Submission Guidelines:
Poetry Canada


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The submission guidelines are relatively straight forward.

Email to: poetrycanada@innersurf.com
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR POEMS WE DO NOT ACCEPT THEM, AND DON'T READ THEM.
 

General:

  • the perfect submission would contain your work displayed in the email body, your complete mailing address, the name you would like to appear in print, and if it is a poem, a title for the poem, and an MS-WORD .doc attachment - plus stating that it is unpublished, and your own original work
  • we accept submissions from anyone, world-wide
  • there are no fees to submit for any of the media
  • currently we are trying not to do a theme, but when good poems come in, we put them in and work content around them
  • we accept submissions any time. We do send you an e-mail back stating we got your work, so if for some reason you don't hear back from us, send a follow-up email 2 weeks later. Email doesn't always get here due to volume
  • we will keep ALL submissions on file, and we will let you know if it is appearing in a specific issue. If you need your submission back to submit elsewhere, just let us know and we will pull it from the files.
  • we accept submissions via email. Please put all poetry in the body of the email, and if you wish, you can include the attachments to ensure formatting and include your complete mailing address
  • If you are selected, we may at that time ask for more information, or higher resolution images
  • please include your complete mailing address in your submission email
     

    Poetry:

  • poems must be previously unpublished and this includes web appearances
  • we do not accept simultaneous submits
  • for poetry, submit anything, any length, up to 3 poems
  • you can send up to 3 poems, every quarter, and we consider those poems for up to one year
  • we select 7-11 poems per issue from about 120 submissions, so send your best. If it makes you feel something when you read it, your reader will feel it too. General observations are interesting, but making it about experiences others have had as well,  will probably increase your chances.
  • once you submit, it becomes our property for consideration until you otherwise retract it. If you have submitted for a contest or specific area, we maintain the right to use it anywhere that it is applicable.
  • We use email to inform you it was selected, and what it will look like before print. Because this is not a 100% technology, it may appear without a formal approval process. We will reserve the right for use, however you will be free to submit elsewhere if there is a situation where we it did not appear as it should, despite the fact it was submitted under the policy that submission deems it is our property for consideration until otherwise revoked by yourself. Please keep a log and add that you have submitted to Poetry Canada and specify the title and date of submission.
     

    Art/Photography:

  • the photo or artwork selected for the cover, will be determined on quality alone. In general though, nature, landscapes, do well
  • for the art and photography inside the magazine, these can be anything, we try to match poems if and where applicable
  • for art and photography submit JPGs
  • if the art work doesn't qualify for the magazine, it may be placed on the CFP web site, and members will be invited to write a poem about it. This will increase the chances and applicability for it to appear in the magazine under the section called "LitArt"
     

    Articles:

  • Articles should be of a how-to nature, and involve simple to follow steps with regards to writing, getting published, editing, anything that relates to improving yourself as a writer, editor, and getting published. ie. Top 5 ways to improve your manuscript
  • Interviews - these should be no more than 300 words, should include a photo that can also be published, and be of someone who has either won an award, been nominated for an award, or done something spectacular in their field. Send in a query first if you want some feedback before you write anything.
     

    Selected material:

  • If you are selected for an issue, you will be notified. If you don't hear back the current issue may be full, but we do keep everything received and consider it for future issues, and will inform you if you are selected for any future issue.
  • You will receive a copy of the issue once it goes to print, and will be posted as a contributor in our Thank-You section
  • We are a small press, so currently offer a $5 payment per poet (for up to any number being used of previously unpublished poems), an article, or book review. All payments are processed using PAYPAL, so please be sure to provide your paypal email address. Cheques carry a large service charge. If you don't have a PAYPAL account, they are FREE. Please Register for a PAYPAL account. The exception to this is for International poets who we publish. We simply can't afford to send a copy at an average expense of $15, and pay. So it is 1 free copy only. Additional copies are $8 in advance (versus $15)
  • If you do not wish to utilize Paypal, you can establish an account with us and we will pay via cheque for any values over $20, or you can put that amount towards a one-year subscription of Poetry Canada Magazine, or towards a one year membership to Canadian Federation of Poets. If you are a current subscriber and/or member of any of these, we can keep it until renewal time and put it towards it then. Please let us know your selection once you have been confirmed for inclusion in an edition. Payments are made when the magazine edition is sent out.

    Currently for artists and photographers, we sincerely hope the exposure will help you advance your career, and to let you know you are contributing to a worthy cause. As we grow, we hope to include all media types to be paid. Art, poetry, photography and culture for a better world.
     

    Book Reviews: Critics Corner for the Brave Books

  • This is for full-length books, preferably distributed in a book chain or independent stores, and does not include self published chapbooks or books under 65 pages. Books should be easily purchased on-line or in a store. ie. Chapters, Amazon, Barnes and Noble
  • We no longer accept books to be reviewed, we accept completed book reviews
  • Please provide your credentials as a reviewer with your submission
  • Please submit up to 500 words.
  • If you have a book review that sheds some true insight on a books weaknesses, despite the favour and attention a book has gotten, please submit this. We are looking for very real interpretation, analysis, and content evaluation. If you have a mind, speak it.
  • Give it a rating out of 5, with details about why
  • If you get a good book review with Poetry Canada, that means your book is truly good. Here is a movie review sample of Sylvia. It shows the depth and discussion we are looking for, different medium, same principal. But of course, you should be able to have more details and examples because a 2 hour movie goes by pretty fast, and a book you can hold and digest for a very long time.
  • For an example of a book review that was accepted, check this out

    Dead Poets Society:

  • We are looking for articles about a poet who has left this realm, that you feel passionate about. Inspirations, their work, contributions to poetry, personal life, insights, and information that will make the reader go "Wow, I didn't know that". Teach us how your poet was great, or should have been considered a 'great', and what we as a current poet can do to aspire to that. Please include a picture of the poet, and be sure that you have the rights for reprint of any submitted work or samples.

    Rights of work:
  • All authors retain full rights of the works, we purchase first serial rights with the right to keep the work posted on our web site as it pertains to the original edition
  • We also retain the right to reprints of the edition in which it appeared, or to include it in a special anniversary or anthology edition
  • We also retain the right to submit content for award opportunities as it is represented and pertains to the overall appeal and success of the magazine

    Keep in Touch:

    In the meantime, be sure to sign up for the Canadian Federation of Poets FREE newsletter, which will keep you informed of poetry, art and photography calls, plus events, contests, and more

    Subscriptions:

    If you wish to subscribe to Poetry Canada Magazine, the fee is $20 in Canada, $32 for US, and $50 for International subscribers, for a full year. Quarterly.

    You can pay on-line using Paypal or mail your cheques to;
    InnerSurf International
    2431 Cyprus Avenue
    Burlington, ON
    L7P 1G5
    Canada


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    If you have any questions, feel free to send an email to the Editor.