Bloodroot Poetry Journal is a visually rich, international publication founded and edited by Marc Frazier, who envisioned a space where poetry and professional photography meet—images acting as a quiet pause between poems, a moment to reset the reader’s attention. The journal’s inaugural issue featured poets from India, Nigeria, France, Australia, England, Wales, the United States, and Canada.

Bloodroot is now reading for upcoming issues, with poetry submissions open July 1–August 31 and again January 1–February 28. The journal publishes online, charges no fees, accepts simultaneous submissions, and typically responds within two months. They welcome well-crafted poetry of all styles, especially work written in response to art, experience, or the world—poems in conversation with painting, film, literature, social issues, historical figures, or transformative moments. Fresh approaches to childhood, death, and grief are especially sought after. If you’re ready to send your strongest work, submission details and a link to their guidelines are below.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Bloodroot Poetry Journal. 

FRAZIER: We believe words matter and provide a platform for exemplary writing and photography. We’re interested in what one sees in this world; perhaps it will be startling or, perhaps, quietly profound. We are an international journal and our inaugural issue featured poets from India, Nigeria, France, Australia, England, Wales, United States, and Canada. Professional photography is interspersed throughout the various poems.

HOPKINSON: How/why was Bloodroot Poetry Journal originally started? 

FRAZIER: I wanted to create a poetry journal that also featured professional photography. I am very visual and I guess I saw the photographs appearing between the poems’ words as a cleansing of the palate before continuing reading. 

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience? 

FRAZIER: Poetry and photography lovers of all ages.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for in submissions? 

FRAZIER: We welcome all styles of well-crafted writing and particularly admire poems written “in response to…” that engage in the world around the poet—poems that are more than solipsistic writing—for instance, poetry in conversation with other forms of artistic creation including painting, films, and other literature or in response to social issues, historical figures and events, or defining moments of transformation in human existence.

We do not seek poems that are political diatribes of any sort, or rambling work (philosophical or otherwise) that demonstrates none of the facets of poetic discourse such as figurative language and imagery.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in? 

FRAZIER: Truly fresh takes on childhood and on death and grief. Writing reminiscent of the style of Louise Gluck and Gertrude Stein. Openings like Anne Sexton’s “Lament.” Someone is dead. / Even the trees know it.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

FRAZIER: RHINO, West Trade Review, American Poetry Review, Poet Lore, The Tampa Review, Midway, Permafrost.

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with the Bloodroot Poetry Journal?

FRAZIER: Discovering real talent and giving poets their moment to shinehttps://bloodroot.online/submission/

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions? 

FRAZIER: Through our Submissions page on website https://bloodroot.online/submission/

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you? 

FRAZIER: wordsmatter@bloodroot.online

HOPKINSON: Is there anything exciting coming up you’d like to mention? 

FRAZIER: Our fall issue. Please submit.

Click here to read submission guidelines.

• SUBMISSION open reading periods July 1-August 31 and January 1-February 28
• THEME(S): no themes
• online issues 
• SUBMISSION FEE: None
• PAYMENT: none at this time 
• ISSUE FREQUENCY: spring and fall issues
• AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: two months 
• SUBMISSION METHOD: Through bloodroot.online Submission page
• SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes
• FORMS: Poetry
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Bluesky

If you like this post, please share with your writerly friends and/or  follow me on Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram. You can see all the FREE resources my site offers poets/writers on my Start Here page.