How to Submit – Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series

We are currently accepting submissions for books in the Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series

The Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series includes poetry collections and scholarly works on poetry. If submitting a scholarly work on poetry, please follow the guidelines for scholarly books (https://universityprofessorspress.com/how-to-submit/) and include in your cover letter that it is intended for the Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series. Please note that we are very selective about the poetry books we accept. It is important to review the information on this page carefully for your manuscript to be considered. 

If considering submitting a poetry manuscript to the Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series, it is strongly recommended that you review two or more of our current books prior to submitting.  It is not necessary to follow the exact format of the books already published; however, this will provide a better understanding of the types of poetry books we publish. A high percentage of manuscripts that we receive are returned without review because they do not fit with the approach taken in this series.

We will consider poetry books and books about the use of poetry with healing and growth. We only consider poetry books that fit with our poetry, healing, and growth series. These books have clear psychological themes that are likely to be of relevance to mental health professionals and consumers. Poetry volumes must include an introduction that provides a psychological framework for the poetry included in the volume and the focus of the book. It is highly beneficial to review current volumes to get a sense of what is expected with the introduction. 

As academic press in psychology, we primarily consider manuscripts for the poetry, healing, and growth series that are by mental health professionals or social sciences academics. While we will consider publications by others, it is important to demonstrate adequate psychological understanding in the poems and the introduction. 

We have been receiving an increasing number of submissions that do not include all the requested information, such as the prospectus, and do not follow the guidelines noted on this page. Please note we will not consider any submissions that are not complete. 

Your submission should include:

1. Cover Letter
2. Prospectus (see below)
3. If a poetry collection, a draft of your book with all poems included should be submitted along with the prospectus. It is acceptable to still add a small number of poems after the initial submission if approved by the UPP editor you are working with, but all completed poems should be included. The introduction, epilogue, and similar sections should be written in accordance with APA Style (7th Edition) to be considered. (If a theory, application, or research book, sample chapters are integrated into the prospectus). 
4. Current CV (which should demonstrate your background in psychology, counseling, and/or the social sciences as well as with poetry)

The prospectus must include all the information listed below:

1. Prior to submitting the manuscript, please review UPP’s manuscript preparation guidelines and assure that your manuscript has been prepared in accordance with these guidelines. Please note that some of these guidelines may not apply to aspects of the poetry volumes.
2. A statement introducing your book and why you are submitting your proposal to University Professors Press.
3. A brief overview of the book, the format of the book, and the book’s purpose.
4. Poetry collections must include an introduction that frames the poetry book that provides a framework for the reader on how the poems and purpose of the book fit with the themes of poetry, healing, and growth. The introduction must be included with the submission to be considered. It is strongly recommended that authors review one of the books currently in our series to obtain a better understanding of what we are looking for in an introduction. 
5. If the book is about the use of poetry for healing and growth, the manuscript must be written in accordance with APA Style (7th Edition). The prospectus should include a minimum of 2 sample chapters. If any separate sections of poetry are included, these should be submitted with the prospectus.
6. List of anticipated images with a description of them or include the images. Note: We typically will only consider including color images if they are necessary for the book. Color images significantly increase the price of the book and are taken into consideration pertaining to whether the book is accepted.
7. Description of the intended audience.
8. Discussion of how this book fits with the Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series. (Note: Poetry books must fit with the theme of poetry, healing, and growth and include an introduction that helps frame how the book related to this theme. We do not accept submissions for general poetry books.).
9. Marketing recommendations to reach the intended audience (recommended, but not required, for inclusion).

Note: University Professors Press requires that all submissions that have been previously published provide verification of permission to republish. With poetry, this is often clarified in the contract or publishing agreement. If not, the author/editor will be required to provide verification of permission to republish the poem.

Note: For poetry collections with more than 10 contributors, we typically only offer either a shared-risk contract or a contract in which the contributors do not receive a complimentary copy (they could still purchase copies at a discounted rate or authors could purchase copies for the contributors with their discount). For most poetry books with only one contributor/author, our contracts are not shared risk.