Writing & Poetry Competitions & Submissions – August 2025
A new month begins and with it comes over 150 poetry competitions, writing submissions and literary opportunities open or with deadlines in August 2025.
Last month I shared my crowdfunding campaign to help me move on from the crushing consequences of the 2015 Tracker Mortgage Scandal in Ireland, and I’ve been blown away by the response I've received from family, friends, peers and complete strangers.
Thank you so much for your donations, your messages of solidarity, and for carrying word of this campaign further that I ever could on my own, through sharing with your own community, network and on social media.
With your help, I have almost reached my original target (161 donations!) and have been able to put some of my original goals into action, but there have also been setbacks.
A few items are proving more expensive than I’d budgeted for and kind offers of assistance have fallen through, through no fault of those who wanted to help. It means I have to adjust the target to take on the extra cost of tasks which are beyond my capacity as a disabled person, including house clearing, transport and storage.
I am continuing to fundraise to cover these emergency costs in August and if you would like to show your appreciation for these monthly submission lists, here are 4 ways you can help.
1. Shop the Summer Sale - 40% Off Self-Study Creative Writing Courses
All courses are instant access - either emailed direct to your inbox or hosted in a private online classroom. Start whenever you are ready and go at your own pace.
To generate new writing, try a THEMED 30-DAY WRITING CHALLENGES (usually €49.00, now €29.40).
To transform first drafts into polished poems ready for publication, try WRITING SLANT | MAKING A POEM (usually €150.00, now €90.00).
2. Donate to the GoFundMe Campaign
Read more about the Tracker Mortgage Scandal and my fight for justice here - no amount is too small and all donations are gratefully appreciated.
3. Buy a Signed Copy of my Poetry Collection
My debut collection ‘How to Lose Your Home & Save Your Life’ (Bradshaw Books, 2014) was written in response to the early part of this situation and you can order a signed copy here.
4. Make a Direct Donation
If you’d like to show your appreciation of these monthly lists which I’ve been producing since 2014, or simply help out a writer in need, please make a direct donation below. Every penny counts.
DONATE OR SUBSCRIBE VIA PAYPAL
DONATE VIA STRIPE (CREDIT CARD)
If you are unable to donate please consider sharing a link to either the sale or the GoFundMe campaign with your own writing network and/or social media.
Keep Writing
Thank you for being part of this community and I urge you to keep nurturing your own creativity. With so many terrible things happening around us, it is our responsibility to hold a mirror up to the world and capture what it means to be alive, if only to try and understand it for ourselves.
Whatever you’re up to with your writing this month — drafting, honing, editing or submitting — I wish you every luck and success.
Thank you!
Writing Courses and Events: 40% Off in Summer Sale
Writing Slant | Making a Poem - the Wordbox signature 6-week poetry course returns as a self-study experience. Focusing on 6 key areas of poetry craft, it will help you take your work from first draft to polished piece ready for publication. All materials are hosted on a private online classroom space - start whenever you want and work at your own pace.
DIY 30-DAY WRITING CHALLENGES:
La Dolce Vita | An Italian Odyssey
Songs of a Pagan Place | Writing the Irish Myths & Legends
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
All self-study courses are automated and can be started and carried out at your own pace.
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.
August 2025
BOA Editions Blessing the Boats Selections – Poetry manuscript (48-100 pages, women on colour only) – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Geist – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Comics & more, theme: A Fold in Time: 90’s – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Halfway Down the Stairs – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, theme: Muse – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Humana Obscura – Poetry, Flash, Art. Photography – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Impossible Archetype – Poetry (LGBTQ+ only) – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Katrina Collins Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Spellbinder Literary Magazine – Poetry. Fiction, Flash, Nonfiction, Drama, Visual Art – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
The Coniston Prize – Poetry (3-5 poems by Women/Identified writing in English) – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
The Poetry Society Members' Competition – Poetry, theme: Clearing – closes 1 Aug (submit online)
Splinter Journal – Poetry, Fiction, Memoir and more, theme: First Nation poets – closes 2 Aug (submit online)
Eascair Magazine – Poetry, Flash, Visual Art (English & Irish language) – closes 4 Aug (submit online)
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Writing Competition – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction – closes 4 Aug (submit online)
Aurora Prize for Writing – Poetry, Fiction – closes 6 Aug (submit online)
Only Poems Poem of the Month – Poetry – closes 7 Aug (submit online)
Bere Island Arts Festival Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 8 Aug (submit online)
RSL Literature Matters – New original writing (multiples genres) – closes 8 Aug (submit online)
