The Braag publishes small books of poetry and speculative fiction! Submissions open through the month of JULY each year.

Submissions can be sent to thebraagcic@gmail.com during our open period – Please note that your subject headings for your submission must be either POETRY, PROSE or MICRO-CHAPBOOK submission, so we can identify it and send it to the correct first readers. We do not charge submission fees.

You will hear back within eight weeks of submissions closing. Please do not query until then.

Submissions Guidelines

Poetry Pamphlets:

• A submission of 15 – 30 pages of poetry in a .docx or .pdf format in a sensible font and size. Please include a brief synopsis (up to 250 words) and a brief biography (up to 100 words).
• Simultaneous submissions ok – but please withdraw your submission immediately if it is accepted elsewhere.
• Writers must be currently based in the UK.
• 50% of your submitted work must be previously unpublished, this includes blogs and social media.
• Translations are accepted where work is either copyright has expired or permission can be secured in advance from the writer or their estate. I am most interested in publishing translations that are closer to re-imaginings or re-writes of known texts.
• Collaborative submissions are considered. 

Micro-Chapbooks

• Chapbooks are nine pages formatted in a6! 
• They may contain poetry, microfiction, or a single speculative short story (of between 1.5k – 2.5k words)
• Please submit your manuscript in a5 or a6 format, though, prose writers please prioritise word count over page count as I find the margins and spacing vary greatly between different word processors. Poets, stick to page count.
• Simultaneous submissions ok – but please withdraw your submission immediately if it is accepted elsewhere.
• International writers are welcome to submit.
• 50% of your work must be previously unpublished, this includes blogs and social media.
• Translations are accepted where work is either long-out of copyright or permission can be secured in advance from the writer or their estate. I am most interested in publishing translations that are closer to re-imaginings or re-writes of known texts.
• Collaborative submissions are considered.

You may submit once in either of the pamphlet categories and once in the microchapbook category

Okay but what are you actually looking for? 

Poetry:  Look through Carmen et Errors past issues! I like poetry that is sprawling and speculative, where the last wolf in England may be hiding in stanzas thick as ancient woodland. Towering smokestacks are just as welcome, the landscapes do not have to be pastoral, they can be emotional—tapestries of family ghosts, spells, glimpses out of a moving train. I prefer richness of language over sparsity but can be convinced! High concept pamphlets (and especially micro-chapbooks) welcomed.
Poets I adore: Rebecca Tamás, Richard Skelton, Malika Booker, Jen Hadfield, Chen Chen, Jacob Polley, Harry Josephine Giles, Rishi Dastidar.
Pamphlets I’ve adored: Malkin by Camille Ralphs, Rootstalk by Ella Duffy, Reconstructions by Bradley Trumpfheller, A Protection of Ghosts by Natalie Linh Boldterston, The Firth by John Glenday
Hard sells: rhyming ballads, people who don’t read modern poetry (it’s obvious!).

Contract

Transparency is very important to me, and an essential part of The Braag’s ethos—how can we remove structural barriers that prevent underrepresented writers from having a platform if we can’t talk about the things that are stopping them?

You can request to see the full terms of our contracts at any time (this will not affect your submission in any way!).

Pamphlet and prose authors recieve 10% print royalties (50% ebook royalties) and five copies of their book. Further books can be purchased by the author at trade discount (50%).
Micro-chapbook authors recieve a £15 honorarium and five copies of their microchapbook.

Why should I trust you with my manuscript?

• I have a deep understanding of the indie press poetry landscape, both from my own work as an author, mentor, and poetry reviewer and from running The Braag for the last several years.
• I have been guiding writers towards publication since 2018, with an excellent track record of guiding writers towards their first pamphlet.
• Your pamphlet will receive extensive editorial feedback, a launch, and be submitted to all the relevant awards.
• Our books are in bookshops across England and Scotland.
• I’m a canny-as-fuck Northern dyke who will fight tooth and nail for you and your book.