Presses with Open Readings for Full-Length Poetry Manuscripts

In the past, I have created such lists as all the Small, Independent, and University Press Poetry Book Publishers (which was up-to-date as of 3-6-10 with 687 presses) and all the Journals with “Review” in Their Title, Who Accept Poetry, and Who Have a Website (which was up-to-date as of 2-29-12 with 344 journals.) The first lists I made were Poetry Book Contests with Spring & Summer Deadlines, Poetry Book Contests with Fall & Winter Deadlines (scroll down), and Poetry Chapbook Contests (scroll down).

Now, it’s time to start a new list, and I’ll keep it here and I’ll update it as I can. Currently, these are the only ones I remember or that other kind people have reminded me of. The list will grow, and if you know of any open readings, please note them in the comments and I’ll add them to the list. I’m trying to limit this list to free readings, but I’ve listed a few that charge a reading fee.

Presses with Open Readings for Full-Length Poetry Manuscripts

All the Time Open Readings

• Alabaster Leaves Publishing (Imprint of Kelsay Books.$20 reading fee)
• Aldrich Press (Imprint of Kelsay Books. $20 reading fee)
• Anaphora Literary Press
• Anhinga Press (only by mail)
• Another New Calligraphy (Chicago residents only.)
• Another Sky Press
• Anvil Press (Canadian poets only.)
• Arte Público Press (“Poetry … based on U.S. Hispanic (Cuban American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and others) cultural issues and themes.”)
• Bauhan Publishing
• BlazeVox
• BloodAxe Books
• BOA (American Poets Continuum Series but not until Spring 2013 and author must have at least one previously published book.)
• Bottom Dog Press (Begin with query.)
• Breakaway Books (Sport themes only.)
• Broadstone Books
• Carcanet Books (“Send between six and ten pages of work” and SASE to begin process.)
• City Works Press (San Diego poets. Send “a sample poem” and SASE to begin process.)
• Conundrum Press (“primarily from authors who live in the Rocky Mountain region”)
• Cooper Dillon (for $10 or with purchase of one of their books)
• Counterpath Press (“Please send a query with a sample of no more than about 10 pgs.” to begin process.)
• Daffydownlilly Press (Imprint of Kelsay Books. Rhyming poetry for children written by adults. $20 reading fee.)
• Dailey Swan Publishing (“Poetry … of a cultural or historical significance.”)
• Deerbrook Editions (“response time varies and can be as long as a year or more”
• ECW Press (Canadian poets only. Send “approx. 10-15 pages” to begin process.)
• Ekstasis Editions
• EM Press (query first with 10 poems)
• Emerson Street Press (but tends toward Canadian poets, “but would be willing to take on an international writer if the submission is too good to let slip by!”)
• Etruscan Press (with $20 reading fee)
• Fish Creek Press (“We want poetry with a strong sense of place, a prairie perspective, and/or a focus on family.”)
• Furniture Press Books (query with 12 poems and proposal)
• Glass Lyre Press ($25 reading fee.)
• Gold Wake Press ($3 reading fee.)
• Goose Lane Editions (Canadian poets only.)
• Grace Notes Books (“Send ONLY the 1st 10-15 pages from your manuscript or selected pages/pieces and a cover letter including length information, etc.” to begin process.)
• Grayson Books (query with “a sample of 6-10 pages of the manuscript, along with a statement of your qualifications and publication credits, expected audience and promotion ideas.”)
• High Plains Press (“Poetry of the American West. Old West history is what we can sell best.”)
• Holy Cow! Press (Query with proposal first. If they are interested, they will ask for poems.)
• House of Anansi Press
• Ibbetson Street Press
• Keyhole Press
• Lady Lazarus-Press
• Lapwing Publications
• Leaping Dog Press and Asylum Arts Publishing (query by mail with proposal and sample poems.)
• Lethe Press (Gay and Lesbian. ”Rarely considers unsolicited manuscripts. If you have a project you believe may be of interest to us, please send a short query to us via email.”)
• Literary Laundry (The Vitalist Series. “Submissions are due April 1 of each year.” No opening date given.)
• Manic D Press (You must read one of their books and tell them which one you read. Query with 5-10 poems.)
• Measure Press
• Mother Tongue Publishing Limited (British Columbia poets.)
• New Binary Press
• Northwestern University Press
• Oberon Press (Canadian poets. No simultaneous submissions.)
• Oneiros Books (surreal/dark/experimental poetry. Begin with query and sample poems.)
• Owlcat Press (Begin process with a one-paragraph query email.)
• Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing (“We are currently opened for submissions for our 2013 lineup.”)
• Pinyon Publishing (“Queries welcome.”)
• Poetic Matrix
• Recliner Books (Canadian poets only.)
• Red Bridge Press (“Book-length submissions will open in Winter 2012-13.” Begin with “query letter via … submission portal.”)
• Salmon Poetry (Query with bio and 5-10 poems. Backlogged until 2015.)
• Shire Reckoning Publishinhg House
• Skylight Press (British press.)
• Sweatshoppe Publications
• Solid Objects
• White Violet Press (Imprint of Kelsay Books. For formalist poets. $20 reading fee)

January Open Readings

• CavanKerry Press (For Laurel Books, Emerging Voices, and Notable Voices imprint only. $20 reading fee.)
• Graywolf Press (Only for poets who have previously published a book of poems.) (Graywolf Press has decided to stop accepting unsolicited submissions until further notice. 5-20-13.)
• H_NGM_N BKS (with $10 reading fee)
• Kore Press (with $35 reading. Women only.)
• Milkweed Editions
• Nine Arches Press
• Winter Goose Publishing (Readings open January 15, 2013. No closing date given.)

