Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about Sunday Mornings at the River or our submission guidelines, please take a moment to review the FAQ below before reaching out to us. This will help ensure that you have all the information you need and will allow us to better assist you. We hope that this information helps you decide if Sunday Mornings at the River is the right fit for you and your writing.
How do I submit my work for consideration?
Visit our website's submission page for guidelines and instructions and please use our template. Send all your poems in a single file.
What types of work do you publish?
We publish English poetry from all over the world. You do not have to be a native speaker. We like poetry that is political and packs a punch. Check our submission guidelines for specifics or pick up one of our books online.
Do you provide editing services?
Yes, we offer editing services. You can find more information about the services we offer here.
What's your response time for submissions?
Response times vary, and I cannot give you a definite answer to this. I do try to aim to respond within a month of closing a project’s deadline.
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
No, we do not accept simultaneous submissions. This decision is not a reflection of being snobbish but is due to the fact that I run this press by myself. It takes time to carefully consider each submission, and I want to ensure that I can give your work the attention it deserves.
Can I inquire about my submission status via email or DM?
We kindly request that you refrain from inquiring about your submission status via email or DM. This is because, as a solo-run press, there may be time constraints that prevent us from providing immediate updates. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
How can I purchase books published by your press?
Our books are available for purchase through major online retailers, you can find those by clicking any book in our bookshop.
Do you offer print or e-book publishing?
We offer both print and e-book publishing options.
Can I order review copies for media or events?
Yes, contact us with your request for review copies or author event support.
Do you accept previously published work?
Yes, we do publish previously published work at Sunday Mornings at the River. However, we believe that the credit for a piece of writing belongs solely to the writer, and as such, we will not credit a publication for your work. If the medium in which your work was previously published asks for a mention of the first publication, we will not include that information in our publication.
Do you accept submissions from abroad?
Yes, as long as they are written in English. We believe that the literary community is a global one, and we are committed to amplifying the voices of poets and writers from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We welcome submissions from writers all over the world.
How many poems can I submit?
As many as you like. Just make sure they are all pasted in the same document and every new poem starts on a new page.
Do I keep my work’s rights?
Yes. We understand the importance of protecting the rights of creative writers. That's why we always seek permission before publishing poetry and make sure to credit the author.
Do you charge submission fees?
No. We are committed to providing a fair and accessible platform for writers to share their work. That's why we never charge a fee for submissions. We feel privileged to read your work and believe that it is our responsibility to support and promote the literary community. We will never ask for money in exchange for the privilege of reading your work, and we encourage writers of all levels and backgrounds to submit their work to us.
I wrote an article for your website, now what?
If you have an article that you would like to submit, please email it to us. We will give you full credit for your work and do our best to promote it. Just make sure that the article hasn't been published elsewhere (excluding your own blog). We can't accept duplicate content due to Google's policies. While we are unable to pay for blog articles at this time, we are grateful for the opportunity to showcase your work and ideas to our readers.
Are there any rules when it comes to submitting?
Yes! Use our template when you submit. Also, we take plagiarism very seriously and expect all submissions to be original work. To avoid any issues, we recommend that you carefully read our guidelines before submitting your work. This will help ensure that your submission meets our standards and is a good fit for our press.
Do you reply to every submission you get?
We believe in being fair and respectful to all writers who submit their work to us. That's why we make it a priority to read every submission that we receive. It may take some time for us to get back to you due to the high volume of submissions we receive on a daily basis, but we promise to read your work and get back to you eventually. If you don't hear from us, please don't hesitate to send us a nudge – something may have gone wrong.
What is the deadline for submissions?
No, I don't work with strict deadlines. I believe in allowing a natural progression for projects and tasks. We operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Can you help me publish my poetry book?
Yes, I would be happy to assist you in publishing your poetry book. Publishing a poetry book can be a rewarding journey, and I'm here to support you every step of the way. Whether you're an emerging poet or an established writer, I offer a range of services to help bring your poetry to life in the form of a book. These services typically include manuscript editing, formatting, cover design, and guidance through the self-publishing process.
Do you pay your poets?
While we do not pay for submissions to our anthologies, we do believe that artists should be compensated for their work. Therefore, we offer our published poets an e-book version of the anthology they are featured in as a token of our appreciation. For individual poet pamphlets, the poets earn 65% of the royalties, as it is their work that we are helping to bring to life in book form.
Didn’t you use to be a photography zine?
Yes. We were hipsters that posted prints to lampposts and drank beer on the weekends. Now we are hipsters that print poetry and drink beer on the weekends. You can still find our archives online, and our Facebook page is still out there as well. Oh, and here’s our old Instagram if you are in need of some digital wandering.
Can I still publish my work elsewhere?
We believe that the work you submit is yours and should remain yours to print wherever you choose. However, when you submit your poetry to us, you will be required to sign a contract that gives us permission to print your poems. If you later work with a publisher that requires exclusive rights, we will not make any changes to our already-published books. We understand that your work is important to you and respect your right to control where and how it is published.
Do you work with a contract?
We always ask for permission to print your poems and understand the importance of protecting your words. If you are considering submitting your poetry to us, you can read our contract here to make sure it aligns with your own values and expectations.
I have a ton of money, how can I support your work?
If you have the means to support Sunday Mornings at the River, there are a few ways you can do so. One way is to purchase our books and give them as gifts to your friends. You can also donate to our project here to help us achieve our goal of paying our anthology poets for their work. Your support means a lot to us and helps us continue to promote and support poets and their work.
Where do the profits go?
At Sunday Mornings at the River, we value transparency and honesty, which is why we want to be upfront about our current financial situation. At this time, we are not making any profits. The press is run almost entirely by a solo woman (our editor-in-chief and boss lady) who funds it through her wages as a carer. This allows us to remain independent and publish work that we are fully committed to supporting. While our boss lady is a volunteer, she is working on paying regular contributors first. That being said, we would like to compensate you for your work. At this time, we are offering a digital copy in exchange for your poetry. If this is not something you are comfortable with, please refrain from submitting your work.
I am really broke, can I still support your work?
There are many ways you can support Sunday Mornings at the River and help us promote the work of poets from around the world. You can share our posts and stories with your friends, recommend new poets for us to consider by sending us a message on Instagram with their handles, comment on our posts, and leave reviews on Amazon when you receive one of our give-away copies. Every little bit helps, and we appreciate your support in helping us amplify the voices of poets and build a vibrant literary community.
Please continue the submission process by reading our guidelines.