The Kelsey Street Press FIRSTS! Contest A project of Kelsey Street Press This project is on indefinite hiatus. Check their site to find out whether this is a submission and/or publication hiatus. (February 2018) About This contest is open to women-identified writers as well as writers with non-binary gender identities who have never published a full-length book of poetry, which we define as any publication of 48 pages or more. We encourage submissions from women of color, women with disabilities, queer writers, immigrants, and other identities underrepresented in mainstream publications. No Fees! This contest does not charge mandatory fees. Country of Publication United States Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year Poetry On Hiatus Audience:Open to a broad Audience, including: Females, Nonbinary people, All sexual identities.Genres: General Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Poetry Collection: 48 - 120 pages.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms, including: Experimental poetry.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:No monetary advance + Unknown royalties No monetary advance. Unknown royalties.Submissions:Method: Electronic submissions. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to contest webpage Report: Correction/Update Support this Publisher: Make a Donation The Kelsey Street Press FIRSTS! Contest Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. This listing is inactive and does not have any submission reports for the past 12 months. Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 22 May 2026 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only