Eche Poetry – Poetry – closes 10 Aug (submit online)
Ashdown Forest Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Connections – closes 15 Aug (submit online)
Ink Sweat & Tears – Poetry, Prose – closes 15 Aug (submit online)
Modern Poetry in Translation – Poetry – closes 15 Aug (submit online)
The Emma Press – Poetry pamphlet, Novella, Essay collection, Children’s Poetry/Fiction, Translation – closes 15 Aug (submit online)
Vilnius UNESCO City of Literature Residency – Writers, Illustrators, Literary translators – closes 15 Aug (submit online)
Waterford Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 15 Aug (submit online)
Quillkeepers Press – Poetry, Fiction, Memoir, Art & Photography – closes 16 Aug (submit online)
Prague UNESCO City of Literature Residency – Writers and Translators – closes 18 Aug (submit online)
The Poetry Society Young Critics Scheme – Poetry – closes 18 Aug (submit online)
Frances Brown Multilingual Poetry Competition – Poetry (English, Irish, Ulster Scots) – closes 20 Aug (submit online)
Full House Literary – Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Visual Art – closes 20 Aug (submit online)
Knocklyon Literary Festival Competitions – Poetry, Flash – closes 20 Aug (submit online)
Poem Stellium Poetry Calendar – Poetry – closes 26 Aug (submit online)
Aprosexia Lit – Poetry (neurodivergent, cognitively diverse, and non-visibly disabled writers) – closes 26 Aug (submit online)
Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival – Non-fiction – closes 29 Aug (submit online)
Room Magazine Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 30 Aug (submit online)
Aesthetica Creative Writing Award – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
ANTAE Journal of Creative Writing – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Nonfiction, Drama & more – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Bad Lilies – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Drawn to the Light Press – Poetry, Art, Photography, theme: Magic – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition – Poetry manuscript (16-24 poems) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
James Tate Poetry Competition – Poetry manuscript (24-32 pages) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Lunch Ticket – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Creative Non-Fiction & more – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
MacDowell Fellowship – All disciplines – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Okay Donkey – Poetry, Flash – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Pinhole Poetry Chapbook Contest – Poetry (16-28 pages) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
SaveAs Writers’ International Writing Competition – Poetry, Prose, theme: Facing the Storm – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Shakespearean Sonnet Anthology – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Split Lip – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Memoir, Art – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
The Bob Hicok Fellowship for Poets – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
The James Tate Prize – Experimental poetry manuscript (24-32 pages) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
The Oxford Poetry Prize – Poetry – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
The Poetry Book Society Winter 2025 Pamphlet Choice – Pamphlets due for publication Jul/Aug/Sept 2024 (Publishers only) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
The Poetry Book Society Spring 2026 Book & Translations Recommendations – Poetry collections and translations due for publication Jan/Feb/Mar 2023 (Publishers only) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Tupelo Press – Poetry chapbooks (28-47 pages) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Wildfire Words – Poetry (Text and Audio formats) – closes 31 Aug (submit online)
Minding Creative Minds Nurture Mentorship Programme – Irish creatives – closes 1 Sept (submit online)
The Belfast Review – Poetry, Fiction, Flash, Nonfiction, Photography and more – closes 1 Sep (submit online)
The Shore – Poetry – closes 1 Sept (submit online)
Sunday Mornings at the River – Poetry, theme: Capitalism is a Death Cult – open (submit online)
OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN SUBMISSION PERIODS IN SEPTEMBER 2025
Hold Fast to Dreams Poetry Competition – Poetry, theme: Dreams – closes 7 Sept (submit online)
Frontier Myths & Fables Prize – Poetry – closes 7 Sept (submit online)
Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition – Poetry (unpublished poets only) – closes 8 Sept (submit online)
Enfield Poets Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 10 Sept (submit online)
Ledbury Poetry Competition – Poetry – closes 15 Sept (submit online)
Poetry London Pamphlet Prize – Poetry manuscript (24 pages) – closes 15 Sept (submit online)
Palette Poetry Prize – Poetry (unpublished poets only) – closes 21 Sept (submit online)
Allingham Writing Competitions – Poetry, Flash – closes 28 Sept (submit online)
Hammond House International Literary Prize – Poetry, Fiction, Scriptwriting, Songs, theme: Secrets – closes 30 Sept (submit online)
The Broken Spine – Poetry, theme: Verdigris - Poetry of Decay – closes 30 Sept (submit online)
The Moth Nature Writing Prize – Poetry, Prose – closes 30 Sept (submit online)
The X.J. Kenedy Poetry Prize – Poetry manuscript (50-100 pages) – closes 30 Sept (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 AUGUST 2025, and it is not included above, feel free to send me the details.
