A free resource hub for poets: the top literary journals by category, simultaneous submission etiquette, cover letters, formatting, and the seasonal submission calendar.
A curated starting list — not an endorsement. Always read a journal's recent issues before you submit, and only send work that genuinely fits the masthead.
Tip: Browse the free poems catalog on PoetryClubOS to study how contemporary working poets frame their work — useful context when you sit down to revise before submitting.
Simultaneous submissions (sim. subs). Most literary journals accept simultaneous submissions — meaning you can send the same poem to several places at once. The trade: if another journal accepts the poem first, you must withdraw it from the rest, promptly and politely. A one-line email ("Withdrawing 'Title' per your policy on simultaneous submissions — accepted elsewhere") is enough.
Cover letters — keep them short. Three or four sentences, max. A cover letter is not a biography or a sales pitch. Include your name, the titles you're submitting, a one-line bio (relevant publications only — no résumé dump), and a graceful close. Never flatter the editors ("I've admired your journal since childhood") — they read a hundred of those a week.
Formatting that doesn't get you rejected on sight. Twelve-point standard font (Times New Roman or a similar serif is fine). Your name and contact info in the top-left corner of page one. Single-spaced. Pages numbered. No graphics, no colored text, no WordArt. If the journal asks for a specific format — match it exactly. The cover letter goes in the submission body or comments field, not as a separate attachment.
Most common rejection reasons: ignoring the guidelines, sending to a journal that doesn't publish your genre, missing the reading window, typos in the first stanza, or sending the same cover letter to twenty journals without customizing the title line.
For a longer walkthrough of the practical workflow — research, draft, submit, log, follow up — see our full guide: Where to Submit Poetry: A Practical Guide to Getting Published. And once you've started accumulating acceptances, you'll want to think about pricing your chapbook and individual poems — that piece is here: How to Price Your Poetry (And Why Most Poets Undercharge).
Reading windows vary widely by journal. The table below reflects typical patterns for the journals listed above — always confirm on each journal's submission page before you click send.
| Window | Months Open | Typical Issue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall reading | Sep – Dec | Spring issue | Highest volume of submissions all year. Plan ahead. |
| Winter reading | Jan – Mar | Summer / Fall issue | Strong fit window. Many prizes announced here. |
| Spring / Summer | Apr – Jul | Winter issue | Some journals pause; others run summer contests. |
| Rolling / Year-round | Anytime | Varies | Most online-first journals (Adroit, Trampset, Rattle) accept year-round. |
Bottom line: Submitting in August for a Spring issue is normal. Submitting in March for that same Spring issue is usually too late. When in doubt, check the journal's Submissions page — dates change yearly.