Submission Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in Poetry Northwest, the region’s oldest literary magazine. After more than 60 years, we remain committed to publishing the best in contemporary poetry, especially work willing to take risks and push readers to the emotional and intellectual edge of what poetry makes possible. Our editor, Keetje Kuipers, recently spoke with Poets & Writers about her editorial vision for the magazine:
I’m interested in accepting poems that I struggle with, that I don’t understand, that I might even fundamentally disagree with in terms of either their craft or simply the argument that they’re making about the state of the world. I’m excited to take those chances and to make myself uncomfortable and make readers a little uncomfortable.
We are also staunch advocates for our writers, and poems published in our magazine often appear later in the pages of the Pushcart Prize and Best American anthologies.
We strive to go beyond encouraging submissions from diverse voices. Our mission to employ equitable editorial practices runs parallel to our mission to publish the most exciting poetry we can find. Take a look at a recent issue and you’ll see that we stand behind both these commitments.
Poetry Northwest is published semi-annually in June and December. We also publish new work (poetry, reviews, interviews and poetry-related essays) on our website, to supplement and extend our print edition. All work submitted to us during our reading period will be considered for the print edition, the website, or both.
We do not accept work that has been previously published. This includes on personal blogs and social media.
General Guidelines
Simultaneous submissions are accepted in all categories with advance indication and prompt notification upon acceptance elsewhere. Please send a message to us through Submittable if any of your work has been accepted elsewhere. An email to us is not sufficient notice.
You may submit up to four poems at a time. Please wait until the next reading period to submit again.
Please help us to ensure that we take to press a magazine that reflects the tremendous diversity of the contemporary poetry community by including in your cover letter any relevant information that you feel would aid us in this mission.
Out of respect for our volunteer readers, we request that you include a content warning if your work references or depicts personal or historical trauma (including violence, genocide, assault, abuse, etcetera). Please use the format “CW: ______” at the bottom of your cover letter.
If you are a previous contributor, we’d love to hear from you if it’s been two years since the date of your last publication with us. Writers submitting translations–please note that we now have a special translations category in which to submit. Do not submit in the general poetry category. We require that the translator have the permission of the original author for their translations.
We accept submissions via our online submission system only. Unsolicited work sent via mail will be recycled; unsolicited work sent via email will be deleted unread. We will continue to accept mailed submissions from those who are currently incarcerated (details below).
Please submit only finished work, and do not send or inquire about revisions after submission. Although our editors do occasionally request or suggest changes, we cannot consider unsolicited revisions.
Poetry
Submissions are closed in this category. We will re-open for general poetry submissions March 1, 2027 to March 31, 2027.
Presenting: Featuring Emerging Writers
We are open in this category from August 15, 2026 to September 15, 2026.
If you are an emerging writer, please consider submitting poems to Presenting, a print feature in which Senior Editor Xavier Cavazos introduces readers to a poet whose work has never before been featured in a nationally distributed print journal. All work submitted in this category will be considered for general publication even if not selected for the Presenting feature.
Poetry in Translation
We are open in this category from April 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026.
We now have a separate submission category for translations. Please do not submit translations in the general poetry submissions category. We require that translators obtain permission from the copyright holders for the translation.
Essays/Reviews/Interviews
Open for submissions.
We welcome unsolicited submissions of book reviews, essays, or interviews all year.
The James Welch Prize
Submissions are closed in this category. We will re-open for submissions to the James Welch Prize December 15, 2026 to February 15, 2027.
Garrett Hongo Internship for Young Editors of Color
Position Description
Poetry Northwest is currently seeking a versatile, dedicated, and independent intern to support the editorial team. The intern will work directly with multiple Poetry Northwest staff members to prepare an editorial project for print in the Spring 2028 issue of the magazine. The intern will be responsible for completing weekly tasks, attending meetings with staff, and presenting a summary of their work on a monthly basis.The internship may also include tasks related to communications, general submissions, and publishing.
Requirements
The internship term is January 2027–January 2028. This remote position requires a commitment of no more than five hours per week.
This role is for someone excited to learn about what goes into creating a literary magazine. We are looking for someone who is self-motivated, and can take an idea and create a fully realized project. Required skills include reliability, strong written and verbal communication, and a willingness to learn on the job. Required materials include access to a computer, internet, and various virtual meeting applications (Zoom, Slack, etc).
Eligibility
The intern must be between the ages of 18-25. Applicants must self-identify as Black,
Indigenous or Native, Hispanic or Latine, SWANA, Asian, Pacific Islander, or a person of color. There are no education requirements for the internship, and applicants need not be enrolled in school.
Compensation
The intern will receive a stipend of $600 to be provided in a single payment upon the successful completion of the internship.
How to Apply
Send a resume and a brief letter of interest to Helene Achanzar at helene@poetrynw.org. Letters should outline the applicant’s interest in and/or experience with editorial work, particularly as it relates to poetry. As prior experience isn’t a prerequisite, applicants are also encouraged to include any relevant skills that aren’t tied to editorial work. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2026. Interviews will take place in December 2026.
Response Time
Our goal is to respond to unsolicited submissions within twelve months, but we may take longer during our busiest months. Please be patient. We want to make sure your poetry gets the attention it deserves. After 12 months, you may inquire about your submission, but please know that our thoughtful process guarantees nothing is ever lost or overlooked. The longer we have your submission, the more seriously we may be looking at it.
Click here to submit to Poetry Northwest.
Mail Submission Guidelines
For writers who are currently incarcerated only.
General mailed submissions will be recycled and will not be considered. Thank you for understanding.
You may submit up to 4 poems.
- Mail submissions are only accepted Jan 1 – 31. Anything received outside of this window will be recycled.
- Provide a cover letter & include a list of the titles of all poems.
- We accept simultaneous submissions. However, let us know in your cover letter if poems are simultaneously submitted, and please inform us immediately if a poem is accepted elsewhere.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) must accompany all submissions for response only. We cannot return manuscripts.
- We will recycle any submission that does not provide contact information; any submission that does not provide a return address with a SASE will not be considered.
Mail paper submission to:
Poetry Northwest
Everett Community College
2000 Tower Street
Everett, WA 98201