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About:

 

Our issues are themed around the ancient British cross-quarter days. (We've had to move the issues from the quarter days because of the timing of Scottish school holidays).

We currently have open submissions for 2018 publication.


Classical Poetry:

 

We love to see new takes on ancient themes, humour, and strong narratives.

 

We accept year round, six months to one year in advance of publication. Because of the lead time, we also have a 'first responders' submission category which allows poets to send us work topical to our time. In addition, we accept ongoing submissions of literary criticism and book reviews for both the website and the print journal.

 

We take English-language poetry and poetry-in-translation in received, classical form, European and Asian. We like to see rare forms. There is no line limit. We will accept variations on classical forms if you tell us how and why you've varied theme. Our themes are varied and seasonal. If your poem shocks, embitters, blesses, confuses, amuses, entertains, confounds, turns on, angers, annoys, tickles, entices, seduces or otherwise does what poetry is supposed to do, we want to read it. We want your blessings and your grievances. We want your laughter and your tears. Poetry that is metaphysical, complex and rich in meaning is just as welcome as the simple and straightforward.

 

We want you if you are the next Yeats, the Poe, the next Millay, the next Marlowe, the next Shakespeare, the next Donne, the next Pound, the next Tennyson, the next Basho, the next Hwang Jini, the next Shahid. We want you if appreciate or are inspired by these poets.  The poetry must be real poetry, full of emotional force,  and tell a story or provide a turn of thought.

 

Free Verse and Short Fiction:
 

We accept, very rarely, free verse and short fiction germane to our issue themes only from writers who have already been published with us, or whose work is submitted via literary agents.

We do not accept unsolicited short fiction or free verse.

 

Literary Criticism:

 

We  accept literary criticism and book reviews that both inform and entertain. Please note that literary criticism must critique and not abuse, and can come in the form of a love letter to a dead poet, an anecdote or a piece of creative non-fiction surrounding a response to a poem or poet, as well as a more standard critical essay. It must not bore. We look for a similar light touch to that found in C.S. Lewis's popular criticism.  350-2000 words is about right. You should footnote your references. Use Chicago or MLA 8 end-notes.

 

Submitting to the Journal:
 

We take long and epic poetry. We give feedback. We respond quickly. We don't limit you in terms of theme, and we don't limit you on how many poems you can submit to us at any one time. This makes us unique. We can only manage this workflow if poets do four small things when they submit to us.

 

  • Tell us the poetry form you used and how you varied it. We also like to hear about your creative process. We sometimes use this to make editorial notes, and is especially useful if you're sending us a rarely-seen form.  

  • Format your author bio italicizing the publications

  • If your poem is over five lines long, number your poem lines. (Remember, we give technical feedback, and there isn't a line limit. Help us to help you. If you send us a 350 line epic, and we think line 273 doesn't scan, we all need to be able to find that line).  You don't need to do this for a haibun or a prose poem.

  • Number your lines like this in multiples of five (use the tab key or space bar at the end of lines 5, 10, 15 and so on). 

  • Submit each poem separately, using the completed form each time. The form is set out according to our house style.

  • ALWAYS USE OUR SUBMISSION FORMS

 

Open Submission Calls: 

 

Oestera (Spring Equinox): March 20.
 
  • Submissions cut-off: February 28, 2017

  • Themes: Spring, femininity new beginnings, experiences of being, or knowing, a woman.

 

Solstice (Midsummer): June 20
 
  • Submissions cut-off May 1

  • Themes: Summer, masculinity, light verse, sex and sexuality (sex positive and non-misogynist please) abundance, positivity and joy.

 

Harvest (Autumn Equinox): September 20
 
  • Submissions Cut-Off: August 1

  • Themes of autumn, harvest, remembrance, transitioning to winter. Dark verse.

 

Yule (Winter Solstice): December 5
​
  • Submissions cut-off: November 15

  • Themes surrounding the midwinter holidays.

 

Ghazal Anthology: Early 2018
​
  • Submission Cut-Off: 30 June 2017

  • English-Language Ghazals in strict classical form only(Persian & Arabic). Any theme from traditional through to contemporary.

 

Sijo Anthology:  Late 2018
​
  • Submission Cut-Off: 30 November 2017

  • English Language Sijo in strict classical form only. Any theme from traditional through to contemporary.

 

First Responders: Year Round
​
  • No Cut-Off

  • Classical poetry on topical issues for online publication in the first instance. Year round submission and publication. Any classical form.

 

Chapbooks and Poetry Collections: Year Round
 
  • No Cut-Off

  • We’re currently accepting chapbook and poetry collections on an ongoing basis. Successful poets receive 50% of the net profits payable by PayPal, and a permanent link to print author copies at cost. We’re a shoe-string press with no marketing budget, so the bulk of your sales will come through your own efforts to market your work.  You will of course get advertising space on our website and social media. There is a reading fee of £15, and you get a free book from Quarterday with your submission (because we hate reading fees as much as you do). Select your choice of book from the drop-down box when you submit.

  • Chapbooks/pamphlets should be in the region of 20-30 pages, full length poetry collections should be in the region of 30-40 pages. Number your lines every five lines 5,10,15, 20… and use a page break between each poem. Please put the form at the top of each poem if you're submitting chapbooks or collections of classical poetry.

  • We have a strong preference for classical form poetry, but will also accept high- quality free verse with strong narratives.

  • ALWAYS USE THE SUBMISSION FORM 

 

 

Rights and Rates:  

 

For the Journal and Anthologies:

 

We are happy to take reprints if you own the rights.

 

We cannot pay our contributors at present. It sucks, we know, but one day this will change.

 

In the case unpublished work we seek first worldwide serial rights (print and electronic), and electronic archival rights so that we can store your poem on our system. Once your poem has appeared in our print volume, all rights revert to you. In the case of reprints we seek second serial rights and electronic archival rights.

 

For Chapbooks (Pamphlets) and Poetry Collections:

 

50% of the net profits from the sales of your book. Book sales made via your own efforts at poetry readings and other events are yours to keep. First worldwide print and electronic rights for 5 years. 

 

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