February Open Readings

• A-Minor Press (beginning in 2013)
• BkMk Press (Process begins with a sample of 10 pages of poetry. See guidelines.)
• Brick Road Poetry Press (Suspended open readings at least until 2013.)
• CavanKerry Press (For Laurel Books, Emerging Voices, and Notable Voices imprint only. $20 reading fee.)
• H_NGM_N BKS (with $10 reading fee)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Milkweed Editions
• Nine Arches Press

March Open Readings

• BkMk Press (Process begins with a sample of 10 pages of poetry. See guidelines.)
• CavanKerry Press (For Laurel Books, Emerging Voices, and Notable Voices imprint only. $20 reading fee.)
• H_NGM_N BKS (with $10 reading fee and only until March 15th)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Milkweed Editions
• Nine Arches Press
• Sibling Rivalry Press (“In lieu of a reading charge or entry fee, purchase one of our titles from our official online store.”)
• The Waywiser Press (“Authors who have published two or more previous collections of poems”)

April Open Readings

• BkMk Press (Process begins with a sample of 10 pages of poetry. See guidelines.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Sibling Rivalry Press (“In lieu of a reading charge or entry fee, purchase one of our titles from our official online store.”)
• The Waywiser Press (“Authors who have published two or more previous collections of poems”)

May Open Readings

• Able Muse Press
• Ahsahta Press
• Augury Books
• BkMk Press (Process begins with a sample of 10 pages of poetry. See guidelines.)
• Graywolf Press (Only for poets who have previously published a book of poems.) (Graywolf Press has decided to stop accepting unsolicited submissions until further notice. 5-20-13.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Sibling Rivalry Press (“In lieu of a reading charge or entry fee, purchase one of our titles from our official online store.”)
• The Waywiser Press (“Authors who have published two or more previous collections of poems”)
• Willow Books ($25 reading fee)

June Open Readings 

• Able Muse Press
• Aquarius Press/Willow Books (2012)
• Augury Books
• Bat Cat Press
• BkMk Press (Process begins with a sample of 10 pages of poetry. See guidelines.)
• Black Lawrence Press
• Black Ocean
• Four Way Books ($28 reading fee.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Red Hen Press (For unagented manuscripts. All year with agented submissions.)
• Willow Books ($25 reading fee)

July Open Readings

• Able Muse Press (until July 15)
• Aquarius Press/Willow Books (2012)
• Bat Cat Press
• Lummox Press
• Mayapple Press (probably. See guidelines.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Milkweed Editions
• Persea Books 
• SpringGun Press
• Trio House Press
• Tupelo Press (upon further investigation, they charge $28 for their open reading.)
• Willow Books ($25 reading fee)

August Open Reading

• Arktori Books (lesbian poets)
• Aquarius Press/Willow Books (2012)
• Lummox Press
• Mayapple Press (probably. See guidelines.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Milkweed Editions
• Nine Arches Press
• SpringGun Press
• Willow Books ($25 reading fee)

September Open Readings

• Arktori Books (lesbian poets)
• Aquarius Press/Willow Books (2012)
• Graywolf Press (Only for poets who have previously published a book of poems.) (Graywolf Press has decided to stop accepting unsolicited submissions until further notice. 5-20-13.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Milkweed Editions
• Nine Arches Press
• Sarabande Books
• Steel Toe Books (with purchase of one of their books)
• Tarpaulin Sky Press (Starts September 15)
• University of Pittsburgh Press (Pitt Poetry Series. For poets who have previously published a poetry book.)
• Willow Books ($25 reading fee)

October Open Readings

• Arktori Books (lesbian poets)
• Canarium Books
• Carnegie Mellon University Press (not open to previous Carnegie Mellon University Press Poets.)
• CavanKerry Press (For Laurel Books, Emerging Voices, and Notable Voices imprint only. $20 reading fee.)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Nine Arches Press
• Steel Toe Books (with purchase of one of their books)
• Tarpaulin Sky Press 
• University of Pittsburgh Press (Pitt Poetry Series. For poets who have previously published a poetry book.)

November Open Readings

• Arktori Books (lesbian poets)
• Canarium Books (Through November 20.)
• CavanKerry Press (For Laurel Books, Emerging Voices, and Notable Voices imprint only. $20 reading fee.)
• Copper Canyon Press (November 15 through December 15 with $35 reading fee.)
• Future Poem Books (November 15 through December 31.)
• H_NGM_N BKS (with $10 reading fee)
• McSweeney’s Books
• Nine Arches Press
• Press 53 (send sample of 10 poems first)
• WordTech Communications (Includes the following imprints Cherry Grove Collections, CW Books, David Robert Books, Turning Point, Word Press, and WordTech Editions.)

December Open Readings

• CavanKerry Press (For Laurel Books, Emerging Voices, and Notable Voices imprint only. $20 reading fee.)
• Copper Canyon Press (November 15 through December 15 with $35 reading fee.)
• Future Poem Books (November 15 through December 31.)
• H_NGM_N BKS (with $10 reading fee)
• WordTech Communications (Includes the following imprints Cherry Grove Collections, CW Books, David Robert Books, Turning Point, Word Press, and WordTech Editions. Closes December 15.)

More to come.

Ultimate update 6-8-13 at 6:59 p.m. added Conundrum Press and Fish Creek Press to All Time Open Readings.

Penultimate  update 5-26-13 at 10:59 a.m. added Glass Lyre Press to All Time Open Readings.

Antepenultimate update 5-24-14 at 1:53 p.m. added The Waywiser Press to March, April, and May.

Preantepenultimate update 5-6-13 at 2:01 p.m. added Augury Books to May and June.

104 presses that print paperback and/or hardcover poetry books.//