SEO title: Poetry Journals: 25+ Best Journals, Submission Tips & Writing Ideas
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Poetry Journals Introduction
The phrase poetry journals can mean two different things. It can mean literary journals that publish poems. It can also mean a personal notebook where a poet keeps drafts, images and daily thoughts. Good poets usually use both.
Published journals give you readers, editors and credits. A private journal gives you raw material. This guide covers both sides. You will find famous titles, free and paying markets, journals with quick replies, regional lists and simple rules for starting your own poetry journal.
Policies change often, so confirm fees, pay rates and reading periods on each journal’s website before you submit.
Read Also this Blog: Poetry Magazines
What Are Poetry Journals?
A poetry journal is a periodical devoted mainly to poems, along with reviews, interviews and essays. Journals can be printed, digital or both. Most are run by editors who read submissions during set reading periods and choose a small number of poems for each issue.
A poetry journal differs from a general magazine in one key way. Its editors care about craft first. They read hundreds or thousands of poems and look for fresh language, strong images and a clear voice.
Why Poetry Journals Matter for New Writers?
Publishing in journals is the traditional path to a first book. Poetry presses and contest judges often look at a poet’s publication history before they read a manuscript.
Here is what journals give you:
- Credits that build your bio
- Readers outside your circle of friends
- Feedback, even in the form of a short personal note
- A path to awards such as the Pushcart Prize
- A sense of what editors want right now
Reading journals also improves your own writing. You see which forms are in fashion, which subjects feel overused and which voices stand out.
18 Famous Poetry Journals
These journals have long histories and strong reputations. Many appear in author bios on book jackets.
| Journal | Country | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Poetry | USA | Founded in Chicago in 1912, a landmark of English language verse |
| The American Poetry Review | USA | Large format print journal with major voices |
| Ploughshares | USA | Respected literary journal with a strong poetry section |
| The Kenyon Review | USA | Long running journal of poetry and prose |
| The Georgia Review | USA | Established quarterly with high standards |
| Prairie Schooner | USA | University journal from Nebraska |
| The Southern Review | USA | Regional roots and national reach |
| Virginia Quarterly Review | USA | Poetry, essays and fiction in print and online |
| The Gettysburg Review | USA | Quarterly known for strong editing |
| Beloit Poetry Journal | USA | Adventurous taste in contemporary verse |
| Poetry Review | UK | The Poetry Society’s flagship |
| Poetry London | UK | Balanced mix of new and established poets |
| The Rialto | UK | Independent journal with open submissions |
| Poetry Wales | UK | Welsh and international voices |
| Magma | UK | Themed issues with guest editors |
| Stand | UK | Long standing literary quarterly |
| Poetry Ireland Review | Ireland | A leading Irish journal |
| The Malahat Review | Canada | Prestigious Canadian quarterly |
Most of these receive far more poems than they can print. Tracking data from submission communities suggests that the most competitive poetry journals accept well under two percent of submissions. Treat that as a reason to prepare, not to quit.
5 Top Poetry Journals
If you want a short starting list, begin with these five. They are widely read and often discussed.
- Poetry: The standard name in American poetry.
- The American Poetry Review: Respected for its range and its long run.
- Poetry London: A top choice for contemporary British poetry.
- Rattle: Friendly, broad and popular with working poets.
- Meanjin: An influential Australian journal that includes poetry.
5 Best Poetry Journals
Best depends on your goals. These five suit different needs.
| Goal | Journal | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige | Poetry | Strong reputation and wide readership |
| Emerging writers | Palette Poetry | Open to new voices with an active online community |
| Experimental work | Diode Poetry Journal | Welcomes risk taking and unusual forms |
| Pay and exposure | Rattle | Pays contributors and reaches many readers |
| Fast replies | Radar Poetry | Known for quicker than average responses |
A good strategy is to aim at several levels at once. Send some work to your dream journals and some to places where your chances are better.
Free Poetry Journals
Free can mean free to read or free to submit. Both kinds help new writers.
Free to read online:
- Poetry Foundation’s website and the Poetry magazine archive
- Poem-a-Day from the Academy of American Poets
- Poetry Daily
- Verse Daily
- Cordite Poetry Review
- Rattle
Often free to submit:
- Poetry
- Rattle
- Diode Poetry Journal
- Many smaller online journals
Some journals charge a small fee to read submissions. Others offer free windows with limited slots. Read each page carefully.
Online Poetry Journals
Online journals are easy to read, easy to share and often quick to publish. They also reach readers across borders.
- Diode Poetry Journal: Contemporary and fearless.
- Palette Poetry: Poems, interviews and contests.
- Frontier Poetry: A showcase for emerging poets.
- Sixth Finch: Inventive and imaginative.
- Cordite Poetry Review: Themed online issues from Australia.
- Rust and Moth: A small journal with an elegant online presence.
- Verse Daily: Daily highlights from other publications.
When you publish online, it is easy to link your poem in a bio, a newsletter or a social media post.
Best Poetry Journals to Submit To
The best journal for you is the one that already publishes work like yours. Use this checklist when you choose:
- Read at least two recent issues.
