Awards

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Submitting Poetry to Online Journals Who Accept New Writers

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Finding the right home for your poetry can take a lot of time and research. I often submit to online journals because I want to demonstrate to my book publisher that there is a market for these poems. One way of doing that is to have literary journals publish them. These then become the “Acknowledgements” at the back of your book manuscript.

Another reason to submit online is because it builds your portfolio when you’re trying to submit to more prestigious print journals. Online journals can be a great first place to submit when you don’t have many or any publications.

Here are some places to start:

Barren Magazine https://barrenmagazine.com/ publishes monthly in all genres. They lean toward introspective poetry.

Euonia Review https://eunoiareview.wordpress.com/submissions/ accepts original poetry as well as reprints, but you must retain the rights to them. They also respond quickly, sometimes within 24 hours. They accept up to 10 poems at a time.

The Meadow https://authorspublish.com/the-meadow-now-seeking-submissions/ publishes both in print and online. They publish multiple genres of new and established writers. They nominate for the Pushcart Poetry Prize, so if you get published by them, you are eligible for this prize nomination.

Ghost City Review https://ghostcitypress.com/submit publishes in multiple genres, but do not accept simultaneous submissions. This means you can only submit to them individually and not to other journals at the same time.

Roses and Wildflowers https://societyforritualarts.com/rw/2024-spring/submission-guidelines/ publishes on themed issues. They publish in Spring and Fall and there is always a theme. Check their website for themes.

Starry Starry Kite https://starrystarrykite.substack.com/about is published monthly and welcomes new and established writers. They also do interviews with featured writers.

When I submitted my manuscript, Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth for publication, I had several acknowledgements from different journals, including online ones like Starry Starry Kite and Wordpeace. This assures the publisher you’re submitting to that journals were already interested in publishing some of the work in the manuscript. We submitted to four publishers and got offers from two. We ultimately wound up signing with Shanti Arts. The book should be out in early 2026.

Follow the journey of my book, Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth, which is a collaboration with the Norwegian artist, Irene Christensen. I will blog about it here on Thursdays.

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How to Write a Query Letter to a Publisher

Māori. Oil, 40” x 40”

Many writers ask me about how to approach a publisher and get them interested in reading my manuscript. I’ve published three books. A good query letter is invaluable in soliciting interest from a publisher. With a novel, it is simpler to give a plot summary, character analysis, etc. But with a poetry manuscript, it’s harder to describe. You have to provide the theme. A good query letter is on the short side and to the point. It has one purpose, to entice the publisher into looking at your manuscript.

To start, look at what the publisher publishes and maybe getting some sample titles. If you like the books, and what the publisher did with them, then you and the publisher are probably a good fit. You might also have friends who had a good experience publishing with someone. If so, you could use this in your opening. As a writer, you have books you love. Get those books and look up the publisher.

Next, read the publisher’s guidelines carefully and follow them. Some publishers want sample pages; some want the whole manuscript;and some just want your letter outlining exactly what it is you want to send. Make sure you know the standards of each publisher and how to meet those standards. When you write your query, incorporate what you like about the publisher’s line of books. Was it one title that drew you in? Is that title relevant to your manuscript?

Start with your favorite publisher first, then wait a few weeks for the response. If it’s a no, and every writer gets a no at least once in a while, go onto your second favorite publisher. Start accumulating a list of publishers, in order of your preference, and keep at it. Persistence is key.

Your previous publishing record is important in your query. The publisher wants to know other people have published you. List book credits, journals and/or anthologies. This proves that you have an audience. Also, if you have won any awards, this is the place to list them. Endorsements from other poets and writers in the field are helpful. If you know someone who has published well, ask them to read your manuscript and write a blurb for you. Include this in your query letter.

This letter is an introduction and framework for your manuscript. It should prepare and excite the publisher to ask for and read your manuscript. Connecting threads could be more valuable to your presentation than just summarizing your manuscript. There must be something about this work that inspired you to do it. Share that enthusiasm with the publisher. Get to the heart of the project and show the publisher why it’s important and why you did it.

I am working on a collection of eco-poetry inspired by the paintings of the Norwegian artist, Irene Christensen. The paintings are on the theme of women at the heart of the environmental movement. One of her paintings is pictured above, Māori. This poem and painting of the same name was published in Starry Starry Kite, which was part of my query letter. So far, Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth is out for consideration with two publishers. We await their response.

I will be continuing the journey of this manuscript on Thursdays . Follow me here.

