Writing & Poetry Competitions & Submissions – February 2025
January is finally in the rear-view and to celebrate here are over 150 poetry competitions, writing submissions and opportunities open or with deadlines in February 2025.
Here in Ireland, we kicked off the month with a Bank Holiday weekend dedicated to Imbolc/Brigid, our other national saint. To find out more about this celebration here’s a short Imbolc/Brigid writing prompt to spark some shiny new poems!
January was a bit of a write-off for me health-wise which meant moving around a few of the planned courses, so there’s still time to grab a spot on a number of these rescheduled events – to book check out the upcoming Writing Courses & Events below.
February also sees the return of the 8-Week Poetry Workshop Groups, ideal for emerging and committed writers, looking for sustained feedback on their work with a view to submitting to journals and publishers.
Daytime, evening and weekend sessions are available, with a max. 5 people per group. Recent students have gone on to be placed or shortlisted in national literary competitions, and selected for publication in respected literary journals and anthologies.
Book your spot on an 8-week Poetry Workshop Group starting in February >>>
If you find the submissions list useful, and would like to show your appreciation to ensure it remains accessible to all in 2025, please click one of the buttons below and make a small contribution.
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Whatever you’re up to with your writing this month — drafting, honing, editing or submitting — I wish you every luck and success.
Please consider sharing a link to this post on your own blog or social media pages.
Thank you!
Writing Courses and Events:
BRAND NEW EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY 2025
2024 Writers' Round-Up End of Year Review on 16 Feb 2025
Words Unboxed Seminar | Submitting Poetry to Literary Journals on 18 Feb 2025
52 Ways to Kill a Poem Poetry Craft Email Subscription
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Wordbox Poetry Workshop Groups - 8 week online workshop groups for emerging writers, to read, discuss and receive feedback on their work, starting 23 Feb 2025.
Day, evening and weekend slots available - max. 5 per group.
Wordbox One-to-One Mentoring Sessions - One-hour online conversation based on 6 poems (180 lines) submitted in advance.
DIY ONLINE COURSES
Fool’s Gold | 30 Days of Writing the Tarot
The Winter Almanac | A Writing Journey in January
Gods & Monsters | Writing the Greek Myths & Legends
Miracle Machine | Writing the Body
More self-study courses to be announced shortly - keep an eye on your inbox.
Keep in Touch
For the latest poetry lists, writing prompts, events and news, find Wordbox online here:
Please save/follow these links and remember, if the list is not already on the blog, it’s not published.
Alternatively, have the list delivered direct to your inbox by joining the mailing list here.
February 2025
The Strokestown International Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 7 Feb (submit online)
Arundel Literary Festival Competitions – Poetry, Flash – closes 9 Feb (submit online)
The Suburban Review – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Comics, Art – closes 9 Feb (submit online)
MacDowell Fellowship – Any genre – closes 10 Feb (submit online)
Unapologetic – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Visual Art and more, theme: Home – closes 10 Feb (submit online)
Feels Zine – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Art, Photography, theme: Pride – closes 14 Feb (submit online)
Hippocrates Prize for Poetry & Medicine – Poetry on a medical theme – closes 14 Feb (submit online)
Wild Whispers Poetry – Poetry – closes 14 Feb (submit online)
Fallen Tree Press – Poetry manuscript (16-40 pages) – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Fruit Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid (LGBTQI+, with emphasis on unheard voices – POC, trans, working class) – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
The Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry – Poetry manuscript (min. 48 pages) – closes 15 Feb (submit online)
Ambient Receiver – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Art, Sound – closes 16 Feb (submit online)
Frontier Poetry ‘Ode on a Grecian Vacation’ Challenge – Poetry, theme: Praise & Celebration – closes 16 Feb (submit online)
Underbelly Press – Poetry, Fiction, Art – closes 17 Feb (submit online)
Wales Poetry Award – Poetry – closes 17 Feb (submit online)
The Emma Press – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir manuscripts/proposals – closes 18 Feb (submit online)
New Voices: North 2025 – Poetry, Fiction (N. Ireland writers) – closes 19 Feb (submit online)
Winter Papers – Fiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Art – closes 19 Feb (submit online)
Arts Council Ireland Bursary Awards – All genres – closes 20 Feb (submit online)
Arts Council Ireland Denis Devlin Bursary Award – Irish language poetry – closes 20 Feb (submit online)
Fingal Artists’ Support Scheme – All disciplines – closes 21 Feb (submit online)
Atomic Bohemian – Poetry, Prose manuscripts (30-50 pages) – closes 24 Feb (submit online)
House of Haberdash – Writers, Artists, Designers, theme: Haberdashery – closes 24 Feb (submit online)
Ireland Chair of Poetry: Call for Nominations – Poetry – closes 25 Feb (submit online)
The London Library Emerging Writers Programme – All genres – closes 26 Feb (submit online)
