The Poet’s Monthly Manuscript Challenge
Write, create, and publish a chapbook in just one month.
Take your poetry from idea to completed chapbook with our guided, monthly challenge. Each month, you’ll explore a new theme with 30 detailed writing prompts designed to inspire, challenge, and shape your work. Whether you’re an experienced poet or just starting, this challenge helps you write at least 20 polished poems in one month.
Choose your month, dive into the prompts, and by the end of the month, you’ll have a complete manuscript ready to publish - either on your own or with our full publication support. Flexible, fun, and fully guided, this challenge meets you wherever you are in your writing journey.
You can use the challenge in the way that best serves your goals:
– Create and publish a brand-new chapbook centered around a single theme
– Write new poems for a larger, future collection, building your manuscript month by month
– Generate fresh, meaningful poems you can share as content on social media, newsletters, readings, or your website
Whether you publish every month, publish selectively, or simply write for creative momentum, the Poet’s Monthly Manuscript Challenge gives you structure, inspiration, and finished work you can actually use — not just ideas left in a notebook.
1. Choose Your Month
Each month focuses on a unique theme, from Beginnings in January to Stillness in December. Join during the month that inspires you most - or complete multiple challenges throughout the year.
2. Follow the Prompts
Receive 20 detailed writing prompts to inspire daily poetry. The prompts guide your craft, tone, and emotional exploration so that your poems develop depth and cohesion.
3. Complete Your Chapbook
Write at least 20 poems by the end of the month. You can compile, edit, and publish your chapbook on your own - or select our Full Publication Package and we’ll handle design, formatting, and publishing for you.
4. Flexible Participation
Each month is a standalone challenge. Skip months, join mid-year, or complete them all - your poetry journey is on your terms.
How it Works
Why Enter the Challenge?
Accountability with Freedom – Write at your own pace with 10 free days built in. Stay motivated without the pressure.
Creative Spark – Each month’s theme gives you fresh inspiration, helping you break through writer’s block and explore new ideas.
A Finished Book – Instead of poems sitting in a notebook, you’ll walk away with a professionally designed poetry collection.
20-30 New Poems - And if you choose not to turn your poems into a manuscript, you still have up to 30 new poems you add to a larger collection later or use as fresh social media content for your readers.
Affordable Publishing Path – For just $124, you get book formatting, cover design, and guidance to publication.
Build Your Author Identity – With optional add-ons like editing, branding, and launch planning, you can grow beyond the challenge into a confident published author.
Celebrate Your Words – Most importantly, you can cross the threshold from writer to published poet and hold your own book in your hands or simply be proud of yourself for creating new work.
How the Challenge Works (and How We Stay Connected)
The Poet’s Monthly Manuscript Challenge is designed to feel supported and steady — not isolating or overwhelming. You are never just handed a list of prompts and left on your own.
Throughout the month, you’ll receive thoughtfully written emails that guide you through the challenge, deepen your connection to the theme, and help you stay present with your writing.
You will receive 20 daily emails with more information about the writing prompts, inspiration that rotates between craft insight, reflection questions, or short excerpts from well-known poets, and gentle guidance on how to approach the writing (without pressure or rules).
Flexible by Design
You can:
Write every day or skip days (the goal is 20 poems, so that gives you around 10 non-writing days for the month)
Use the emails we send as background support
Reach out to us via email should you have questions
The challenge meets you where you are — creatively, emotionally, and practically.
At the End of the Month
By the end of the challenge, you may have:
A complete chapbook draft
New poems for a larger collection
Fresh, emotionally honest work to share with readers
Or simply a renewed connection to your writing practice
What happens next is up to you. You can publish with us, self-publish on your own, continue into another month, or take a break.
The goal is not just to write poems - it’s to stay connected to the work in a way that feels sustainable, meaningful, and real.
Aspiring Poets: Individuals who are new to writing poetry or want to explore their creative side through a structured challenge.
Daily Writers: Those who enjoy a daily writing routine and want to build a habit of producing poetry consistently.
Creative Challenge Seekers: Writers looking for a fun and motivating challenge to inspire their creativity.
Minimalists: Individuals who prefer a straightforward publishing process without extensive customization.
Quick Publication Goals: Writers who want to rapidly achieve the milestone of having a published book under their name.
This challenge is for…
This challenge is not for…
Pre-Existing Manuscripts: Writers who already have a complete poetry manuscript and seek publishing services beyond basic compilation.
Extensive Customization: Individuals desiring a highly personalized approach to the book cover design.
Long-Form Works: Writers aspiring to publish a full-length poetry book or novel.
Specific Publishing Preferences: Individuals with specific preferences for their book’s formatting, layout, or additional publishing services beyond the challenge’s offerings.
Individuals with the above needs may find our other publishing packages better suited to their specific requirements.
Cost of the Challenge
Challenge-Only Package $28
Write the work. Hold the moment. Decide later.
