Milk & Cake Press

What We’re Looking For

Milk and Cake Press publishes full-length and chapbook collections of poetry. For 2025, we are only reading chapbook submissions. We are especially interested in manuscripts with attention to the sound of language. We especially like experimental work, though we are open to virtually any kind of manuscript. Chapbook submissions should be 18-30ish pages of poetry.

We welcome the work of new, emerging, and experienced poets and encourage submissions from BIPOC, LGBTQIA, neurodivergent, and disabled writers.

Timeline

Please note that this is an open reading period, not a contest. We expect to publish two titles from this submission period. Publication will be in 2026-2027. Our final selections will be read by several volunteer staff, including the editor-in-chief, who reads every manuscript. Selections will be made and announced in early summer 2025.

Submission Requirements

Be sure your name is not on the manuscript. Do not provide a biographical statement or acknowledgments of previously published poems. Instead, in your cover letter, provide 3-5 sentences summarizing your manuscript. Why? We want to see that you can succinctly explain your work; this is a good sign that a book is ready for publication.

Please submit your manuscript via Duotrope’s submission manager, Duosuma.

You must have an account to do so, but you do not need to pay for the more advanced services Duotrope provides. Submissions must be in Word or PDF. We do request a submission fee of $10; however, if this is prohibitive for you, please email [email protected]

Why do we charge submission fees? These fees, along with book sales, cover the costs of printing and marketing our titles. Our nonprofit press is completely run by volunteers.

You may submit multiple manuscripts, with the appropriate fees. Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please let us know as soon as possible should your work be accepted elsewhere (congratulations!)

Payment and Support From Us

Payment for selected manuscripts is 25 copies. We do not pay royalties or an advance. We will provide limited marketing in the form of social media posts, opportunities to participate in Milk & Cake Press virtual readings, and five additional copies sent for review to the reviewers or journals of your choice. We are also happy to work with bookstores local to you to provide copies at a discount if you are planning an event.