Frequently asked questions

How do I submit?

Please, PLEASE read the submission guidelines below carefully and follow them. 

Who do you publish?

I publish aspiring and emerging poets who:

1. have not already been published in a literary journal.

2. preference is given to poets whose poems have been rejected multiple times by literary journals. If this is you, attach some of your rejection letters to your submission email.

I also publish original artwork from emerging artists.

What do you publish?

I publish original poetry and artwork.

Selection Process

Up to two poems may be commissioned at the editor's discretion. The remaining poems will be selected from the open call. Artwork may be selected at the editor's discretion or from the open call.

Where will my work appear?

Your poem or artwork will appear in an issue of the Pocketry Almanack, a pocket-sized journal and in the Pocketry Podcast.

Does my work need to be unpublished?

If you have published your poetry or artwork on your website or social media, I will consider it for publication. I will also consider work that has been previously performed at open mics, festivals etc.

In your submission, please mention where the poem has been previously published.

If you have previously performed the poem and it has been recorded, please include the link to the video in your bio so readers can see you perform it. Also remember to mention where it has been previously performed.

I will not publish work that has been previously published in a literary journal (print or digital), anthology or other print publication (eg newspaper, collection of poetry).

The major criteria is it needs to be short and written by you (see below for specific submission guidelines).

If your poem is published in the Pocketry Almanack and then accepted elsewhere, please cite the Almanack as the original publishing location.

You will retain the copyright to your work. 

Submission Guidelines

Poems are to be 18 lines (including line breaks) or less. Each line should be no more than 45 characters wide (including spaces). Short titles please (max 45 characters). This is to fit the poem onto the pages of the Almanack which is only 7.5 x 10.5 cm. Please use Arial or a similar sans serif font.

Audio recordings are to contain the title of your poem, your name and a reading of your poem. You may also include a brief introduction to your poem giving some background regarding the poem or its creation.

Poems can be in any language as long as they are submitted with an accurate English language translation and do not contain any swearing, pornographic descriptions of sex or violence and do not vilify or demean anyone.

Artwork - black and white illustrations in a png file with a transparent background only. Please record a description of your artwork / creative process. 

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Please e-mail up to three poems in a Word document to: hello @indraniperera dot com with 'Pocketry Almanack Issue 3 - Poems' in the subject of the email.

Please send in your black and white artwork as a high resolution png file with a transparent background to: hello @indraniperera dot com with 'Pocketry Almanack Issue 3 - Artwork' in the subject of the email

Please attach an mp3 recording of yourself reading your poem or a description of your artwork / creative process for the Pocketry Podcast. On your phone is fine, just try to record in a quiet space with minimal background noise.

Include a 50 word third person bio and a black and white photograph of yourself (both to be published on Instagram and this web site if you are accepted for publication) along with three rejection notices from literary journals if you are a poet.