SLIGO CREEK PUBLISHING
Call for Submissions: Poems About Work
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread ~Genesis 3:19
I do not like to work and have no trade but I do like to eat ~Charles Bukowski
Please submit one to three poems about work. What you do for a living. Why you like your job. What you hate about it. Why you got hired. Why you got canned. What work is doing to your body. What it’s doing to your head.
None of this is to suggest that work only means working for a paycheck. Mothering, fathering, or caregiving is work, too—perhaps some of the hardest work of all. We interpret work broadly.
The poems can be any length, in any style. If it’s been previously published, that’s ok, so long as you retain the copyright. Just tell us where it was published and when.
What we prefer: poetry that is meant to be heard as much as read. Avoid generalities, and please don’t preach. Use strong imagery. Make it personal. Above all, make us care.
Formatting: 12pt Time New Roman, single spaced. Eliminate any embedded codes. Bear in mind that each line of text will be limited to about 52 characters, including spaces.
Submit your poems in a single .docx or .doc file. Title the document as follows:
workpoems_lastname_firstname Poems will be read and judged blind, so please remove your name from the body of the document.
Sligo Creek Publishing embraces diversity. We are proud members of CLMP, and abide by its code of ethics. We respect your privacy, and will not share your identity with anyone. You may opt out of providing a bio—just write N/A in the appropriate box. You are welcome to use a pseudonym.
If your work is accepted, you agree to give Sligo Creek Publishing publishing and archival rights; following publication, all rights revert back to you. We ask that you credit Sligo Creek Publishing if the work is published elsewhere in the future.
By submitting, you agree that no AI was used in the creation of the work.
Awards: First Place, $150.00 Second Place: $100.00 Third Place: $50
Awards Judge will be award-winning performing poet Roderick Deacey
Submission fee is $5.00. All poets who are included in the anthology will receive a free copy delivered to their door.
If this fee represents a hardship, notify the editor at info@sligocreekpublishing.com to request a waiver.