Throughout June, Five Leaves Publications is accepting submissions for debut poetry pamphlets, particularly from under-represented or marginalised communities...could it be you?
Five Leaves Publications is as solid as fixture as you could ask for in Notts’ literary scene - based in the illustrious bookshop of the same name, they’ve been getting the region’s freshest writing straight into readers’ hands for nearly thirty years now, and have added to this legacy recently with the launch of their successful Five Leaves New Poetry range of pamphlets.
Up until now Five Leaves have been the ones approaching the writers they’d like to work with, but now - until June the 30th - we can announce that they’re opening up a submissions window for under-represented poets in the East Midlands. That includes, but is not limited to, poets of colour, LGBT+ writers, poets with disabilities or who are neurodivergent, and working class poets. Submissions must contain between 20 and 44 poems, and all those who submit must live or work in the East Midlands.
Nottingham has never been a monocultural town, and we at LeftLion feel that this is a sterling opportunity for new poets from all backgrounds to get one foot in the publishing door, to begin their literary trajectory with a lauded local publisher. The next two pamphlets in the series, Fiona Theokritoff's 'New Uses for a Wand' and Nathan Fidler's 'You Worry Too Much', will be launched as part of the Nottingham Poetry Festival at the new Central Library on June the 13th, and you can find the whole range on the Five Leaves website.
To hear the story behind the New Poetry series you'll be able to read our interview with editor Pippa Hennessey here on the website shortly - she had this to say: ‘We want to widen the range of people that we're giving the opportunity to reach that first stepping stone. Send it in! You’ve got nothing to lose.’
Please ask for further details before submitting, by emailing pippa@fiveleaves.co.uk
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?