Poetry Books, Chapbooks,
& Illustrated Poetry Collections
Congratulations on writing, re-writing, and shaping your work into a polished manuscript. Now you’re ready to choose a publisher—That’s right, I said “choose” your publisher.
Why Choose The Poetry Box® as Your Publisher?
We created The Poetry Box® Cooperative Publishing Program to offer poets a professional, trustworthy, and affordable option for publishing their full-length poetry collections and chapbooks. We began offering our hybrid model of publishing in 2018 and have produced 96 poetry collections under this paradigm so far (as of March 2023). And we attribute this success to the talented authors we’ve had the privilege to work with, as well our commitment to these basic principles—
- Clear & Timely Communication
- Authors Retain Rights to Their Work
- Respect for Copyright & Licensing
- Adhering to Industry Standards of Practice
- Straightforward Contracts
- Expertise in Book Design
- Promoting & Supporting Our Authors
The Poetry Box (specifically the phenomenal team of Shawn and Robert) want your poetry vision to be manifest. They are artists themselves and understand how every creation is a tender thing that needs nourishing, as well as tough love. That would be enough for a publisher, but The Poetry Box goes beyond just nurturing to being a force of professionalism, support, and knowledge about poetry and the best way to get your work in the hands of as many readers as possible. Being a somewhat scattered, messy creative I didn’t realize how much I needed Shawn’s consistent contact by email and phone to keep me on the right track, so that I could get my work into the world with grace and confidence. Robert, as a designer and artist, was an avid listener and rendered my cover vision quickly and deftly. I can’t rave enough about how this team has created community, love and beauty—one book at a time. Anyone publishing with them will be in excellent hands.
From first contact to final publication, it was a pleasant journey. The evolution of my chapbook, from initial submittal through final editing, cover design and ultimately publication and promotion, was timely and hassle-free. If I ever publish again, I would assuredly go to The Poetry Box.
Joel Savishinskyauthor, Our Aching Bones, Our Aching HeartsAs an author who has published several books in the past, I found working with The Poetry Box to be a uniquely gratifying experience. The careful editing, beautiful cover, prompt response to questions, and excellent advice on publicity and marketing, were invaluable. Shawn and Robert Sanders are a wonderful editorial and design team who really care about and care for their authors and readers, as well as the integrity of publishing.
- Thank you, Shawn. I so appreciate your capacity, capability, and expertise. Your choice of format, font, layout is beautiful. As I read through the poems, it seems that your choice of presentation style matches the mood of the poems. I look forward to sharing it with others. Although this is my first experience with publishing a book, it is clear that I am fortunate that it’s through The Poetry Box. Your responsiveness, your ease in communication, the beautiful design of the book, your marketing capacity, and your ongoing support of this book, as well as others’ books have made this entire experience a positive one. I am grateful to have been working with you and to continue working with you.
Deep gratitude to Shawn Aveningo-Sanders and The Poetry Box for publishing this collection. Attentive to details, brilliant designer, enthusiastic, kind, and gracious, Shawn is editor every poet dreams of working with.
Trusting The Poetry Box with my manuscript was such a good decision. Thank you, Shawn and Robert, for the lovely way you work with and for poets to make our books something we can be proud to share. Your professionalism and support throughout the publication process and your responsiveness to even the smallest concerns were so gratifying.
Mimi Germanauthor, Beneath the Gravel Weight of Stars, finalist of The Poetry Box Chapbook Prize 2021This was so enjoyable. Thank you, Shawn Aveningo Sanders for loving our poetry and making a home for it with you at The Poetry Box!
Thank you so much Shawn. It's been a wonderful experience. It was really nice to work with you. What you've done with the Poetry Box is a beautiful thing and I'm very grateful to be a part of it.
My book arrived yesterday. It is absolutely beautiful. You do such a beautiful job on your publications. Thank you.
- The books arrived this afternoon! They look great! Holding the book has a nice cushiony feel from the finish on the cover. And, having just read every word cover to cover, I am extremely happy with how the whole book turned out. If I haven't mentioned it before, the paragraph you wrote for the back cover is superb. Thanks for making this an enjoyable experience.
