Call For Submissions
Deadline
May 1, 2026
Prize
One winner receives $200, a featured publication, a uniquely designed physical and digital broadside of their poem, publicity on our social media channels, free contributor copies (if we print the issue), and an optional interview. Finalists receive a featured publication, publicity on our social media channels, contributor copies (if we print the issue), and are considered for interviews. Check out our other past contest winners!
What Is Ekphrastic Poetry?
Ekphrastic poetry is inspired by existing works of art. For this contest, Bicoastal Review is looking for creative writing that is inspired by, in conversation with, critiquing, or responding to a poem that we have published in any past issue. Your poem might provide a new perspective, interpretation, or continuation of the other writer’s themes, imagery, or language.
Bicoastal Review Contest Guidelines
- Submit a previously unpublished poem of any length, style, or form. You can submit up to 10 times. We prefer .doc or .docx files.
- Inspiration: Your poem must be inspired by or respond to one piece of writing or work of art previously published in Bicoastal Review. Please indicate the title of the poem or artwork and the issue it appeared in. Include a few sentences about how your poem relates to the other work.
- Please do not include any of your identifying information (name, email) on the document file itself. This contest will be judged without the influence of the submitter’s identity.
- Anyone from anywhere in the world can submit, though our journal tends to gravitate toward topics relevant to the U.S. West Coast/East Coast. Writing must be in English, with American spelling preferred. Including words from other languages is fine.
- We will ask the winner if they can record their poem as an audio file (phone recording is fine). Audio files help us expand the accessibility of poetry to anyone who prefers to listen to works. You can find examples in our digital issues.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as we are made aware of acceptance elsewhere – you can simply withdraw via Submittable. (Publishing in your own books or blog is fine.)
- If you win the contest, please respond promptly via email or Submittable (within a week or two) or we may defer to other poems. The winner will have time to make minor revisions if desired. We reserve the right to reject revisions/submissions at any time, or to get a new opinion from the judge if revisions are significant.
- Your submission should not infringe upon copyright or third-party rights. Writing must be original and not plagiarized nor submitted without proper citations – including quotes, borrowed lines, etc.
- Bicoastal Review does not accept works created with the use/help of AI.
We charge a reading fee (per submission), as our journal is free to read online. We can’t wait to read your poems!
Find us on Instagram and BlueSky @bicoastalreview.
Submission Period
May 20, 2025 - May 1, 2026
Submissions Guidelines URL
Contact Name
Marina Kraiskaya
Contact Title
Editor in Chief
Contact Email Address
Contact Website
Poetry Online Magazine
