The 24 rule

We are proudly based in Missouri, the 24th state of the Union. In honor of our roots—and to force our own editorial discipline—we limit our main run to exactly 24 poems.

That is 24 slots for the entire year. We do not publish “filler.” If your poem makes the list, it fought for its place.

Note: We occasionally publish a small “B-Sides” bonus section for work we love that didn’t fit the main sequence, but the core is locked at 24.

We are reading for Issue 3: Blister

This isn’t about lemonade on the porch. This is about the oppressive, violent heat of summer. We want poems that sweat. We want the sunburn, the bubbling tar on the roof, and the friction that happens when people are trapped in close quarters with a broken AC unit.

Think:

• Oppressive heat and blinding light.
• Manual labor, sweat, and exhaustion.
• Surfaces that are peeling, cracking, or bubbling.
• Tension that is about to pop.

We will start reading for Issue 4: Horror in July

General guidelines

• Submission Fee: We do not charge submission fees.
• Payment: We are a volunteer-run journal. We do not offer monetary payment. We offer rigorous editing, swift publication, and a platform for work that might not fit elsewhere.
• Simultaneous Submissions: We gladly accept simultaneous submissions. Please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
• Rights: Poetry Midwest acquires First North American Serial Rights and First Electronic Rights to the work. Following publication, all rights revert to the author with the following exceptions:
  • We retain Non-Exclusive Archival Rights to maintain the work on our website indefinitely.
  • We retain the right to include the work in any future Poetry Midwest anthologies (print or digital). Poets will be notified prior to any anthology publication.

  We ask that you credit Poetry Midwest as the first place of publication in any future reprints.

How to submit

1. Compile three (3) to six (6) poems in a single file. We prefer .doc, .docx, or .pdf file formats.
2. Include a brief cover letter in the body of your email. Please list the titles of the poems you are submitting and include a short, third-person biography.
3. Address your email to: poetrymidwest@outlook.com.
4. Please use the following subject line format: “Poetry Submission – [Your Name]”.

Our response

We value your time and the work you’ve sent us. We do our best to respond to all submissions within three weeks of receipt. If you have not heard from us after three weeks, please feel free to send a polite query.