Alien Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Art – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Broken Sleep Books – Wildcard manuscripts – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Dennis O’Driscoll Literary Bursary Awards – Emerging & Established Writers – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Hive Poetry Journal – Poetry, theme: Natural World – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival Competitions – Poetry, Fiction – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Okay Donkey – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Poetry Ireland – Poetry, theme: The Self (Inner & Outer Worlds) – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Skylight 47 Poetry – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Southword – Fiction – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Split Lip Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir, Art & more – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Swim Press – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Nonfiction, Art & more – opens 16 Feb, closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The Alchemy Spoon – Poetry, theme: Elements – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The Brian Dempsey Memorial Pamphlet Prize – Poetry manuscript (10-20 poems) – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition – Poetry, Fiction, theme: Surprise Surprise (for schools) – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Peace – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The Donald Hall Prize for Poetry - Poetry manuscript (min. 48 pages) - closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The North – Poetry – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
The Plaza Poetry Prize – Poetry (max. 60 lines) – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Thi Wurd Pamphlet Series – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, theme: The City – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Unapologetic Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Art & more, theme: What is a Home? – closes 28 Feb (submit online)
Impossible Archetype – Poetry (LGBTQ+ poets of all genders) – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Millay Arts Residencies – All Disciplines – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Parabola – Poetry, Essays, Translation, theme: Cosmic Laws – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
The Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Essays, Nonfiction, Art & Photography – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
The Poetry Book Society Summer 2024 Pamphlet Choice – Pamphlets due for publication Jan/Feb/Mar 2024 (Publishers only) – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
The Poetry Book Society Autumn 2024 Book & Translations Recommendations – Poetry collections and translations due for publication July/Aug/Sept 2023 (Publishers only) – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
The Shore – Poetry – closes 1 Mar (submit online)
Frontier Poetry Hurt & Healing Prize – Poetry – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
Mist & Mountain International Poetry Prize – Poetry. theme: Peace – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
National Mentoring Programme – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Childen's/YA Fiction – closes 2 Mar (submit online)
The Waxed Lemon – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Art & Photography – opens 10 Feb/closes 2 Mar (submit online)
Metachrosis Literary Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Art & Hybrid – closes 3 Mar (submit online)
Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry, theme: Capitalism is a Death Cult – open (submit online)
OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN MARCH 2025
The Forward Prizes: Best Single Poem – Poetry (Written and Performed) – closes 5 Mar (submit online)
Blue Mesa Review Spring Contests – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction – closes 6 Mar (submit online)
Pigott Poetry Prize – Poetry Collection by Irish Poet – closes 10 Mar (submit online)
Listowel Writers Week Poetry Collection Award – Poetry manuscript (6-12 poems) – closes 10 Mar (submit online)
Listowel Writers Week Creative Writing for Adults with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities – Poetry, Flash – closes 10 Mar (submit online)
Mslexia Showcase – Poetry, Fiction, theme: Snakes – closes 10 March (submit online)
The Martello – Poetry, Fiction, Art, Photography, theme: Ragin’ – closes 15 March (submit online)
The Forward Prizes: Best First/Collection – Poetry manuscripts – closes 16 Mar (submit online)
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize – Poetry for children – closes 31 Mar (submit online)
Dithering Chaps – Poetry manuscript (10 pages) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)
The London Magazine Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 Mar (submit online)
The Plaza Prose Poetry Prize – Poetry (max. 450 words) – closes 31 Mar (submit online)
The Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize – Poetry, theme: Fear – closes 1 Apr (submit online)
The Rialto Nature & Place Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 1 Apr (submit online)
OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS
Acumen – Poetry – open (submit online)
A New Ulster – Poetry, Fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
Anthropocene – Poetry – open (submit online)
Antiphony – Poetry, Nonfiction – open (submit online)
Atrium – Poetry – open (submit online)
Bear Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Artwork – open (submit online)
Bending Genres – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)
Blackbird – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Arts – open (submit online)
Carve Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
Confingo Publishing – Poetry, Fiction, Art, Photography – open (submit online)
Crow & Cross Keys – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, theme: Gothic – open (submit online)
Crowstep Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)
Damnation – Poetry, Prose, Flash – open (submit online)
Disabled Tales – Poetry, Fiction, Essay – open (submit online)
Dithering Chaps – Poetry – open (submit online)
Dreich Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)
Driftwood Press – Poetry, Fiction, Literary Criticism – open (submit online)
Dust Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Empty House Press – Poetry, Prose Poetry, Flash, Hybrid – open (submit online)