Michael B. Carroll Jr.author, The Dichotomy Between Light & Dark (2019) and Songs of an Indomitable Spirit (2020)To say that working with Shawn Aveningo Sanders and “The Poetry Box” was a pleasure would be a profound understatement. As the author of The Dichotomy Between Light and Dark (2019) and Songs of an Indomitable Spirit (2020), both published by The Poetry Box, I must say that my experience in working with Shawn has exceeded my wildest expectations. From the beginning, Shawn was a consummate professional who more than delivered on every promise. From editing, designing, even down to marketing, The Poetry Box has done a fabulous job. Never once did my creativity throughout the process feel stifled. Shawn collaborated with me over the project, up to and including the review and final approval of the artwork for the cover of my chapbook. What was most amazing, and pleasantly surprising, was Shawn’s decision to release my chapbook just days ahead of schedule. I was over the moon! I truly felt valued and appreciated as an artist and contributor to The Poetry Box.
“One of the most professional and creative publishing houses on the West Coast! Shawn and Robert produce eye-popping books of the highest quality.”
“I am so impressed with the way Shawn and Robert put together my chapbook, In These Voices. I couldn’t have asked for a more professional, caring, and thorough publishers. The lines of communications between Shawn and myself were open on a continuous basis. She was easily accessible and listened to what I wanted and responded right away. Shawn did a wonderful job marketing my book, and I read at many bookstores and other places. She and Robert even attended several of my readings. I would highly recommend Shawn and Robert (The Poetry Box) as publishers.”
“It was a real pleasure to work with Shawn and The Poetry Box - extremely professional, efficient, and open from beginning to end, offering excellent advice and support which was very much appreciated. Thank you”.
Lynn M. KnappAuthor, Giving Ground, 2017At The Poetry Box, publishing is an art form. Shawn and Robert were patient and supportive, handling myriad details as well as first-book jitters. They were imaginative and thorough, making sure every element of the design and the text rang true. They understood my vision and created a beautiful book that exceeded my expectations. I wouldn’t trust my books to anyone else!
Morley KnollAuthor & Editor-in-Chief, Winneboujou Chronicles I & IIAfter working with [the] Poetry Box, I realized the decision to work with Shawn and Robert was one of the best I’ve ever made. Shawn was a joy to work with. I depended on her good advice; she was always there when I needed her and took care of all those pesky details. Shawn and Robert are both talented artists committed to helping others bring their work to life on the printed page. (Read full testimonial here)
Tricia KnollAuthor, Broadfork Farm, 2017Robert designed a book cover perfectly to my image of the farm, incorporating photos taken by my husband, Darrell Salk. Shawn's editing and suggestions on some of the poetry helped improved the overall publication. We worked collaboratively and seamlessly to create exactly the book I hoped for. I'm very grateful for the work of The Poetry Box.
Carolyn MartinAuthor, The Way a Woman Knows, 2015Working with Shawn and Robert on my second collection, The Way a Woman Knows, was an author’s dream. From the initial explanations of how The Poetry Box works to publish high-quality books, to involving me in choices of cover-design, to the on-time delivery of an exquisite book I am proud to have my name on: the experience was professional, instructive, and fun. I’d definitely recommend Shawn, Robert, and The Poetry Box to any author who’s ready to turn a manuscript into a book they want to share with the world.
We Are Selective, Yet Inclusive
We do not accept every manuscript that is submitted for publication. We are not a vanity press. We will not put The Poetry Box® imprint on a book that doesn’t meet our standards. We abide by the Hybrid Publisher’s Criteria set forth by the IBPA (Independent Book Publishing Association) and follow their professional publishing industry standards.
Our catalog includes writers from varied backgrounds and level of experience—both prolific and promising. We’ve had the honor to publish many well-established, beloved poets, and we’ve also enjoyed introducing talented, new & emerging voices to the literary landscape.
We enjoy poems of all styles: formal, free verse, lyrical, metered, experimental, nostalgic, political, erasure, abstract, etc. We don’t censor or shy away from tough topics, however we do draw the line at poetry that discriminates against our fellow humans.