- Check whether the editors favor free verse, formal verse or experimental work.
- Look at the length of the poems they print.
- Confirm the reading period.
- Read the policy on simultaneous submissions.
- Note whether they pay.
Directories such as Chill Subs, Duotrope, Submittable and Reedsy’s list of poetry literary magazines can help you search by genre, fee, pay and response time.
Poetry Journals With Fast Response Time
Waiting months for a reply can drain your motivation. Some journals answer within days or weeks. Publishing sites that track response times, such as Authors Publish, which draws on Duotrope and other trackers, regularly list journals that reply within a month.
Journals often named for quick replies include:
| Journal | Typical response |
|---|---|
| Softblow | Very fast, often within days |
| Thrush | Usually within a couple of weeks |
| Radar Poetry | Within a few weeks |
| The New Verse News | Quick turnaround on topical poems |
| Star*Line | Within about two weeks |
| Neologism Poetry Journal | Within about two weeks |
| Last Stanza Poetry Journal | Within about two weeks |
Response times shift from year to year. Treat them as a guide, not a promise, and check the journal’s own submission page.
Poetry Journals Accepting Submissions
Journals open and close on different schedules. Here is a simple way to find those that are open now.
- Search submission databases and filter by open status.
- Follow journals on social media, where they announce reading periods.
- Join newsletters that share monthly lists of open calls.
- Keep a calendar of deadlines and reopening dates.
Prepare five to ten polished poems in advance so you can submit the day a window opens.
Poetry Journals UK
The United Kingdom has a deep tradition of poetry publishing, from large national titles to small independent journals.
- Poetry Review: The Poetry Society’s flagship.
- Poetry London: Established and prestigious.
- The Rialto: Respected and open to submissions.
- Magma: Themed and edited by different teams.
- PN Review: Poetry, criticism and translation.
- Ambit: Poetry, fiction and art.
- Poetry Wales: A voice for Welsh poets.
- Gutter: Scottish writing from Glasgow.
- The North: Published by the Poetry Business.
- Agenda: A long running poetry journal.
Many UK journals offer subscriptions, which also support the editors.
Poetry Journals Australia
Australian journals combine local identity with international reach.
- Meanjin: Melbourne based and influential.
- Overland: Politically aware writing.
- Island: A Tasmanian journal.
- Westerly: A long standing western Australian journal.
- Southerly: One of the oldest literary journals in the country.
- Cordite Poetry Review: Digital and themed.
- Australian Poetry Journal: Run by Australian Poetry.
- Rabbit Poetry Journal: Home to unusual and inventive work.
Several of these pay contributors, which makes them especially attractive.
Poetry Journals Canadian
Canadian journals are often supported by arts councils and universities.
- The Malahat Review: A top Canadian quarterly.
- Arc Poetry Magazine: Dedicated to poetry.
- The Fiddlehead: One of the oldest in the country.
- PRISM international: Run out of the University of British Columbia.
- EVENT: Poetry and prose with a long history.
- Grain: A Saskatchewan literary magazine.
- CV2: A Winnipeg journal of poetry.
- Prairie Fire: A well known quarterly.
Many Canadian journals run annual contests, so watch their calendars for cash prizes.
Poetry Journals That Pay
Payment varies a great deal. Some journals pay a flat fee per poem. Some pay by the line. Others offer only contributor copies.
Journals and magazines commonly known for paying poets include:
- Poetry
- Rattle
- Palette Poetry
- Ploughshares
- The Kenyon Review
- The Georgia Review
- Cordite Poetry Review
- Meanjin
- Overland
- The Malahat Review
Rates change, so read the current guidelines. A smart plan mixes paying markets with respected unpaid journals that build your reputation.
Most Prestigious Poetry Journals
Prestige comes from history, editorial reputation and the writers who have appeared in the pages. The following titles are widely respected:
- Poetry
- The American Poetry Review
- The Paris Review
- The New Yorker
- Poetry London
- Poetry Review
- Ploughshares
- The Kenyon Review
- The Georgia Review
- The Threepenny Review
Do not let prestige be the only measure of a poem’s success. Many strong writers begin in smaller journals, and editors at large journals often notice work that appears there.
Experimental Poetry Journals
Experimental journals welcome unusual forms, visual poems, hybrid work and language that breaks the rules. They are ideal for poets who work beyond the traditional lyric.
- Diode Poetry Journal: Open to bold approaches.
- Sixth Finch: Playful and surprising.
- Fence: Known for avant garde writing.
- Denver Quarterly: A home for innovative poetry.
- Conjunctions: Fiction, poetry and hybrid work.
- Black Warrior Review: Adventurous and youthful.
- Jacket2: A digital space for poetics and commentary.
- Rabbit Poetry Journal: Australian and experimental.
Before you submit, read several issues. Experimental does not mean careless. Editors still look for control and intention.
Poetry Literary Journals
Literary journals publish poetry along with fiction, essays and reviews. Because space is shared, competition can be intense.
