Our Submission Period For the Journal Will Reopen From December 1-31, 2025,

For Consideration In Our April 2026 Online Issue.

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​​​​​Thank you for reading these guidelines carefully before submitting.

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American Poetry Journal (APJ) considers submissions of poetry and art in most styles, forms, or genres from all contributors globally. Submit no matter your race, color, religion, national origin/citizenship status, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

 

Please no inappropriate or offensive work, and no generative AI. APJ understands that work using Natural Language Processing tools (like predictive or corrective AI found in Google Docs, MicroSoft Word, Grammarly etc.) to check for spelling/grammar is fine. However, we ask that all submissions do not use generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Bard, GrammerlyGo or the likes) to draft or compose/create any pieces submitted to APJ. ​

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Poetry

For poetry, please send no more than 3 previously unpublished poems ​in one file, no more than 8 pages in total. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please mention it in your email. Also, should your work be accepted elsewhere, please let us know. We do not consider translations at this time.

 

​Cover Art

​Submit up to 5 previously unpublished pieces, high res .jpeg (,jpg) or .png, both black/white & color considered.

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All submissions should be through Duosuma; please click on a Duosuma button when ready to submit. You do not need to subscribe to Duotrope to submit, but you do need to sign up for a Duotrope account. It's free to sign up. Please include a 50-word third-person bio with a short cover note. Poetry should be submitted in a single .doc, .docx, or PDF file—please do not submit using OneDrive or Google Docs. Art should be attached in high res .jpeg (.jpg) or .png files. Unfortunately, we are not open to email or post submissions at this time; and we have a cap of 250 submissions, depending on submission response.

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​We aim to reply within 1-2 months of receipt. Please query us if it’s been longer than 2 months.

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As the creator of the work, you retain copyright upon publication, you agree to grant APJ first serial/electronic rights as well as electronic archival rights. You also agree that if the work is published subsequently (online or in print), APJ will be credited.

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There will be a $2 fee and an optional tip jar with APJ submissions for this reading period to help pay 2026 contributors and poet staff honoraria. Thank you in advance!

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We nominate for Pushcart and Best of the Net Prizes and promote each issue after publication.

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The Submission Period for APJ's Micro E-Chapbook Series Is Now Closed.

Chosen Chap is Jeri Theriault's Prepared for Stillness.

Our Next micro e-chap Open reading period is March 2026.