Includes:
Full access to your selected month’s theme
Complete theme overview and craft focus
All 30 expanded writing prompts
20-day structured writing challenge
Guidance for shaping poems into a chapbook-length manuscript
Full ownership of all work created
Does NOT include:
Editing or feedback
Formatting or design
ISBN or publishing support
Uploading or distribution
Best for:
Poets who want to write without pressure
Writers who plan to revise or publish independently
Anyone who needs the work written first before making decisions
Outcome: You finish the month with a complete or near-complete poetry chapbook draft.
Full Publication Package $124
Write the work. Preserve it. Publish it.
Includes everything in the Challenge‑Only Package, plus:
Professional chapbook interior formatting
Custom cover design aligned with the month’s theme
ISBN assignment
Publishing setup and upload (Amazon KDP or equivalent)
Author credit and full rights ownership
Does NOT include:
Editing beyond basic formatting prep
Marketing or promotional services
Book launch guidance
Best for:
Poets who know this work should not stay private
Writers who want a finished, legitimate publication
Authors who want the publishing process handled for them
Outcome: You receive a fully published poetry chapbook, turning a fleeting emotional season into a permanent book.
Optional Add-Ons
Available with the Full Publication Package
These services are for poets who want to strengthen, refine, or extend the life of their chapbook beyond basic publication.
Editing Package
What’s included:
Proofreading
Spelling and typo corrections
Grammar and punctuation review
Consistency checks (spacing, capitalization, formatting)
Line Editing
Sentence‑level edits for clarity and flow
Word choice and phrasing suggestions
Rhythm and readability improvements
Light restructuring where needed
Developmental Editing
Feedback on structure and poem order
Theme development and cohesion analysis
Strategic guidance to strengthen the collection overall
Best for:
Poets who want peace of mind before release
Poets revising drafts before publication
Manuscripts that feel close, but not quite finished
Writers seeking stronger emotional impact
Writers unsure if their collection feels cohesive
Poets preparing a meaningful, polished release
Author Foundations Package
Define your author identity so everything else feels easier
Before promotion or platform building, you need a clear visual direction. This package gives you a professional, reusable author identity you can rely on long‑term.
What you receive:
Custom mood board tailored to your writing voice and genre
Curated color palette
Font recommendations for titles, graphics, and promotion
Visual inspiration aligned with your emotional tone
What you’ll use it for:
Designing future book covers
Creating Instagram posts and graphics
Maintaining consistency across your website and marketing
Best for:
First‑time authors
Writers unsure about branding
Poets preparing to publish or promote
Author Platform Package
Bring your author identity to life on Instagram
This package applies your visual foundation to a professional, intentional author profile.
What you receive:
Everything in Author Foundations, plus:
Professionally set up Instagram author profile
Custom highlight covers
Clean, cohesive profile layout
Best for:
Authors launching or rebranding
Writers who want a polished presence without overwhelm
Poets preparing to promote a new release
Author Launch Package
Show up consistently and launch with a clear plan
Your most comprehensive support option—combining branding, content tools, and strategy.
What you receive:
Everything in Author Foundations and Author Platform, plus:
30 editable Canva templates (posts + stories)
Templates for quotes, announcements, and promotions
Book Launch Strategy Plan with timelines and checklists
Best for:
Authors preparing for a book release
Writers who want structure and direction
Poets ready to actively promote their work
Reminder: You can keep this month simple - or let it become the foundation for your larger author journey. These add‑ons exist so you don’t have to choose between writing honestly and showing up professionally.
You Don’t Have to Do Everything Every Month
One of the most important things to know about the Poet’s Monthly Manuscript Challenge is this:
You are not committing to a publishing pipeline.
You are responding to moments as they arise.
Some months are meant to be written.
Some months are meant to be finished.
Some months are meant to be saved.
There is no “correct” way to participate.
Flexible Paths You May Take
Option 1: Challenge-Only Most Months
Many poets choose to:
Join the challenge for multiple months
Write and collect poems privately
Let the work sit and speak to them over time
Later, they may:
Combine poems from several months into one larger collection
Choose to publish with us at a later date
Or publish independently
This path is ideal if you’re writing for discovery, healing, or long-term creative growth.
Option 2: Publish Only the Months That Feel Complete
Some themes arrive already whole.
You might:
Join several months as Challenge-Only
Then choose one month that feels especially powerful
Upgrade to the Full Publication Package for that specific theme
For example:
Writing several months → Publishing only October: Duality
Or writing year-round → Publishing November: Loss as a standalone chapbook
Option 3: Combine Months into a Larger Collection
You are encouraged to think in clusters, not just single months.
Some natural combinations include:
Beginnings + Becoming + Transformation → Identity & Change
Love + Connection + Devotion → Relationships & Attachment
Loss + Memory + Stillness → Grief & Reflection
Heat + Freedom + Duality → Desire, Anger, and Selfhood
You might write across several months, then later:
Curate poems into one full-length collection
Add editing support
Choose when and how to publish
Option 4: Mix and Match Based on Capacity
Your creative capacity will change - and that’s expected.