University based journals are a good place for emerging poets. Examples include Prairie Schooner, Copper Nickel, The Carolina Quarterly, Boston Review and The Southampton Review. Many are staffed by graduate students and faculty, which can mean thoughtful reading and fair feedback.
Christian Poetry Journals
Faith based poetry journals welcome work about belief, doubt, loss and grace. Many invite writers from varied backgrounds.
- Image Journal: Art, faith and literature.
- Christianity and Literature: A scholarly journal with poetry.
- The Christian Century: Publishes poems regularly.
- Relief Journal: A literary journal with a Christian perspective.
- Windhover: A journal from a Christian university.
- Dappled Things: Catholic arts and literature.
- Presence: A journal of Catholic poetry.
Each one has its own point of view. Read before you send.
Poetry Print Journals
Print journals offer something a screen cannot. They are objects you can hold, shelve and share. Many poets feel that a print credit carries extra weight.
Here are some well known print journals:
| Print journal | Region |
|---|---|
| The American Poetry Review | USA |
| Poetry | USA |
| Poetry Review | UK |
| Poetry Ireland Review | Ireland |
| The Malahat Review | Canada |
| Meanjin | Australia |
| Magma | UK |
Most print journals also run websites, so you can sample the content before subscribing.
Rules to Write Poetry Journals for New Writers
Now for the personal side. A poetry journal is a daily habit that keeps your ideas close. These rules help beginners start strong.
- Choose a notebook you love. A good notebook invites you to open it.
- Write every day. Even five minutes counts.
- Date every entry. You will see patterns over time.
- Capture images, not conclusions. Describe what you see, hear and smell.
- Do not edit while you draft. Fix poems later.
- Record overheard lines. Real speech makes strong poems.
- Use prompts when stuck. A single object or memory can unlock a poem.
- Read other poets and copy lines you admire. Note why they work.
- Review your journal monthly. Circle ideas worth developing.
- Keep it private. Freedom to write badly leads to freedom to write well.
25 Poetry Journal Prompt Ideas
Use these starters when the page feels blank.
- Describe your childhood kitchen in five senses
- Write a poem that begins with a question
- Imagine a conversation with an object
- Describe the weather in your mood
- Write about a smell that brings back a person
- Describe a stranger you saw today
- List ten things you are afraid to lose
- Write a poem in the voice of a place
- Recall a lie you told as a child
- Write a letter you will never send
- Describe a sound at night
- Write about a meal you remember
- Describe your hands
- Write a poem that ends with an image
- Write about a journey that changed you
- Describe a color without naming it
- Write about a gift you gave or received
- Describe a street you know well
- Record a dream and turn it into verse
- Write about someone who taught you something
- Describe a season in three lines
- Write about a language you do not speak
- Imagine your future home
- Write about the news in a personal way
- Choose a word and write twenty lines around it
How to Move From Journal to Submission?
Your private journal feeds your public writing. Follow this simple path.
- Pick the best entries from the past month.
- Develop them into full drafts.
- Read each poem aloud and cut weak lines.
- Share with a trusted reader or writing group.
- Revise again.
- Choose three to five poems that work well together.
- Match them to journals that publish similar work.
- Send them following the guidelines exactly.
Submission Tips for Poetry Journals
- Follow formatting rules and send the right number of poems.
- Include a short cover letter with a two or three line bio.
- Keep a spreadsheet of where and when you submitted.
- Send simultaneous submissions only where permitted.
- Withdraw poems quickly if another journal accepts them.
- Accept rejection as part of the process and keep submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are poetry journals?
Poetry journals are periodicals that publish new poems, reviews and essays. The term can also mean a personal notebook for writing poetry.
What are the best poetry journals to submit to?
Poetry, Rattle, Poetry London, Diode and Palette Poetry are popular choices. The best fit is the journal that already publishes work like yours.
Which poetry journals are free?
Poetry, Rattle, Poetry Daily and Cordite are free to read online. Several of them are also free to submit to, but check current rules.
Which poetry journals respond fastest?
Softblow, Thrush, Radar Poetry and The New Verse News are often noted for quick replies. Times vary, so check each site.
Do poetry journals pay?
Some do, either per poem or per line. Many smaller journals offer contributor copies instead.
What are the most prestigious poetry journals?
Poetry, The American Poetry Review, Poetry London and The Paris Review are widely respected. Each is very competitive.
What are experimental poetry journals?
They publish unconventional, hybrid or visual poetry. Diode, Fence and Denver Quarterly are examples.
How many poems should I submit to a journal?
Most journals ask for three to five poems. Always follow the guidelines on the submission page.
How do I start a poetry journal?
Pick a notebook, set a daily time and write short entries. Focus on images and honest observation, not perfection.
Conclusion
Poetry journals are the heart of the poetry world. They connect poets with readers and with each other, and they give every new writer a place to begin. A personal poetry journal feeds that process by giving you a safe space to experiment.
Start with a notebook and a daily habit. Read widely, choose a handful of journals that fit your voice and submit with care. Track your results, learn from each reply and keep writing. Over time, one poem at a time, your name will find its place on the page.