ALL Cooperative Publishing Contracts Include:
- Copyediting & Proofreading the manuscript during various stages of production to ensure accuracy
- Procurement & Assignment of ISBN Numbers with The Poetry Box imprint as publisher
- Formatted EAN/ISBN Barcode with retail price embedded
- Inclusion in Books in Print through Bowker
- Library of Congress Registration including pre-control number assignment and sending a final published copy of book to Library of Congress on author’s behalf (for books over 60 pages)
- Professional Interior Book Layout & Design in accordance with Independent Book Publishing Association (IBPA) practices and Chicago Manual of Style
- Professional Standard Custom Cover Design (with option to upgrade to Premium)
- Perfect-bound, paperback book
- Text on Spine for books with 70+ pages when finished
- Gloss or Matte finish book cover (dependent on design and what will work best for the book’s aesthetic)
- Most of our Books and (now) Chapbooks are are printed in standard 6×9 inch format/size.
- We will advise you if your book is better suited for an alternate size (7 x 10 / 7.5 x 9.25 / 5 x 8 / 5.5 x 8.5) once the design/layout phase begins.
- Digital Author’s Proofs (PDF) for review before finalizing print-ready files
- Digital Advance Review Copies (pdf ARCs) upon request
- Five (5) complimentary copies for the author
- Author’s option to purchase additional copies at below wholesale
- Dedicated Web Page on ThePoetryBox.com online bookstore
- Worldwide Distribution available through Ingram Group to over 39,000 bookstores worldwide and online retailers
- 40% net royalties, reported and payable in February for prior year sales
- Social Media Promotion on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
- Promotion in our Monthly Newsletters (min. 3 newsletter promotions)
- Digital One Sheets (a.k.a. Sell Sheets / Info Sheets / Flyers) ready for printing and emailing
- Mini Flyers with QR Code (ready for printing) directing potential readers to order page for your book
- Marketing Tips including pre-order sales promotion
- For our local Portland authors, assistance in setting up a book launch/reading at a local bookstore
- Opportunity to be a featured reader in Zoom show to help launch/promote your book
- Estimated publication timeline from signing of contract is approximately 6-12 months, depending on complexity of project and any special add-on services requested
Pricing for Cooperative Publishing Packages
Standard Poetry Chapbooks – $795
- Finished published chapbooks are generally 34-50 pages total, which includes:
- Front Matter Pages (i.e., title page, copyright page, dedication/quote page, table of contents)
- Poems (24-32 formatted pages)
- Back Matter Pages (i.e., acknowledgments, all blurbs, about the author)
- Blank pages based on publishing standards regarding recto/verso page placement
- Add-on services or upgrades for premium custom cover design are an additional fee
Poetry Chapbook with Illustrations/Artwork – $995
- Finished published illustrated chapbooks are generally 32-50 pages total, which includes:
- Front Matter Pages (i.e., title page, copyright page, dedication/quote page, table of contents)
- Poems & Illustrations/Artwork
- Back Matter Pages (i.e., acknowledgments, all blurbs, about the author, about the artist)
- Blank pages based on publishing standards regarding recto/verso page placement
- Illustrations/Artwork can be Black & White or Color
- Author/Artist to provide high-resolution, print-quality images upon acceptance
- Use of Color over Black & White will be reflected in retail price of chapbook based on printing cost
- Add-on services or upgrades for premium custom cover design are an additional fee
Standard Full-Length Poetry Books – $995
- Finished published full-length poetry books are generally 70-120 pages total, which includes:
- Front Matter Pages (i.e., title page, copyright page, dedication/quote page, table of contents)
- Section Divider Pages (if applicable)
- Poems
- Back Matter Pages (i.e., acknowledgments, notes, blurb reviews, about the author)
- Blank pages based on publishing standards regarding recto/verso page placement
- Add-on services or upgrades for premium custom cover design are an additional fee
Full-Length Poetry Books with Illustrations/Artwork – $1295
- Finished published full-length poetry books with artwork are generally 60-100 pages total, which includes:
- Front Matter Pages (i.e., title page, copyright page, dedication/quote page, table of contents)
- Section Divider Pages (if applicable)
- Poems & Illustrations/Artwork
- Back Matter Pages (i.e., acknowledgments, notes, blurb reviews, about the author)
- Blank pages based on publishing standards regarding recto/verso page placement
- Illustrations/Artwork can be Black & White or Color
- Author/Artist to provide high-resolution, print-quality images upon acceptance
- Use of Color over Black & White will be reflected in retail price of chapbook based on printing cost
- Add-on services or upgrades for premium custom cover design are an additional fee
Upgrades & Add-Ons
Premium Cover Design Upgrade*
All of our Cooperative Publishing Packages (and also our Select title contracts) include a professionally designed standard custom book cover, using a royalty-free stock image or image provided by the author. Sometimes, an author envisions a book cover that requires extra design expertise and time. Luckily, Robert Sanders, an award-winning professional designer & photographer is available to create these extra special custom covers for our authors.
