Frequently asked questions
Q. What do you mean when you say that the press has ‘an international outlook’?
A. ignitionpress is an outward-looking press that was set up to publish a broad range of voices from many different places and backgrounds. We have so far published writers from a range of countries and heritages, including Zimbabwe, the US, Canada, Jordan, Hong Kong, Greece, the UK, and India.
Q. Why have you decided to open a submission window for the first time?
A. Up to now, the press has acted on recommendations and scouted for poets, looking through magazines, awards and competitions (including our own international poetry competition). After publishing 20+ pamphlets, ignitionpress is seeking to widen its search for new work.
Q. Will you publish book-length collections?
A. No. ignitionpress remains a pamphlet-only publisher.
Q. I've already published a chapbook, pamphlet, or book-length collection elsewhere - can I still submit?
A. No. ignitionpress looks for poets who have not previously published a collection of poetry. If you're trying to find a publisher for your work, you might consult the useful lists available on the Poets' Directory website or the National Poetry Library site.
Q. Do you require the poems or summary to be presented in a certain font or format?
A. No. Poems need only be typed and legible. However, we request that you don’t send us individual poems of more than 50 lines in length at this stage.
Q. Can I submit more than 6 poems?
A. No. Please only send us one submission of 6 poems.
Q. Should I submit my work anonymously?
A. No, please include your name and e-mail address on your submission.
Q. If I submitted poetry to ignitionpress in the past but wasn’t published by the press, can I submit again now?
A. Yes, so long as you have not previously published a chapbook, pamphlet, or book-length collection.
Q. I’m planning to publish a book-length collection soon after the date of publication mentioned above. Is that OK?
A. Not really! Having a publication appearing so soon after a pamphlet makes it very difficult to sell the pamphlet, particularly if many of the same poems appear in the both the pamphlet and the collection. The editors of your full-length collection are also likely to want to know where and when previous versions of your poems have been published. We normally expect poets not to have another publication until at least 12 months after their pamphlet has been published.
Q. Would I have any say in the cover design?
A. No. ignitionpress has a recognisable cover design which we will be retaining for the foreseeable future.
Q. Will I have to sign a contract?
A. Yes, we do ask poets to sign a simple contract. Contact us at ignitionpress@brookes.ac.uk if you would like more information about this.
Q. Do you operate a royalty scheme for poets?
A. No. As per the information above, we pay poets a one-off fee of £125 when they submit their manuscript and at least £50 in travel expenses.