Garden Party Collective treats publishing as an invitation—a collaborative space where emerging poets are welcomed into a community that grows together. In this interview, Founder Christopher Morgan shares how GPC evolved from a chapbook contest into a collective rooted in transparency, shared creative work, and a commitment to uplifting new voices. Their annual Mental Health Poetry Contest continues that mission, offering free submissions, $100 prizes, and a focus on poets writing with risk, urgency, and lived experience. If you’re seeking a contest that values openness, care, and real investment in emerging writers, send them your best work!

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Garden Party Collective. 

MORGAN: Garden Party Collective is a space that treats publishing as an invitation. To not only support the growth and development of authors, but honor the process with collaboration at every stage—from seedling to germination to full bloom—and everything in between!

Our key values that will guide us:

• an emphasis on new writers without published collections
• no submission fees ever
• close mentorship from collective members
• transparency and involvement in every aspect of their publication journey and book design
• ongoing optional involvement in the collective for future projects and the chance to pick the new generation of voices

HOPKINSON: How/why was Garden Party Collective originally started? 

MORGAN: In 2015, Christopher Morgan started the Nostrovia! Press Chapbook Contest, offering a free print opportunity for three winners each year. Three years later, Bob Sykora (from the 2016 chapbook series) joined the team, and we published our 2018 chaps(!): Lyd Havens, Laura Villareal, and Stephen Furlong.

All three writers wanted to join in the fun and the Garden Party Collective was born in 2022!

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience? 

MORGAN: Readers embedded in small-press / chapbook culture who want to discover a poet before their first collection—drawn to new, underrepresented voices and real risk on the page. Our rotating Poetry Contest also pulls in theme-specific communities: Midwest/non-coastal readers, mental health advocates and survivors (our contest honors a collective member for whom that subject mattered deeply), neurodivergent and intersectional readers, etc. 

Many of these readers are past contributors too, since our alumni help shape each new cohort. 

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

MORGAN: We really value underrepresented narratives and styles. We’re also open to all genres and forms, but are especially looking for work with risk and urgency.

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

MORGAN: Truthfully the community does an amazing job with every contest, sending us thoughtful work aligned with our mission and contest guidelines. Thanks everyone for that! 

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

MORGAN: 

• Foglifter
• Stanchion Zine (which has unfortunately come to an end recently)
• Sixth Finch
• ANML
• Roi Faineant Press
• Corporeal Lit Mag

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with the Garden Party Collective?

MORGAN: I love that GPC continues to grow each year as we invite chapbook authors to formally join us after their publication. That way they can learn about editing and publishing more personally, as well as nurture future authors!

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions? 

MORGAN: gardenpartycollectivecontests@gmail.com

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

MORGAN: gardenpartycollectivecontests@gmail.com or gardenpartycollectivelit@gmail.com or social media.

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

MORGAN: We have our end-of-the-year online poetry reading featuring all of the 2026 Chapbook Contest finalists–and of course we’re about to announce presales for our new chapbooks!! 

Click here to read submission guidelines.

• SUBMISSION DEADLINE: September 12, 2026
  • We accept submissions during National Suicide Prevention Week each year. For 2026, we are accepting poetry during September 6th – 12th
• FORMAT: Online
• SUBMISSION FEE: No fee–all GPC Contests will always be free.
• PAYMENT: 3 winners each receive $100!
• ISSUE FREQUENCY: Contest is annual
• AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: ~1.5 months
• SUBMISSION METHOD: Email
• SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes
• LISTINGS: Duotrope
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter)

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