Empty Mirror – Poetry, Non-fiction, Visual Art (committed to diversity & inclusion) – open (submit online)
Fecund Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Essay & more (POC only) – open (submit online)
Frontier Poetry – Poetry – open (submit online)
Fruit Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Hybrid (LGBTQI+, with emphasis on unheard voices – POC, trans, working class) – open (submit online)
Gather Lit Mag – Poetry – open (submit online)
Guernica – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Photo Essays – open (submit by post)
Hosking Houses Trust Residencies – Women writers over 40 (all genres – must have contract to publish / broadcast / perform) – open (submit online)
Narrative Mag – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction. Plays – open (submit online)
New Contrast – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Neon Magazine – Poetry, Flash, Art and more – open (submit online)
Obsessed with Pipework – Poetry – open (submit online)
Omelette Literary Magazine – Poetry, Visual Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction & more – open (submit online)
One – Poetry, a single poem – open (submit online)
Only Poems – Poetry – open (submit online)
Orbis – Poetry – open (submit by post (UK) or online (overseas only))
Palette Poetry – Poetry (under-represented and marginalized voices of all colors encouraged to submit) – open (submit online)
Peepal Tree Press – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction manuscripts from Black & Caribbean writers – open (submit online)
Pigeon Pages – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction – open (submit online)
POETRY Magazine – Poetry (submit online)
Poetry London – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Poetry Salzburg – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Poetry Wales – Poetry – open (submit by post or online)
Porridge Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art – open (submit online)
PN Review – Poetry, Essays, Reviews – open (submit by post)
Prelude – Poetry – open (submit online)
Prism International – Poetry, Fiction, Creative nonfiction, Translation – open (submit online)
Prole – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction – open (submit online)
Psaltery & Lyre – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Hybrid – open (submit online)
Riggwelter – Poetry, Short Fiction, Visual Art – (submit online)
River Styx – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Drama, Visual Art – open (submit online)
Shakespeare & Co Tumbleweeds Residency – all writers – open (submit online)
Sine Theta Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art (Sino diaspora only. People of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macau heritage, who live anywhere away from the original ‘homeland’ of that heritage – rolling deadlines, email to express interest (submit online)
Spry Literary Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Artwork – open (submit online)
Squawk Back – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews, Plays – open (submit online)
Stand Magazine – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Stepaway Magazine – Poetry, Flash Fiction, theme: walking in the city – open (submit online)
Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry – open (submit online)
Tab Journal – Poetry, Poetics – open (submit online)
Tears in the Fence – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Brooklyn Quarterly – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Translation, Humour – open (submit online)
The Cardiff Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Flash (preference given to students and unpublished graduates of Creative Writing, English Literature & Journalism) – open (submit online)
The Curly Mind – Poetry, theme: experimental – open (submit online)
The Dalloway – Poetry, Fiction, Flash – open (submit online)
The Dark Horse – Poetry – open (submit by post)
The Galway Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Reviews, Plays – open (submit online)
The Lake – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Lascaux Review – Poetry, Fiction, Essays – open (submit online)
The Lincoln Review – Poetry, Flash, Creative Non-fiction, Essays and more (actively encourages writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds) – open (submit online)
The London Magazine – Poetry, Non-Fiction, Art – open (submit online)
The Missouri Review – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
The New Absurdist – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction – open (submit online)
The New Yorker – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
The Offing – Poetry, Translation, Art and more – open (submit online)
The Orphic Review – Poetry & Art – open (submit online)
The Oxonian – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation – open (submit online)
The Poetry Village – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Poetry Review – Poetry – open (submit online)
The Pomegranate – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Nonfiction, theme: Writing about Artists – open (submit online)
The Seventh Quarry – Short Poetry – open (submit online)
The Southeast Review – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Reviews, Artwork – open (submit online)
The Sun Magazine – Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Interviews – open (submit online)
The Times Literary Supplement – Poetry (submit by post)
Tinderbox Poetry Journal – Poetry – open (submit online)
Trasna – Poetry, Fiction, Essays (open to writers across the world who consider Ireland a home in some regard) – open (submit online)
Wildness – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction – open (submit online)
Winged Penny Review – Poetry, Fiction – open (submit online)
Wishbone Words – Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Visual Art & more (disabled and chronically ill writers/artists) – open (submit online)
Best of luck!
If you have a competition or journal with a deadline in FEBRUARY 2025, and it is not included above, feel free to send me the details.
