2024 Poetry Chapbook Contest
Raven Chapbooks announces the 2024 Poetry Chapbook Contest. This year’s contest is open to all emerging and established poets who reside in the province of British Columbia.
THE WINNING MANUSCRIPT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN JUNE 2024
Deadline For Submissions is November 30th, 2023
Manuscripts will be blind judged
Judges for this year’s contest are B.C. poets, Mary Ann Moore and Ursula Vaira.
Mary Ann Moore (she/her) lives on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation in Nanaimo. She is a poet, writer, and writing mentor offering writing circles where “unsuspecting poets are born.” Her work has appeared in many literary journals including Prairie Fire, Room, Vallum, and Freefall, as well as collections including chapbook anthologies edited by Patrick Lane. Her full-length book of poetry is Fishing for Mermaids (Leaf Press) and her latest poetry chapbook is Mending (house of appleton). Mary Ann Moore is also the author of two writing guides: Writing to Map Your Spiritual Journey (iajw.org) and Writing Home: A Whole Life Practice (Flying Mermaids Studio).
Ursula Vaira lives on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation in Lantzville. She is the founder and publisher of Leaf Press, which during its fabulous run of twenty years published seventy hand-sewn chapbooks and thirty-six trade poetry books. She published three long poem chapbooks of her own; her first collection And See What Happens was published by Caitlin Press. Her current manuscript is the story of a damaged creek, the salmon who try to spawn in it, and the streamkeepers who tend to them as population growth, deforestation, industry, and climate bombard the planet. From them she has learned the antidote to despair.
Click Here to download Chapbook Contest GUIDELINES PDF
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Guidelines for the 2024 RAVEN CHAPBOOK Poetry Contest
The winning manuscript will be published in June 2024
- The 2024 contest is open to all emerging and established poets who reside in British Columbia.
- A $30 entry fee must be submitted with the manuscript by cheque or e-transfer, payable to Diana Hayes (Raven Chapbooks Publisher) 138 McAllister Road, Salt Spring Island BC V8K 1M4; e-transfers to DianaHayes@shaw.ca
- Contest entry fees are non-refundable, and manuscripts cannot be edited after submission. Please be sure to submit only your final version of the poems.
- Manuscripts must be postmarked no later than November 30, 2023.
- Manuscripts must comprise 15–25 pages of poems (not including title page and table of contents). Each poem should begin on a new page. Manuscripts may contain some poems previously published in journals if the poet retains copyright and the manuscript as a whole has not been previously published. Please note journal acknowledgements in your covering letter.
- Manuscripts must be formatted in 12 pt. font, single spaced, and pages must be numbered. A title page and table of contents should be included. Do not include any identifying information within the manuscript itself. Manuscripts will be blind judged. Please include a SEPARATE one-page cover letter identifying the title of your submission and include a short biographical paragraph along with contact information, including email and phone number.
- Manuscripts may be submitted in hard copy to: Diana Hayes, Raven Chapbooks, 138 McAllister Road, Salt Spring Island BC V8K 1M4, or electronically as separate PDF files: one file for the manuscript which should include title page, table of contests, and page numbers but no identifying information, and a separate PDF file which includes cover letter, manuscript title, and short bio. Email digital files to: RainbowPublishers@shaw.ca. Include your name and Raven Contest 2024 in the subject line. For mailed copies, include an SASE if you wish to receive your manuscript back after the contest.
- The shortlist will be announced by February 15, 2024 and the winning manuscript will be announced on March 1st, 2024. The winner will be contacted by phone and the announcement will be posted on the website: www.ravenchapbooks.ca/contest/
- The winning manuscript will be published in June 2024 in an edition of 135 copies. Design and production details will be negotiated with the poet. A publishing contract will be provided. The poet may purchase copies at the author’s discount – 50% of retail cost.
