What is the Jack McCarthy Book Prize?
The Jack McCarthy Book Prize is our annual manuscript contest seeking bold new voices in contemporary poetry. We're looking for work that moves people, changes lives, and deserves a beautiful home on paper. If your poems keep people awake at night (in the best way), we want to read them. Do you write well and read well out loud? We are the press for you.
Congratualtions, you've been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Jack McCarthy Book Prize! Here's what's next for you:
By June 30th:
20-POEM MANUSCRIPT – This can include some or all of the 5 poems you submitted in round one, or it can be completely different work. Whatever feels like your strongest collection right now. We want to see the range of what you can do. Remember, if you win, you will work on 40-50 poems with an editor to tighten up for publication.
A VIDEO OF YOU READING – This is where we get to hear your voice and see how you connect with your own work. Keep it between 1-4 minutes. Read whatever feels right – could be from your submission, could be something else entirely. We just want to see you in your element sharing a poem. it can be at a show, it can be a music video, it can feel liek a short film or it can be you outside or on your couch. Make sure the audio is clear. And that we can see you.
You have two options (pick one, not both):
Option 1: Instagram Reel
- Post your reading as a reel on Instagram
- Tag @writebloodypublishing in the post
- Feel free to promote it however you want
- If you choose this option, please link your post in your submission
Option 2: YouTube Video
- Upload your video to YouTube (make it public)
- Title it: "Jack McCarthy Book Prize Finalist 2025 - [Your Name]"
- Send us the link through the submission portal
- Go ahead and promote it – we love seeing our poets get their work out there
The whole point of the video part isn't to judge your production skills or see if you have perfect lighting. We want to hear how your voice carries your words, how you inhabit your poems when you read them. Some of our best poets read from their kitchen table with their phone propped against a coffee mug. Authenticity beats polish every time.
How to submit: Submissions may be uploaded to Write Bloody’s Submittable page during the submission window (June 1 - June 30. Once you submit, you should receive an email from Submittable confirming your submission. Email Haley - haleywritebloody@gmail.com if you do not receive this email or have any questions.
Format:
1. A Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF with 20 original poems.* *Poems may have been printed in individual magazines or journals, but absolutely no work from any previously published books or full manuscripts. Poems from chapbooks without ISBNs are okay, as long as you hold all the rights to the submitted material. Your original 5 poems may be included!
2. A link to your reading video. This can be included in the Bio/About section in the submission.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Haley at haleywritebloody@gmail.com.