There is no specific theme required for your chapbook submission. We want to see a collection of poems that truly captures you as an artist. This is your opportunity to showcase your unique voice and style, so feel free to submit a chapbook that reflects your personal vision, experiences, and creative expression. Whether your poems explore themes of love, nature, identity, or something entirely different, we are excited to see the diversity of voices and perspectives in your work.

Submissions close July 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Each submission package is for one chapbook entry. We recommend submitting your best manuscript, but if you have multiple chapbooks you want to submit, you can purchase additional content entrance fees for each entry.

Your chapbook should consist of 30 poems. Take your time crafting a selection that truly represents your voice, and submit your best work with confidence!

Absolutely! We welcome submissions from poets worldwide.

The winner of the 2026 Summer Chapbook Contest will be chosen on August 3rd, following a review period after submissions close on July 30th. During this time, we carefully read through each chapbook to select a poet whose work aligns with our vision and passion for poetry.

The winner will be contacted via email first, so be sure to add us to your email contacts to prevent our message from going to spam. We will provide all details about working with us and next steps. Once the winner accepts, we will make an official announcement on social media a few days later. This brief gap allows time for any initial questions and ensures a smooth transition into the Jack Wild Publishing community. Keep an eye on your inbox!

If you miss the July 30th deadline, unfortunately, we won’t be able to accept your submission for this year’s Summer Chapbook Contest. However, don’t worry, this contest is an annual opportunity, so you can always prepare and submit your chapbook next year!

In the meantime, we work with poets year-round through our self-publishing services, so you don’t have to wait until next summer to publish your book. If you're interested in bringing your poetry to life sooner, we’d love to help—feel free to reach out to us anytime!

The fee is a donation that helps us continue offering free publishing services to our authors, covering costs like editing, design, formatting, and marketing support.

No, the submission fee is non-refundable. This fee serves as a donation to help us continue providing free publishing services to our contest winners and supporting the Jack Wild Publishing community. If you decide to publish your chapbook elsewhere after submitting it to the contest, that is completely up to you! However, please note that the submission fee remains non-refundable.

No, your chapbook must be original and unpublished in any form (print or online) before the contest. This ensures that the winning manuscript is fresh and exclusive to our contest.

Yes, you can submit poems that have been previously published individually (e.g., in magazines or online). However, the manuscript as a whole must remain unpublished.

There is no length restriction for individual poems, but please ensure that your chapbook manuscript, as a whole, stays within the range of 20-30 poems. Keep in mind that shorter poems might allow for better pacing, while longer poems can add depth to your collection.

While there is no required theme, it’s best to choose poems that reflect your unique voice and style. We encourage a cohesive collection that flows together, whether thematically or in tone.

Yes, as the author, you will retain full copyright over your work. If selected as the winner, we will work with you to publish your chapbook, but the rights to your poems remain yours.

Yes, please ensure your manuscript is formatted according to standard submission guidelines:

• Use 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman or Garamond.

• Include a title page with your name, email address, and manuscript title.

• Number the pages.

If your manuscript does not meet our submission guidelines, it may be disqualified. We encourage you to carefully read and follow all the instructions for formatting and submission to ensure your manuscript is considered.

No, your manuscript must be unpublished and not under consideration with any other publisher or contest at the time of submission. This ensures the work is exclusive to the contest.

You'll receive professional editing, book cover design, and marketing support. Plus, you’ll be featured on our social media and have the opportunity to join our exclusive community of poets and authors.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback on all submissions due to the high volume of entries. However, if you would like detailed feedback on your poetry, we offer professional poetry feedback services through our Author Services section on our website. Our experienced team can provide you with constructive feedback to help you refine your manuscript for future submissions.

Yes, you will receive royalties from the sales of your chapbook. Royalties are calculated based on the sales price and printing cost of your book. The sales price is usually $14.99. The printing cost is about $2-$4 per book depending on it’s size and use of images. You receive about 60% of royalties. The rest goes to printing and distribution. Once your chapbook is published, you will have your own account where you can view sales. Royalties are automatically deposited into your bank account.