Submission Guidelines
Click here for visual art submission guidelines
The reading period is now open.
Between April and August, we welcome submission of chapbook and full-length poetry manuscripts:
As a new independent literary press devoted exclusively to poetry we're excited to consider all types of poems. Cooper Dilon Books intends to select two full-length manuscripts and two chapbooks per year. Please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Be sure your name and contact information is on the cover page of the document.
- Submissions are taken via our online submission system, Submishmash, saving paper, ink, postage, etc. PDF or Word files are perferred. If you're sending the work to other places for consideration, and it's taken, you can withdraw it through the system--and please do that quickly.
- Please have any cover letter or bio associated with the submission in the space provided.
- All manuscripts should have a table of contents, page numbers, and acknowledgments.
- There is a $10 or buy-a-book reading fee. Please order a book from the store, or click on the button below to pay a reading fee.* After you've done one of those things, please include the order number with your cover letter/bio in the online submission system.
To order a book, visit the Cooper Dillon Bookstore.
To pay a reading fee, click here:
Click here to submit to Cooper Dillon Books through Submishmash.
Any questions about the reading period or submission process can be emailed to us at submit@cooperdillon.com.
*At least $1 of every reading fee will be donated to a local charity in San Diego.
All manuscripts will be considered carefully and replied to in a reasonable amount of time. If it's been more than two months, feel free to send an email. Please note that we are only interested in manuscripts of poetry. Manuscripts of fiction, nonfiction, essay, biography, etc. will not be replied to.
Visual Art Submission Guidelines
We believe in the poetry we present, and feel the art associated with our books should reflect the same quality and intention. If you are a visual artist (traditional or photographer - no digital paintings or collage, please) and would like to have your work considered by Cooper Dillon for use in the cover art of a future publication, please put a letter of introduction into the body of an email, as well as a link to where we can view your work. In the subject line of the email, please format like so: "[medium] by [your name]." Please take the time to familiarize yourself with our press and our books before doing so.
Send these emails to ArtDirector@cooperdillon.com