Wordgathering

A Journal of Disability Poetry

Volume 4     Issue 2      July 2010

Submission Guidelines

Though Wordgathering is deeply committed to poetry, we also accept a limited number of literary essays, short fiction and books of poetry for review. Our aim is to give voice to the emerging genre of disability literature; therefore, we seek work related to disability or by writers with disabilities. The following guidelines are for the submission of poetry. Guidelines for submission of essays and books for review guidelines are given at the bottom of the page.

  1. Writers with disabilities can submit poems on any topic. For topics unrelated to disability, Wordgathering will ask you to confirm that you have a disability upon acceptance.
  2. Non-disabled writers must submit work that relates in some way to disability.
  3. Submit up to 5 poems.
  4. We prefer poems under 75 lines.
  5. We would appreciate receiving the poems in at least 16 point font.
  6. Any style of poetry may be submitted.
  7. Previously unpublished work is given preference. If a work has been previously published, please let us know where.
  8. Work should be submitted to submissions@wordgathering.com
  9. Write submission in the subject line of the e-mail.
  10. Cover letters in the body of the email by writers submitting to Wordgathering for the first time are appreciated.
  11. Please send poems as attachments. On the attachment include your name, conventional mail address and e-mail address.

Writers interested in submitting essays or books of poetry for Wordgathering to review should first send a query to the editors at submission@wordgathering.com describing the proposed essay or the book to be reviewed. Essays are generally between 1000 and 1500 words and should in some way contribute to the development of the genre of disability either theoretically or through personal experience as a writer with a disability. The editors strongly recommend that potential contributors read past essays, especially Jim Ferris,"Crip Poetry" or Dan Simpson's "Line Breaks the Way I See Them", as examples of the kind of essays Wordgathering looks for.

Wordgathering is also very interested in reviewing books of poetry by writers with disabilities. As with essays, it is a good idea to read previous book reviews. The review of Anne Kaier's In Fire, while John Lee Clark's Deaf American Poetry of an anthology. A word of caution: Wordgathering is unlikely to review books whose primary purpose is to be inspirational, uplifting, or therapeutic.

Visual artists may have noticed that Wordgathering has been supplementing its literary work with paintings and photography. The Art and Photography Gallery in the December 2009 issue gives an overview of some of the work we have used. Emphasis is on work that focuses on disability and pushes some limits. Prospective contributers might want to pay special attention to the work of painter Betty G. Miller and photographer Elijah Northen. Interested artists should send samples of their work as jpg files.

Acceptance of work will generally come within a month. As with most online journals, work submitted can not be returned. Unfortunately, due to its non-profit nature, Wordgathering cannot provide compensation for work that is accepted for publication.

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This site is maintained by Michael Northen.