There are many reasons to submit poetry to literary journals, and online journals are the fastest growing segment. .Some carry prestige because they are well regarded in the literary world.Some have themed issues that may be just what you’re interested in writing about. Some publications pay. 

Duotrope classifies journals into paying and nonpaying publications.There are a wealth of both online and print literary journals and some that do both. If you want to submit a poetry manuscript for publication as a book, publishers will look for acknowledgements of publications in literary journals to see that your book will thrive in the literary marketplace. Some poetry book publishers have literary journals where you can have your poem noticed by a book editor.

Here are just some of the journals published online:

Rising Phoenix Review https://therisingphoenixreview.com/ loves poetry that is “visceral” with “stunning, concrete imagery.” Their tastes lean toward the contemporary, sponsoring poetry that uplifts diverse voices and imagines a better world. This is an example of a journal that is sponsored by a poetry chapbook publisher, Rising Phoenix Press. If you want to publish a book with this press, starting with a publication in their journal is a good way to get to know the publisher.

Rattle ttps://www.rattle.com puts out several popular contests and publication opportunities, including a monthly ekphrastic challenge (a poem in response to a piece of art) , a weekly news-writing challenge, and an annual best poem prize. They are another journal that pays its poem winners, although the payout varies.

Palette Poetry https://www.palettepoetry.com/ publishes new and experienced poets. For experienced poets, they have a previously published poem contest. They are one of the journals that pay for poem winners, and pay well.

Freezeray http://www.freezeraypoetry.com/ specializes in pop culture .publishing. It publishes pieces about social media and is unique in the marketplace.

If you want more suggestions, subscribe to Poets & Writers and use pw.org. They have a listing of most literary journals. Good, publishable poems receive rejections all the time, often because a journal has a finite amount of space to publish each month.

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