything in your toolbox.

Also

read your poetry out loud

is crucial. How does it feel in your mouth? Do you stumble?

Mind you, he's not defining 'successful' 

This is rather fun.

50 Reasons Not To Date A Poet

although American biased.

17. They will secretly judge your metaphors.

Reminds me of the line in a poem by Kate  Tempest which, if memory serves, reads

Don't fall in love with me or I'll put you in a poem

They also missed the reason, a poet has no reliable income and will always be looking for financial help. 

The RSPB and The Rialto Nature Poetry Competition

As well as offering poets the chance to win considerable cash prizes and publication of their poems, this competition will raise money for conservation and poetry.

Prizes

1st PRIZE £1000
2nd PRIZE £500
3rd PRIZE A Place on a Creative Writing Course at Ty Newydd in 2015 (worth £550)

ADDITIONAL PRIZE, a personal tour with Mark Cocker of his most cherished wild life places in East Anglia. Mark is one of Britain’s most celebrated writers on nature.

The judge is celebrated poet, writer and broadcaster, Simon Armitage. 

The entry fee is £6 for the first poem and £3.50 for each subsequent entry.

Full details and the facility to enter online can be found on The Rialto website:

 http://www.therialto.co.uk/pages/the-magazine/nature-poetry-competition-2014/

Please do note the term ‘Nature Poetry’ will be given a wide interpretation by the judge. Here are some thoughts by Michael Mackmin in The Rialto editorial:

So what is Nature Poetry? As the flier says, the judge will give this a wide interpretation. I’d imagine it won’t have to be just poems about creatures and beings that share the planet, or about ‘environmental concerns’. We are all air and water, everything we eat comes from the earth or the sea, most people know the roughness of a leaf or the heft of a stone can change a mood or express a feeling. I asked a 16 year old, What is nature? and she said, insects and grass: I asked a 32 year old the same question and she said, the sun and the moon and the stars and flowers and fruit and babies. You might just have to write your poems and take a risk.

Closing date of the competition is midnight on March 1st 2015

The Bristol Poetry Prize

1st Prize:  £600 plus an invitation to read your poem at Bristol Spring Poetry Festival 2015 

2nd Prize: £300 plus an invitation to read your poem at Bristol Spring Poetry Festival 2015 

3rd Prize: £100 plus an invitation to read your poem at Bristol Spring Poetry Festival 2015 

Judge: Penelope Shuttle (All poems will be seen by Penelope Shuttle)

Entry fee: £6.00 per poem

All profits generated by the Bristol Poetry Prize will directly fund Bristol Poetry Festivals 2015.

By post

To enter the competition by post, download the instructions and rules as a doc or instruction and rules as a pdf.

and download the entry form as a doc or download the entryform as a pdf.

Postal entries postmarked no later than Friday 8 January 2015 will be accepted.

Online

To enter the competition online, download the rules as a doc or download the rules as a pdf, read them and fill in the form below and attach your poems.

You will then be taken to a payment page where you can pay by PayPal or debit/credit card.

Online entries must be received no later than midnight 9 January 2015. 

Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize

THE 2014 COMPETITION IS NOW OPEN 

 

There are four cash prizes for a single unpublished poem – €10,000 for the overall winner and three runner-up prizes of €1,000.

 

The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €12 per poem, and you can enter as many poems as you like. 

ENTER ONLINE HERE 

or simply send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to 'The Moth Magazine Ltd.' and an entry form (downloadable here)
or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of poem(s) attached to: The Moth, Drummullen, Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland 

This year’s competition will be judged by the poet Michael Symmons Roberts, ‘an outstanding writer’ whose poetry has won the Forward Prize,
the Costa Poetry Prize and the Whitbread Poetry Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Griffin International Poetry Prize and the T.S. Eliot Prize.

Please make sure you READ THE RULES before entering the competition. 

CLOSING DATE 31 DECEMBER 2014 

Poetry Divas at Allingham festival

The Allingham Festival is a Creative Arts & Literary Festival in the northwest of Ireland. Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal is the home of the 19th century poet William Allingham and his fine artist wife, Helen. 'Creativity Across Borders' is this year's theme

There are lots of interesting event but most importantly on SATURDAY 8TH November at 8pm the Poetry Divas will be reading as part of the Wonder of Words. It will be wonderful.

See you there

Link here