Poetry Submissions
Ends on
WTR seek poems that perform Olympic feats with language that leave a reader in wonder while still referring back to the basic things that make us human. We want powerful imagery and enjoy the juxtaposition of images in interesting and unexpected ways.
We want poems that make the reader think and feel, work that humbles us with its joy, humor, embarrassment, anger, hope, grief, or all of the above, and gravitate toward writing that has something important to teach us--something that readers really need to know but might not have understood this was a need until the last word of the work.
NOTE: Submissions which do not meet the following guidelines will not be considered:
- All submissions must be previously unpublished and are limited to five poems per reading period and must be accompanied by a cover letter and a biography of no more than 150 words. Work submitted without a biography will not be considered.
- In your cover letter, please mention your social media handles (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). If you have a website dedicated to your writing, please include the link in your letter.
- Include a clear title for each poem.
- Submit poems as one reading packet and place what you consider your stronger work at the front of the group.
- Enter the title of each poem as your packet's submission title.
- Work must be submitted as a Microsoft Word file.
Submit only once per reading period. While we offer free submissions the first week of each month (April to December), general submissions are typically $3 (to cover administrative costs).
You may also choose to receive a quick decision about your work for $10, and may also receive a quick decision about your work along with personalized feedback from the editors for $25 (1.5-2 pages). The response time for both expedited and personalized options is approximately 2 weeks.
Subscribe to our Substack Newsletter, Roots and Words, and Stay Connected to Our Literary Community
As a free subscriber, get access to our free monthly newsletter and one free post each week. Annual subscribers receive exclusive original content like new weekly poems, new essays that explore creativity and the creative life, weekly generative creative writing prompts, and live conversations (craft talks, book club discussions, etc.).
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary copy of each year's spring print edition of West Trade Review.
Learn more and sign up here:
https://rootsandwords.substack.com/about Follow us on social media:
Twitter Instagram Facebook You'll also find us on Threads and Bluesky.