We are looking for quality above all else. Poems that speak of the lived experience; that makes us feel something in the pit of our stomachs; that causes us to think and to question; that will keep us up nights or have us coming back for another read. We want poems written with not only content, but a careful attention to craft in mind; poetry that plays with language and says things in a way that only you can. Poems that will make us remember your name as a poet because the poem is unabashedly a manifestation of your being. 

While we are interested in poetry from all walks of life, we are especially excited to read work from poets who identify as part of a marginalized group or community.

In short, we’re looking for objectively good poetry, so send us your bangers. #goodshit

The featured poet spot in By the WAYE is much like the feature at the open mic we run—it’s the main event. It’s a showcase of 15 or 20 poems that shows your range and introduces us to who you are as a poet

We are seeking quality above all else in the poems, both individually but also as a cohesive collection of work. We want poems that speak of the lived experience; that make us feel something in the pit of our stomachs; that make us think and question. Poems that will keep us up nights, or keep us coming back for another read. 

Think of it like a music album, in which each poem stands out alone, but when organized in a certain way and read as whole entity, it creates a sharp throughline into the lived experience and human consciousness.

That said, we ask that your poems adhere to these additional requirements:

• Attention to Craft – not only seeing poetry as expression, but also a certain style, playfulness, and care as to how the piece is written in order to be expressed in the most powerful way possible

• Versatility of Work – the work should demonstrate the poet’s ability to play with mood, tone, pitch, and other aspects that will differentiate one poem from another in the submission.

• Ability to Perform – an understanding that poetry is performance, not just recitation, and that it takes practice, rehearsal, and fine-tuning to fully express oneself and the work. This is especially important since the featured poet also gets a 20-minute feature at WAYE: A Poetry Reading Series.

There is a fee of $5 for general poetry submissions and a $15 fee to submit and be considered for the featured poet submission.

PLEASE NOTE: you are welcome to submit to both the Featured Poet and our general call for poetry for Issue 01, but you will have to submit and pay separately.