Some months you might:
Want to skip entirely
Only want to write quietly (Challenge-Only)
Some months you might:
Feel ready to release the work
Choose Full Publication
Add editing or author support
This challenge is designed to flex with your life, not demand consistency.
Use Add-Ons When They Serve You
Editing, branding, and launch support are not requirements.
They exist for moments when:
You want the work refined
You want the book to reach readers
You’re ready to step into authorship more visibly
You can:
Add editing for one book but not another
Build your author foundation once and reuse it
Launch one book intentionally while letting others exist quietly
The Big Picture:Some months ask to be written.
Some ask to be witnessed.
Some ask to be shared.
This challenge exists to meet you in all of those places.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Poet’s Monthly Manuscript Challenge is a monthly poetry writing challenge designed to help you create a chapbook-length body of work centered around a single theme. Each month has its own emotional focus, craft guidance, and 20 expanded prompts.
You can join any month, skip months, or return whenever a theme speaks to you.
-
No. This is not a yearly program.
Each month stands on its own. You choose:
Which month(s) to join
When to participate
Whether or not to publish
There is no obligation to continue month after month.
-
The challenge officially runs during the calendar month, but the structure is flexible. Life happens.
You are encouraged to write at least 20 poems during the month. Perfection and strict schedules are not required.
-
That’s completely okay.
This challenge values depth over perfection.
You are not penalized for missing days. The goal is progress, not pressure.
But if your plan is to publish it as a chapbook, you’ll need a minimum of 24 pages to publish on Amazon KDP, which is why we stick to having at least 20 poems.
-
No. Prompts are invitations, not assignments.
You can follow them exactly, use them as starting points, or write outside them entirely if the theme leads you elsewhere.
-
Yes. Prompts are written to be:
Accessible to new poets
Emotionally rich for experienced writers
There is no expectation of prior publishing experience.
-
Not by default.
The challenge focuses on writing and completion, not critique. Editing and feedback are available as optional add-ons for poets who want them.
-
Yes, but many poets find it helpful to write first and revise later.
The challenge encourages drafting without over-editing so you don’t lose emotional momentum.
-
You do. Always.
You retain full ownership and rights to every poem you write, regardless of which package you choose.
-
Yes.
You may submit, publish, or share your poems anywhere.
-
Challenge-Only ($28) is for writing and manuscript completion.
Full Publication ($124) includes professional formatting, cover design, ISBN, and publishing setup.Both include full participation in the challenge.
-
Many poets join Challenge-Only and never publish, or choose to publish later.
-
Yes, in many cases.
If you decide after the month ends that you want to publish, contact us to discuss availability and next steps.
-
No.
Each month is a separate decision. Publishing one chapbook does not obligate you to publish others.
-
Chapbooks are published through Amazon KDP on your own account.
-
Chapbook are published as print editions.
-
Basic formatting is included, but editing is not automatic.
If you want proofreading, line editing, or developmental editing, you’ll need to add an editing package.
-
After the writing month ends:
Editing (if added) happens first
Interior formatting and book cover design follow
We aim for one month after you have finished writing, but the entire process can take up to three months for the entire process depending on revisions and responsiveness.
You can also choose a future publication date, should you want a specific time to publish or more time to promote your book.
-
Yes. This can be done if you combine poems from multiple months to create a full-collection. You will need to choose the Challenge-Only package for each month, then choose a publishing package separate from the challenge, since these go beyond chapbook size books.
-
Within 24-48 hours you’ll receive:
Confirmation of your selected month and package
Access to the challenge materials
Clear next steps for participation
-
You’re welcome to reach out via email at info@jackwildpublishing.co
-
Because this is a digital creative service, refunds are not offered once materials are delivered. Please read package details carefully before purchasing.
-
Royalties vary depending on:
Book price
Printing costs (for print books)
Format (paperback vs ebook)
For most poetry chapbooks:
Paperback royalties are typically 40–60% of the list price after printing costs
We’ll help ensure your book is priced reasonably and competitively, but final pricing decisions are always yours.
-
You do. 100%.
You retain:
Full ownership of your work
Full control over pricing
All royalties generated from sales
We do not take a percentage of your earnings.
-
When your chapbook is published through Amazon KDP, you earn royalties on every sale of your book. Amazon pays authors a percentage of each sale based on the book’s format and pricing.
You are paid directly by Amazon, not through us.
Amazon pays royalties:
Monthly
Via direct deposit or check, depending on your setup
Approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the sale occurred
For example:
Books sold in January are paid out at the end of March. -
Yes.
Your book is published under your own Amazon KDP account, ensuring:
You control your royalties
You have direct access to sales data
Your publishing history stays with you
We do not access your royalties, banking information, or tax details. All financial information stays securely between you and Amazon.
