Submission Guidelines

Woman, Mapped

A Rebecca Swift Foundation Anthology

Deadline: 11.59pm BST on 12 October 2025. We are unable to consider submissions sent after this deadline. 

We strongly encourage submissions from poets who belong to marginalised or underrepresented communities, and welcome submissions from poets at all stages of their professional development. 

There is no submission fee. However, if you are in a position to do so, you’re welcome to make a small donation. All donations are gratefully received and go directly towards our work supporting women poets. 

If you have any access requirements or questions concerning the application process which you would like to discuss in confidence, please email Degna Stone, Project Manager at the Rebecca Swift Foundation, at   

Submission Form

Terms & Conditions

Please read the following terms carefully to ensure your submission is eligible.

Eligibility 

This opportunity is open to:

  • Women poets aged 18+ based in the UK, including trans women and any individual for whom woman is a meaningful identifier or lived experience.
  • Poets at any career stage, whether published or unpublished

Rules

  1. Submissions must be uploaded via the Rebecca Swift Foundation website by 11.59pm BST on 12 October 2025. 
  2. All poems and essays must be original, single-authored work, submitted in English. 
  3. Translations are not eligible. 
  4. You may submit for Poetry, Essay or both.
  5. Submissions must respond to the themes of the anthology. 
  6. Submissions are final once uploaded. We cannot accommodate revisions after that point. 
  7. Poems must not have been published in another anthology.
  8. Poems previously published in magazines or journals (print or online) are accepted as long as you still hold your own rights. Please clearly indicate any prior publication.
  9. Only one submission per poet is permitted. 
  10. Copyright remains with the poet/essayist. 
  11. The editor’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
  12. The Rebecca Swift Foundation reserves the right to use work selected for the anthology for promotional purposes.

What to include in your submission

You may submit to Poetry, Essay, or both. 

Please include a short statement (up to 250 words) outlining your poetry career to date. If you’re just starting out, let us know what you hope to explore or achieve in your future career.

Poetry

  • Submit three poems (no line limit). Start each poem on a new page using the page break function.

Essay/Creative nonfiction

  • A 300 word pitch outlining your idea for a reflective essay or piece of creative nonfiction.
  • A sample of your writing in this form (published or unpublished).

Selection Process

Part 1

  • After the deadline, submissions will be read by a team of readers 
  • A longlist will be passed to the Editor, who will draw up a shortlist 

Part 2

  • Shortlisted poets will be invited to submit a further 7–10 additional poems for final consideration
  • Selected essayists will be invited to submit their completed essay. Please note: we reserve the right to withdraw an invitation if the final essay does not meet the expected standard. 

All submitters will be contacted once final decisions have been made.