Chapbook Contest

Wax Nine’s 1st Annual
Chapbook Contest

Wax Nine is pleased to announce its very first chapbook contest,
sponsored by Koyama Provides!

Submissions are currently closed.

2021 WINNER

Alexandra Martinez – HEARTBREAKER

In HEARTBREAKER, Alexandra Martinez confronts her grief over her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis by poetically deconstructing the lyrics of Tom Petty. Mirroring Martinez’s mother’s symptomatic inability to express herself through her voice, Petty’s lyrics are scattered throughout in fragmented bits, not recognizable as themselves. The poems were written in eight resolute days during which Martinez questioned her success as both a daughter & caretaker. HEARTBREAKER illuminates the hidden & ignored loneliness of caregiving with unflinching honesty and tenderness.

HEARTBREAKER will be published by Wax Nine in 2022. More information soon. Thank you to everyone who submitted!

2021 FINALISTS

M.R. “Chibbi” Orduña – The Boy & The Circus
Dana Guth – Dream Chaser
Alexandra Martinez – HEARTBREAKER
Jon Conley – House Hunters International :: Sonnets
Yvanna Vien Tica – sampaguita as alien species
Ria Mai Geguera – someday you will be worn again
Nnadi Samuel – Subject Lessons
Amy Saul-Zerby – Virgo Season
Caroline Fernelius – Yellow Things: A Family Operetta
Matt Mitchell – You’re My Gran Torino

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submit poetry or hybrid poetry manuscripts between 25-50 pages (max 50, including front/back matter). The contest is open to all writers, but those without prior chapbook or full length publication history are especially encouraged to submit.

The winning manuscript will be selected by editor Sadie Dupuis and published by Wax Nine in 2022 in a first run of 125 copies. Chapbooks will be perfect-bound, laid out by designer Caitlin Bechtel, and printed locally in Philadelphia at Fireball Printing. The winner will receive 20 free copies, a $250 advance, and split royalties on copies sold by Wax Nine. Future printings will be determined based on demand between author and Wax Nine.

Submissions will open between July 14 and September 1, 2021. There is no submission fee. Finalists will be notified in early November with a winner announced by early December.

This project is being generously funded by the wonderful Koyama Provides. Learn more about their artist micro grant project here.