Where Can I Submit Poetry on Medium?

A list of publications that accept poetry on Medium.

It’s rare for someone to make a living as a poet. While some known as poets are able to support themselves with their artistic efforts, it is likely many of these are doing so by adding earnings through related endeavors. For example, some are talented at playing an instrument and incorporate poetry with music. Others teach at colleges and universities or create online courses.

Medium is one of the only online platforms where poets can not only gain exposure but can also earn for the poetry they create. Stories can be put on their own page and if they have a good following this can accomplish both goals. However, the real strength of publishing on Medium is the ability to have work featured in a variety of publications. There are a number of poetry publications as well as creative writing and more general publications where poetry can be submitted. Most allow poems to also be put behind the paywall so that they can earn money.

One thing that frustrates me when looking for publications to submit to is that there are hundreds of them and they aren’t all indexed. I also get annoyed because some make it hard if not impossible to locate information about submitting, are personal publications for one writer or aren’t still operating.

I did my best to vet each publication listed to make sure they were still publishing (based on most recent poetry published and no notices saying they’d discontinued the publication) and were accepting new submissions. In a few cases I may not have been able to locate submission information but I had found other indications that it was accepting new work so I suggested contacting the editors.

Below are the publications I have come across to date that are dedicated to poetry or include poetry among other types of writing.

Poetry Publications on Medium

No Crime in Rhymin’ — This is an incredibly fun publication that I go to regularly when I am in need of a good laugh. From the site: “Villanelles and sonnets, haikus and tankas, sestinas and triolets, odes and elegies, free verse — we will gladly consider them all.” They ask that you submit drafts of new and original poems that haven’t been published in print or on other digital platforms. While they accept poems on almost any topic, they won’t consider any poetry that is “defamatory or derogatory against anyone based on gender, race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation or lack thereof, or age.” The also ask that you avoid unwarranted use of curse words and explicit sex or violence though they say, “Implicit sexuality is highly encouraged.” To be added as a writer, leave them a comment on their “Join Us” page or click the email icon on their homepage and send them a note.

Dead Poets Live — According to their site, “Dead Poets Live is a collaborative effort to re-introduce ourselves to the work of great poets and to create poetry inspired by their writings.” Poems are written in response to a prompt. Prompts are created by writers who compose a poem inspired by a work they love, using a theme from the source. Those you want to participate, write a poem on the same theme in response to the new poem. All publications writers can create a new prompt or respond to the existing prompt. You can be added as a writer by leaving a reply to the Submission Guidelines post.

Haiku Hub — I have a lot of fun writing for this publication. Not being well versed in the form of Haiku, after reading several here that I loved, I decided to try my hand at it. I won’t say the results will win me any awards, but I continue to learn about what makes a good Haiku from the talented and skilled poets who publish there. Given the brevity of each poem, the publication does not allow locked posts so you can’t earn anything here. Haiku This! Is a monthly challenge that provides a prompt. They also accept Lune (3–5–3 syllable pattern), and stories or poems told in multiple Haiku or Lune.

House of Haiku — This publication is edited by a writer who is new to composing Haiku. They invite all poetry lovers to try their hand at composing Haiku. Tanka are also accepted. There is a weekly prompt for Haiku and another for Tanka intended to help trigger ideas. The site includes beginners guidelines for constructing these two forms of Japanese poetry and a discussion of similes and metaphors. They will begin accepting new writers again on July 1, 2019.

Haiban Zine — Haibun is a Japanese literary form that combines prose and haiku. According to the site, “Our purpose is to develop a haibun writers collective on Medium. They are currently accepting submissions and you can ask to be a writer by emailing the editor at [email protected].

Poets Unlimited — Billed as “an eclectic mix of poetry from contributors around the world with diverse perspectives and styles. It’s Medium’s most popular, and most active, poetry-only publication.”

They are currently open to new writers.

Poetry Under Cover- According the the editors, “We want your fantasies, your dreams, your most secret thoughts. This is a place for poetry as it explores the themes of Sweet Beautiful Love, Harsh Painful Love, Unrequited Love, Romance, Burning Passion, Quiet Passion, Sex, Lust, and Unquenchable Cravings.” This publication is dedicated to love in the romantic sense, along with passionate and sexual love. They offer prompts. To become a writer for this publication, fill out the New Writer form on their submissions page.

Other Doors — From their site: “From haiku to hefty memoirs — poems, stories and essays that break through the bullshit. Looking for pieces that go far beyond cliché to uncover a new realm of possibilities. Other Doors features writing that leaves the reader with genuine congenital reactions.” As of the 3/24/2019, they were currently looking for submissions (email requests to [email protected]). Many of their poets get over 1000 views per poem.

Resistance Poetry — From their site: “Resistance Poetry is dedicated to ‘Verse as Commentary.’ We are interested in your poetic response — humorous, deep, whimsical, bold, etc. — to breaking news, social phenomenon, or whatever current thing you feel could use a little push-back.” I have read some really interesting poetry on this site. It always makes me think.

Scribe — From the site: “We publish stories about life, love and freedom. We like stories that come from the heart and express a personal point of view. We seek above all emotion. “They publish all kinds of poems including prose poems and you can find stories in both English and French on the site.

Poetry in Form — From the editor: “As you may have assumed, I only accept poetry written in poetic form…from the tiny, little lune to the sestina.” She doesn’t accept open form/free verse. There are prompts added regularly that can help you with ideas.

Other Medium Publications Where You Can Submit Your Poetry

The publications below accept poetry but are not exclusively poetry publications.

• A Cornered Gurl
• The Bolt Hole
• The Literary Element
• Sensual Enchantment
• thewrytr
• Promposity
• Story Maker
• Bookworm Stories
• The Purple Pen
• Lit Up
• P.S. I Love You
• Publishious
• Coil
• Curiosity Never Killed the Writer
• Literally Literary
• Plan B Vibe (ask to be added in the comments here)
• Creative Cafe
• Other Voices
• Intimately Intimate
• Crossing Genres
• The New North
• Written Tales
• The Partnered Pen
• Chalk Board
• Literati Magazine (Link to guidelines and submission link)
• The Story Hall (try contacting the editors about being added as I couldn’t find a submission link)
• Midnight Mosaic Fiction
• The Mad River
• Be Unique
• Stories Publi

Takeaway

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it should get you started with submitting your poetry to publications. Keep in mind that these are only the ones I have published in personally or have run across when reading other writer’s work. There are undoubtedly some that I am not aware of and new ones are started every month while some older ones are discontinued so keep an eye out.

The best way to find new publications, in addition to following publications where there may be an announcement listed, is to read widely. You can often find publications by going to the profiles of poets whose work you enjoy and seeing where else they’ve published. I have found several publications I hadn’t otherwise seen this way. Make a list of publications you come across that might be a good fit for your work. Include any that publish poetry even if they may not seem to be an ideal home for the type of pieces you write. You never know when inspiration to try something new will strike.

Do you know of other publications that publish poetry? If so, please include them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Natalie Frank (Taye Carrol) is a Top Writer in Poetry, as well as Fiction, Short Story, Writing, Mental Health, Psychology, Relationships. She also serves as Editor for One Table, One World and 1-One-Infinity, and is Editor-in-Chief for Mental Gecko and Promposity, two publications she created. Natalie has had work featured in Haunted Waters Press, Weirdbook Magazine, Siren’s Call Publications, Lycan Valley Press and Zero Fiction among others. Her poetry has been featured in several anthologies. She is the Managing Editor for novellas and serials at LVP Publications.

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