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The Poetry Kit Publishing Programme is for poets who have developed a body of work and are ready to consider publication of a full collection.
We are interested in distinctive voices, strong individual writing and collections that have the potential to become coherent and engaging books. We are open to a wide range of approaches to poetry, including traditional, contemporary and experimental work.
Our approach is collaborative. Acceptance is not simply an agreement to print the manuscript as submitted. We work with the poet to help make the collection as strong as it can be while respecting the writer's individual voice and intentions.
Writers wishing to be considered should submit a manuscript containing approximately 20–50 poems.
There is a £30 reading and assessment fee.
Every submitted manuscript is read carefully and receives a written assessment. We aim to provide this report within five working days.
The report considers the strengths of the collection, areas that may benefit from further development, its overall structure and coherence, and its potential for publication.
Payment of the assessment fee does not guarantee acceptance onto the Publishing Programme.
If we believe that the manuscript has the potential to become a Poetry Kit publication, you will be invited to join the Poetry Kit Publishing Programme.
Acceptance begins a collaborative editorial process.
Jim Bennett and Mary will work with you on the manuscript. Depending upon the collection, this may include discussion of individual poems, selection, ordering, sections, titles, introductory material and the overall architecture and pacing of the book.
The purpose is not to impose a Poetry Kit style upon the collection. Our aim is to help the book become the strongest version of the poet's own work.
Once a collection has been accepted for publication, there is an author contribution of £350 towards the costs of preparing and publishing the book.
This is separate from the initial £30 reading and assessment fee.
The contribution helps support the editorial, production and publication process.
Once the manuscript has reached its final form, we prepare it for publication.
The author receives PDF proofs and remains involved throughout the process. Corrections and agreed changes can be made before the book is approved for printing.
A printed proof is then produced so that the physical book can be checked before final publication.
The author is involved in decisions concerning the presentation of the collection, including the cover.
Published books receive an ISBN and are registered through the appropriate UK book-data systems.
Legal deposit copies are supplied as required.
Books are made available through Amazon and Poetry Kit, giving the collection a continuing route to readers in the UK and internationally.
Authors may purchase copies of their own books at basic cost.
For books sold commercially, royalties are calculated from the selling price after print costs and the administration cost per copy have been deducted. The remaining amount is paid to the author.
Full details are provided to writers invited to join the programme.
We are not looking for one particular kind of poetry.
We are interested in collections that demonstrate a distinctive poetic voice, serious engagement with language and an awareness of the collection as a book rather than simply a gathering of individual poems.
A manuscript does not have to be completely finished when it reaches us. Sometimes the most productive editorial work begins when a strong collection is nearly there but still needs decisions about selection, ordering, development or structure.
Experimental and formally unusual work is welcome where the form contributes meaningfully to the collection.
Above all, we are interested in poetry that gives us a reason to keep reading.
If you have a poetry collection that you would like us to consider, send us your manuscript together with a short biographical note.
Your manuscript should normally contain between 20 and 50 poems.
The reading and assessment fee is £30. You can pay this through PayPal using this link
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=CDXL6P6VSQQWL
Send your poems to publishing@poetrykit.org
We will read the complete manuscript and provide a written publishing assessment, normally within five working days.
If we believe the collection is suitable for the Poetry Kit Publishing Programme, we will explain the next stage and invite you to work with us towards publication.
If you are uncertain whether your manuscript is ready, or would like to ask something about the Publishing Programme before submitting, please contact us.
We would rather answer a question before submission than have a poet send a manuscript without understanding how the programme works.
Poetry Kit Publishing
Supporting poets from manuscript to finished book.