Button Poetry publishes poetry by our contest winners and groundbreaking artists from around the world. Please read about our contests below so you can prepare for your next submission! Button Poetry is not open to any unsolicited submissions outside of our contest periods. We announce our contest submission periods on our social media, and you can get announcements right in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.

If you entered any of our previous contests, you can check the status of your submission by logging into your Submittable account.

• • Fiction Contest
    The 2025 Fiction Contest is open fromFebruary 15, 2025 – April 1, 2025
    Prize: $500, Publication & 25 author copies
    We want to see what you see. Join us for our first foray into fiction.
    We are open to manuscripts of any length in any style of fiction.

• • Button Poetry First Book Contest
    The 2025 First Book Contest will open April 15, 2025 – May 30, 2025
    Prize: $1,000, Publication & 25 author copies
    We are looking for an energetic, first full-length poetry collection.
    What we like: voice and force, work that crosses borders or effaces them completely, work that enters into larger social conversations, work that lives in the world, work with calloused hands and a half-empty stomach.

• • Chapbook contest
    

The 2024 Chapbook Contest is now closed.
Each year Button accepts manuscripts from aspiring and accomplished poets from all over. Winning manuscripts become beautiful chapbooks, published by Button Poetry. In addition, winners receive 50 free author copies, and a $500 honorarium.
More questions? View the Chapbook contest FAQ.

• Video contest
  The 2024 Video Contest is now closed.
  Button Poetry accepts videos of original poetry once a year. Winner’s of Button’s annual video contest win an honorarium in addition to being featured alongside runners-up across Button’s social media.
  More questions? View the Video contest FAQ.
  
• Short Form contest
  Fall 2024 Short Form Contest is now closed.
  Button Poetry’s Short Form contest invites original, short poems or excerpts of 250 characters to be featured on the official Button Poetry Instagram! Anyone, ANYWHERE is eligible to enter with no entry fee. Winning entries are made into a graphic that will be posted along with the author’s Instagram handle in the months after the contest.
  More questions? View the Short Form contest FAQ.