Sudden Valley Press

Sudden Valley Press is only open to unsolicited submissions during May each year

or as part of the biennial John O’Connor First Book Award for a First Collection of Poetry (see JOC page for details). Outside these times, unsolicited submissions will be recycled unread.

Sudden Valley Press operates on a collaborative model. Please read the information on How We Operate first, and make sure you are comfortable with our process.

Submissions must be made in hard copy – three copies of the manuscript, posted to our address. Please note: the manuscript will not be returned. Don’t send your only copies!

Make sure your manuscript is formatted clearly – A4, single-sided, in Times New Roman 12 pt (or similar), double-spaced, pages numbered, and with your name and the title of the manuscript on every page. A contents page is optional, as are end-notes. (A sample MSWord.doc file can be downloaded from here– feel free to use this as a template.)

Poems should each start on a new page, and page breaks should be used to mark the end of each poem (not just multiple carriage returns). Make sure it’s clear which bits are titles and which are poems – use bold, or a different font, or larger size etc for your titles.

Include a cover letter, with your contact details (not just an email address), a 50–100 word bio, a list of anywhere the poems have been previously published, and any relevant awards, special mentions etc they and you have received.

A history of poetry publication in reputable journals
is an essential first step for book publication.

Your work should be as polished as you can make it before you send it to us. We will inevitably have to say no more often than yes, so give yourself the best possible chance.