2024 Guidelines & Rules 

The Slapering Hol Press (SHP) Chapbook Competition is open to all writers who have NEVER published a collection of poems in book or chapbook form. Individual poems can be previously published, but poems should not have been published as a group in any form, including self-published collections. Manuscripts can either be a collection of poems or one long poem and should be a minimum of sixteen and a maximum of twenty pages (not including title page, table of contents, or cover sheet). Please use 12 point Times, Times New Roman, or Garamond font. Poems should be largely in English, though poets can, of course, incorporate phrases from other languages. All poems should be single spaced. No more than one poem should appear on a page. The author’s name CANNOT appear in the file or in the file name. Please name your file as the manuscript title only. Please provide an acknowledgments page that includes the titles of poems that have been published in journals or magazines and where they were published. If your manuscript does not contain poems that have previously appeared in magazines or journals, you can type "Not Applicable" in the "acknowledgements page" field. The acknowledgments page cannot be included in the manuscript itself. Entries are read without looking at any acknowledgements or other identifying materials. 

Manuscripts may be under consideration elsewhere, but please withdraw your manuscript immediately if it is accepted for publication elsewhere. Entry fees will not be refunded for manuscript withdrawal. Each Submittable manuscript should be accompanied by a $17 reading fee to cover administrative fees for online submissions. All BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) applicants can enter this contest for $2. If you have questions, please email LizRMarlow@gmail.com.

For the winner: please note that we welcome ideas about artwork from SHP authors, but the SHP editors and designer will make final decisions on all chapbook artwork and cover design. The reading period for the competition begins on February 15. Entries must be submitted by June 30th. The prize for the SHP Chapbook Competition is a $500 cash award, publication, ten copies of the chapbook, a reading with your mentor at The Hudson Valley Writers Center (or on Zoom). If needed (and if the reading is in person) travel expenses not exceeding $500 are included. Winning poets are also offered editorial and marketing advice.