These premium cover designs might include:
-
- A complex design incorporating artwork or multiple images provided by the author
- Custom digital illustration creation for the cover design
- A photoshoot to create custom imagery for the cover
- Research in sourcing specific imagery for the cover
- Fees for acquiring licensing for specific image(s) used in the cover design
*Price for a premium cover designed by Robert Sanders will be quoted to the author after a design consultation call.
Add-On Promotional Items**
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- Postcards to promote pre-orders and/or release of your book
- Custom bookmarks that coordinate with your book cover
- Artistic poster prints of your book cover
- Custom event posters for an in-person book launch or special event
- Got an idea? Just ask and we’ll see if we can make it happen for you.
**Prices quoted upon request once we’ve entered an agreement to publish your book.
Ready to Submit Your Manuscript?
(Please note: We only accept submissions from U.S. based writers)
Manuscript Checklist:
-
- Cover Letter containing:
- Proposed Book Title
- Legal Name of Poet
- Poet Name as it should appear on the cover
- Brief synopsis/description of the collection (approx 100-150 words)
- Contact Information including:
- Email Address
- Shipping Address
- Phone Number
- Social Media links, if applicable (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Author Website, YouTube Channel, etc).
- Why you’re interested in having The Poetry Box publish your work.
- Whether or not this is a simultaneous submission.
- Complete Manuscript including:
- Table of Contents (list of poems in order as they appear in manuscript)
- All poems in order, with each poem beginning at the top of a new page.
- Acknowledgments for any previously published poems.
- Dedication and/or Quote to open the book, if desired.
- Notes (if applicable)
- Author Bio written in 3rd person, noting any literary awards, publications, and anything you’d like to share with the readers as it related to the topic of your book, etc. (Approx. 100-150 words)
- Artist Bio (for illustrated books or chapbooks with art, when artist is not the author)
- Cover Letter containing:
Guidelines:
- Accepted file formats: WORD (.doc or docx) or RTF (rich text format). We will also allow a PDF (but require text portions of the manuscript as Word Document or RTF, upon acceptance for publication)
- Please use a standard readable font in 12pt.
- Do NOT use ALL CAPS for poem titles.
- Start each poem at the TOP of a new page.
- Please keep in mind that most of our books & chapbooks are printed in standard 6×9 size, so consider how your poems are currently formatted and adjust accordingly.
- Individual poems of the manuscript may have been previously published in magazines, journals, or anthologies, but the work as a whole must be unpublished. Poems that are previously published should be included in “Acknowledgments” section.
- Simultaneous submissions are permissible; please notify us immediately if a manuscript has been accepted/committed elsewhere.
- A reading fee of $10.00 — payable through Submittable (submission manager system).
- We will acknowledge receipt of your manuscript immediately via automatic email.
- We aim to respond with a decision regarding your manuscript within 60 days
- We only accept manuscript submissions via Submittable. Please click on corresponding button below to go to submittable form for your type of manuscript.
Need help with using the Submittable submissions manager? Visit https://submittable.help/submitters
If you have any questions, you can contact the editor, Shawn Aveningo Sanders via Shawn@thePoetryBox.com.
We look forward to reading your work!
