Chapbook contests worth entering
Chapbook contests are the main route to being published by a poetry press. You submit a manuscript with a small reading fee, and the winner is published with a print run and sometimes a cash prize.
How a chapbook contest works
A press opens a reading window, charges a fee, usually 10 to 25 dollars, and reads blind. The winning manuscript is published as a chapbook; entrants often receive a copy of the winning book as part of the fee. It is the standard economy of the poetry chapbook.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Reading fee | Normal is $10 to $25; much higher deserves scrutiny |
| What you get | A copy of the winner is common and fair value |
| Blind reading | Manuscripts should be read without names |
| Past winners | Read them; they tell you the press’s taste |
On reading fees
A modest fee funds the print run and the prize and is normal in this form. Be wary only of fees far above the range with no contributor copy in return.
Where to find them
Contest listings are maintained by the major poetry organisations and submission platforms, updated each season. Because specific deadlines move every year, check a current listing rather than a fixed list. To prepare a manuscript first, see how to publish a chapbook.