Every once in a while a new press with new ideas and amazing projects appears on the literary scene. Platypus Press is one of those. I've been nothing but impressed with their creativity and professionalism. They are a boutique publisher based in England and seek to unearth innovative contemporary poetry and prose from a broad variety of voices and experiences. They are currently accepting no fee poetry chapbook entries for their annual Broken River Prize. Each year a different poet will judge the contest--2019's judge is poet and teacher Airea D. Matthews. She is the recipient of a 2016 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award. Her book, Simulacra, was selected by Carl Phillips in the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition.
I wondered how and why this contest came to be, so I asked editor Michelle Tudor a few questions to find out. See my interview with Tudor and a link to their submission guidelines below.
HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Broken River Prize.
TUDOR: The Broken River Prize is our annual chapbook contest with poet Airea D. Matthews as judge. Poets have the chance to win $250 and publication in 2020.
HOPKINSON: How/why was the Broken River Prize originally started?
TUDOR: We had wanted to run a contest for a while, especially for chapbooks. We’ve released a lot of full-length books through the press, so we thought it would be a good way to find shorter collections.
HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for?
TUDOR: This is difficult to answer as we're not judging the contest. We're just looking for really great poetry that stands out.
HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?
TUDOR: We've been reading a lot of creative non-fiction lately and some great places for that are: Guernica, Catapult and Granta.
HOPKINSON: Where can folks send contest entries?
TUDOR: brp@platypuspress.co.uk with the subject header 'Broken River Prize Submission'
HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you?
TUDOR: enquiries@platypuspress.co.uk or find the guidelines at: platypuspress.co.uk/brp
Click here to read contest guidelines
DEADLINE: July 31, 2019
ENTRY FEE: None
PRIZES:
- Publication by Platypus Press in 2020.
- $250/£200 prize money.
FORMS: Manuscript of 20 – 40 pages
DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/25000
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Categories: Call for Submissions, Contests (No Entry Fee)
Thanks, Trish! I don’t know how I missed this one.