Wesleyan University Press publishes poetry books, and scholarly books on music, dance and culture. To submit to one of our series, please use the appropriate submission form. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to read your work!
Dear Poet,
Hello! This is Annie Wenstrup (Dena’ina), Mary Leauna Christensen (Eastern Band Cherokee),
and Noʻu Revilla (ʻŌiwi). We are editors for a new anthology series of Indigenous poetry to be
published by Wesleyan University Press. The first volume has a tentative publication date of
Spring 2028.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
If you are interested in submitting to the anthology, we would be elated! Please send 3-5 poems
by Friday, January 9th. We welcome visual poetry and multi-modal work that explores color,
shape, image, audio, and movement. A website hosting audio, video, and visual components
will be an extension of the print anthology.
Poets whose work is selected for inclusion in the anthology will then be asked to submit a micro
craft essay (500-800 words) that speaks to their poetics. Accepted poets will also be asked to
share one poem by another Indigenous writer that has shaped their understanding of
Indigenous poetics.
Although we encourage you to share new and unpublished poems, we also welcome previously
published work in your submission. Please include an acknowledgement for any previously
published poems. We ask for work that has not yet been anthologized or is under consideration
for other anthologies.
ABOUT THIS ANTHOLOGY:
First and foremost, this anthology seeks to celebrate work by contemporary Indigenous poets. It
also aims to be an introductory text for use in classroom settings. To that end, craft essays on
Indigenous poetics will accompany the poem selections. Written by the poets featured in the
anthology, the essays ensure that each poet has the opportunity to place their work in a context
that represents their poetics and honor the literary lineages their writing originates from.
This project is guided by Indigenous values and as editors we affirm that poetry is an expression
of cultural and tribal sovereignty. Our editorial practice adopts the Elements of Indigenous Syle
Guide by Greg Younging as a starting point for our communication and kinship with writers and
readers.
A NOTE ON INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES:
We’d love to include work that’s in or that includes your language(s). If you would like to include
a translation of your work, that is welcomed, but not required.
To ensure proper formatting: if your submission includes text in your Indigenous language,
please include a note stating which language(s) appear in your work and if they need a specific
keyboard to correctly render the language.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
The editors
