Guidelines for the Deep Vellum 2026 Open Poetry Call: 

English Language Originals:

Submit two documents: 1) a full-length manuscript and 2) a 150-word project abstract/description

Manuscript Details: 

• Submit a previously unpublished, full-length poetry manuscript, in English.
• Material in your manuscript may have been published previously in a chapbook, magazines, journals or anthologies, but the work as a whole must be unpublished.
• Please include an acknowledgments page, if applicable.
• Please use a legible 12-point font.
• Previously self-published books are not eligible; translations may be submitted to the translation-specific call.
• While there is no page limit, please keep in mind that book-length poetry collections tend to fall within 48-80 pages.
• We do not take multiple manuscripts.
• Please let us know immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.

Translation:

Please submit two documents: 1) a translated manuscript and 2) a 150-word translator's note/project description

Manuscript Details: 

• Submit a translated, full-length poetry manuscript.
• Please include an acknowledgments page, if applicable.
• Use a legible 12-point font.
• We do not take multiple manuscripts. 
• We do not take public domain work for poetry translation.
• Please include information about the English Language Rights status and/or information about the poet's approval of the project in your cover letter.
• Please let us know immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.