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Congratulating Yourself on Finishing a Piece of Writing

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As writers, we often feel that we don’t do enough. We don’t put enough hours into our writing,

we don’t do enough research before writing, and we don’t publish enough. When you finish a

piece of writing, give yourself a pat on the back: You finished a piece of creative writing—

something many attempt, but not quite as many achieve. I recently finished a manuscript called

Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth. I collaborated on it with the

Norwegian Artist, Irene Christensen. It’s a collection about the climate crisis and women at the

heart of it. I feel good about completing it.

Some writers consider the worth of their writing in the published pieces, but others don’t even

attempt to publish. The reward for them is in the process. You can share your writing at an

open-mic reading. You can post it online or bring it to an in-person writing group for

constructive critique. You can send it to a friend.

You can send it to a literary journal or an agent for possible publication, but that’s a topic for

another blog. As writers, we need to acknowledge our accomplishments for ourselves.

I’ll be blogging Thursdays about the writing process. Follow me here.

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Invitation from the Wheeler Memorial Library in Orange, MA Oct. 24 to Hear Finalists Read for the Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition

Join us on Tuesday, October 24th, at 7PM for the 10th annual Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition! We’ll be reading the entries from our 10 finalists, before announcing this years third, second, and first place winners. The awards presentation will be held at the Wheeler Memorial Library, and will also be broadcast live through Zoom. Please e-mail our director, Jessica Magelaner, at director@orangelib.org for the meeting link.

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I am one of the ten finalists who will be reading my poem “Aubade” for first, second or third place in the Robert P. Collén Competition. Come and hear some amazing local poets.

I will be blogging on Thursdays. Follow me here.

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Michelle M. Tokarczyk Will Read from her Poetry Book, Bronx Migrations on Tuesday, October 10

Michelle M. Tokarczyk will read from her book, Bronx Migrations on Tuesday, October 10 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Hudson Park Library, 66 Leroy Street, New York, NY 10014

Tokarczyk has authored two other poetry books: The House I’m Running From and Galapagos: Islas Encantadas. Her poems have been published in numerous journals and anthologies and have received nominations for Pushcart and Best of the New awards.

Attend and enjoy her poetry.

I will blog on Thursdays. If you have an upcoming reading, let me know and I’ll blog it. Follow me here.

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I am grateful to Poetry Super Highway for Making Me Poet of the Week on Poetry Super Highway December 26-January 1, 2023. Take a look during that week:

Poetry Super Highway

I am grateful to have been chosen “Poet of the Week” on the Poetry Super Highway. Check it out on December 26-January 1, 2023 for my poem “A Paddle Into Childhood.”

Happy New Year to All. I’ll see you again in 2023.

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Thank You to the Massachusetts State Poetry Society for my Recent Awards from the National Poetry Day Contest

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I am grateful to the Massachusetts State Poetry Society for two awards in their National Poetry Day Contest:

My poem “Fairy Tale of Eternal Economic Growth” was awarded third prize by the Amy L. Dengler Award.

My poem “On Listening to Stravinsky’s Pulcinella” was awarded third prize by the Celebration of Life Award.

I’ll be blogging on Thursdays. Follow me here on WordPress.

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Failure Is Part of the Creative Process

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Trying out new things is part of the creative process. Things can change at any stage in a painting’s or manuscript’s development. 

The writing process is an exciting and adventurous process. It sometimes feels electrifying and at other times, downright discouraging.  A writer needs to go in knowing that it might not work.   It means that results don’t matter as much as the process, the joy and the journey.

I try to keep this in mind every time I sit down at a blank page. An athlete has to work out to get to a point where she wins the competition. A writer sometimes has to fail many times before succeeding.

You may think that what you wrote is terrible, but it may work out later in a future draft, or help you get, through experimentation, to a wonderful manuscript. t’s part of the journey to that wonderful piece that finally works.

I’ll be blogging on Thursdays about the writing process. Follow me on WordPress at http://www.eileenpkennedy.com

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Listening to Your Inner Voice

Writers write in isolation mostly. Sometimes it’s in small groups or workshops, but mostly alone. Sometimes I wait until the last minute to write what I want? Why?

In the end, I try to listen to my inner voice that speaks my true thoughts that ultimately helps me cut through the nonsense that sometimes enters into my writing. Good writing comes from the true self.

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I use different methods to get in touch with my inner self. I meditate, move to a coffee shop or library, read a book of an author who is writing something similar to my project. Sometimes just sit quietly.

Join me in imagining and getting in touch with your inner self. Try writing from that one true voice.

I’ll continue to blog on Thursdays. If you’d like me to make an announcement for an upcoming reading, publication or award, get in touch with me here.