Woman, Mapped – A Rebecca Swift Foundation Anthology
Edited by Jennifer Wong
Published by Fly on the Wall Press
The Rebecca Swift Foundation and Fly on the Wall Press have joined forces to invite submissions for a powerful new anthology celebrating the complexity, resilience, and creativity of women’s lives today.
Curated by acclaimed poet and critic Jennifer Wong, the anthology will feature twelve UK-based women poets, from emerging voices to established names. Each will contribute a small portfolio of poems and/or a reflective essay.
Woman, Mapped will explore the journey of becoming a woman: the joys, the pain, and the defining moments that shape us. We are seeking work that speaks honestly to what it means to live as a woman — politically, bodily, emotionally — and to be seen in our own voices, on our own terms.
Wong will be selecting works that together map out each stage in a woman’s life, from girlhood to ageing. The aim is to curate a collection that scans the breadth of lived experience across identities, cultures, and generations.
Jennifer Wong said:
“I’m thrilled to be working with the Rebecca Swift Foundation on this anthology. We’re committed to creating space for a wide range of established and emerging voices in contemporary poetry – to inspire, uplift, and reflect the richness of women’s experiences today.”
Isabelle Kenyon, managing director at Fly on the Wall, said:
“To live as a woman is so often a political act. Our bodies are policed, fetishised, and scrutinised. Culture, geography, and religion all shape the freedoms we’re allowed. I’m looking forward to mapping the journey of becoming a woman — the joys, the pain, and the moments that define us. I want this anthology to feel like a generational gift: something that validates, inspires, and offers the comfort of a friend.”
An in person launch event for the book will be held in the North of England (with live stream access available) in July 2026 and will feature readings from contributors. One essay contributor will also be selected to have their work reprinted in the Mslexia blog, and deliver a workshop for Mslexia’s Salon members.
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 or not you’ve published a collection
Priority will be given to members of the Women Poets’ Network, and at least eight contributors will be selected from the Network.
Each contributor will receive a copy of the anthology and a fee of £300.
If selected, you must:
- Credit the Women Poets’ Network when promoting your inclusion in the anthology
How to Submit
[A link to the submission portal will be available shortly on this page]
We welcome submissions that surprise, delight, challenge, or move us – and those that push at the boundaries of form and experience.
We’re excited to hear from poets whose voices are under-represented in publishing, including working-class writers and those who’ve faced barriers to participation.
There is no submission fee, but if you are in a position to do so, donations to support the work of the Rebecca Swift Foundation will be very welcome.
You can submit poetry, an idea for an essay, or both:
- 3 poems (there is no upper line limit, just send your most excellent poems), and/or
- A 300 word pitch for a reflective essay or piece of creative nonfiction related to the themes of the anthology (with a title of your choice), plus a sample of your work in that form,
- A statement outlining your poetry career to date (up to 250 words). If you’re just starting out, tell us what you hope to explore or achieve in your future career.
Please note: Shortlisted poets will be invited to submit a further set of poems for consideration. Shortlisted essayists will be invited to submit the full text of their essay/piece of creative nonfiction.
For more information, contact Degna Stone at: .
Who’s involved?
The Rebecca Swift Foundation (RSF) is a UK registered charity set up in memory of Rebecca Swift – a much-loved editor, novelist, diarist, poet, and founder and director of The Literary Consultancy (TLC) from its foundation in 1996 until her early death in April 2017.
Rebecca Swift was a prolific writer, and a great lover of poetry. Her biography of Emily Dickinson, Dickinson: Poetic Lives, was published in 2011 with Hesperus Press, and she wrote poetry throughout her life. A debut collection, A Suitable Love Object, was published posthumously by Valley Press in 2020. Rebecca was also a Trustee of the Maya Centre, a charity supporting vulnerable women in Islington through psychodynamic counselling, and a vocal supporter of their mental health therapy programmes which focus on enabling women to heal through learning to tell their stories.
Launched in 2022 with the support of a one-year Arts Council England (ACE) project grant, the Women Poets’ Network develops RSF’s network of dynamic events and evergreen resources specifically for women poets. The Network secured further funding in 2024 to deliver our By Poets, For Poets programme, which ensures that all women poets have access to creativity, from absolute beginners to those developing and sustaining professional careers.
About the Editor
Jennifer Wong is a poet, editor and creative writing tutor. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she now lives in the UK. Her publications include Letters Home (Nine Arches), time difference (Verve), and Diary of a Miu Miu Salesgirl (bitter melon). She has co-edited Where Else: An International Hong Kong Poetry Anthology (Verve) and State of Play: Poets of East and Southeast Asian Heritage in Conversation (Outspoken). Light Year, her next collection, is forthcoming from Nine Arches Press. https://linktr.ee/jennywcreative
About our Partners
Fly on the Wall Press is an award-winning independent publisher based in Manchester, committed to curating bold political fiction, powerful poetry, and innovative anthologies that engage with pressing global issues. Founded in 2018 by Managing Director Isabelle Kenyon, the press prioritises accessibility, thought-provoking content, and environmental responsibility, printing all books with FSC-certified and carbon-neutral materials. The press won the British Book Awards’ Small Press of the Year (North) in 2024 and has been a finalist four years running. Other accolades include the Manchester People’s Choice Award and finalist status in the Manchester Culture Awards. Its authors have been recognised in major literary prizes: Ricky Ray’s The Sound of the Earth Singing to Herself was longlisted for the 2021 Laurel Prize; Shahe Mankerian’s History of Forgetfulness for the 2022 Julie Suk Award; and David Hartley’s Fauna for both the 2022 Edge Hill Prize and the Saboteur Awards. flyonthewallpress.co.uk
Mslexia produces the bestselling quarterly magazine for women who write, publishing more than 70 writers in each issue – from emerging voices to award-winning authors like R.F. Kuang, Eliza Clark, and Liz Berry. mslexia.co.uk