Submission Guidelines

PoetryFoundation.org is seeking lively literary journalism about poets and poetry. We are especially interested in profiles of poets, stories about poetry in American life, and articles about poetry and other art forms. We are also seeking cartoons about poetry and poets.

We publish the following types of articles:

On Poets: Profiles and interviews with poets that generate interest in their work by placing it within the biographical and historical circumstances in which it was written, e.g., articles about Barbara Guest or Frank O'Hara in the context of the New York School and the climate of the 1950s.

Example: "When I Say the Word Home I Almost Whisper It" by Cynthia Haven, an obituary of Barbara Guest

Example: "Why I'm Not A Hollywood Director" by David Gewanter, and interview with C.K. Williams

On Poetry: Feature articles about types of poetry, such as a piece that defines and provides examples of ekphrastic poetry, or about ideas or trends in poetry, such as the popularity of anthologies versus individual collections.

Example: "If You Read This, You'll Judge" by Joshua Weiner, which analyzes some "best of" anthologies

On Publishing: Profiles and interviews with booksellers, publishers, and news articles about the industry.

Example: "But Will It Sell in Paducah?" by the editors of PoetryFoundation.org, a Q&A with booksellers about holiday sales

Dispatches: Reports on news and events in the poetry world.

Example: "The Nominees Are: Five Profiles." Five journalists' sketches of the poetry nominees for this year's National Book Critics Circle Award

Example: "Among the Modern Languages" by Joshua Clover, a report from the MLA on its rites of passage: The Panel, The Job Interview, and The Poetry Reading

Poetry in American Life: Articles that seek to interest readers in poetry by reporting on how it is read and experienced in American life.

Example: "To Infuse (As Life) By Breathing" by Elaine Segal, a feature article about a man facing a grim diagnosis who has a charmed collision with an Auden poem

Example: "Heard on the Street," an ongoing series in which random citizens answer questions about poetry

Reading Guides: Short, accessible introductions to a single poem or a group of poems, written for readers who might be curious about poetry but have stayed away from it, for whatever reason.

Example: Guides to poems by Robert Hayden, John Donne, and Robert Browning, written by David Biespiel, Stephen Burt, and W.S. Di Piero, respectively

Poetry and Other Art Forms: Articles on the cross-pollination of poetry and music, theater, dance, and visual arts.

Example: "Hearing Voices at the Met" by W.S. Di Piero, a review of the Fra Angelico exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the context of Robert Browning's dramatic monologues

Example: "The Diction of Dance" by Wendy Lesser, a review of recent New York dance performances in which the author applies poetics to dance

Reviews of Poetry Readings: Reviews of poetry readings that follow the same standards as reviews of theater, music, or dance performances.

Example: "The Five Aarons" by Aaron Belz, a review of a reading by five poets named Aaron

Example: "Animal Magic" by Aidin Vaziri, a review of an evening with Garrison Keillor, Kay Ryan, and Billy Collins

Weekly Blog/Journal: Each week, a guest poet takes over our live journal. The entries come direct from the writer. PoetryFoundation.org editors do not step in to edit, tidy up, or smooth things over.

Example: Brian Turner's blog about poetry and the Iraq war

Cartoons: Humorous takes on poetry, poets, and the poetics of everyday life. Send a high-quality (300dpi) image (scanned at 100%).

Example: View our cartoons in the PoetryFoundation.org Gallery.

If you are interested in writing for PoetryFoundation.org, please send us your ideas:
Web Editor
444 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 1850
Chicago, Illinois 60611-4034
editor@PoetryFoundation.org