Lucky Jefferson is the literary journal that talks back—generating constructive and interactive conversations around poetry, art, and publishing; redefining publication page by page. We live for poets/writers who have never been published, especially those who sought to pursue poetry and writing later in life. We represent the people and firmly believe that marginalized voices deserve a better platform.
Submission Guidelines:
Lucky Jefferson accepts submissions of unpublished poetry and flash fiction on subjects relating to the current theme or collection.
When submitting:
- Send three poems per submission. Poems should be separated by titles or page breaks.
- Flash fiction should not exceed any more than 1000 words (Microfiction is what's up).
- Include a cover page highlighting your name, email address, mailing address, and bio (third-person, 50 words max). Get creative, don't bore us with the same bio you share with everyone else.
- No submissions via e-mail (unless you're a student—all students submit for free).
- We do not accept translations or work that has been previously published in print or online.
We will not tolerate any work that promotes harmful stereotypes and perspectives including: racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, ableism.
*Please visit https://luckyjefferson.com/submit for important info should your work be accepted*
Poetry & Prose Summer Contest
Lucky Jefferson is excited to announce its second Poetry and Prose Summer contest!
Why are we doing this? We believe writers deserve opportunities like this (and so much more) and one core part of our mission includes being the difference. Many contests charge fees to enter or make writers and artists jump through hoops with no real return. We want to change that.
- For starters, it's free to enter or submit.
- You'll have 2 months to submit any original and unpublished poetry and prose you want.
- 20 finalists will receive publication in Lucky Jefferson's digital 365 Collection.
- Two finalists from that group (one poetry and one prose) will each receive $100, publication, and a swag box.
Lisa Low is the judge for this contest. Learn more about her and our contest here.
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When submitting:
- Send no more than 5 poems or prose pieces in a submission.
- Keep it short and sweet. Share your name, email address, mailing address, and bio (third-person, 50 words max).
- No work that has been previously published in print or online. Please no ai-generated work.
*We will not tolerate any work that promotes harmful stereotypes and perspectives including: racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, ableism.
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*Please visit https://luckyjefferson.com/poetry-prose-contest/ for important info should your work be accepted*
Little Jefferson
Calling all kiddos and teens aspiring to become writers or pursue the arts when they grow up!
Little Jefferson is Lucky Jefferson's way of creating spaces and opportunities for youth ages 9-13 to explore and deepen their joy of writing and grow as young artists.
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website.
When submitting:
• Send no more than three poems or one story in a submission. Poems should poems separated by titles or page breaks.
• Include a short cover page highlighting the young poet’s name, email address (if applicable), bio, and mailing address. Biographical statements should be 2-3 sentences or 50-75 words—have fun with this and tell us something we'd never know!
Parents/Guardians/Teachers/Youth Organizations are allowed to submit on their child's behalf.
**We do not accept translations or work that has been previously published in print or online.**
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We encourage you to donate with your submission to help us keep this ship sailing. Your contribution fuels the publication of Lucky Jefferson as we are a budding independent journal with an all-volunteer staff.
To keep things fair, previously accepted poets may only submit once each calendar year.
PLEASE REVIEW IN FULL BEFORE SUBMITTING
76% of all representation in publishing is through the lens of non-BIPOC writers, editors, and artists. And it's through this lens that historically underrepresented cultures, narratives, and a sense of belonging are throttled.
Our Solution:
Lucky Jefferson's research began with support from Illinois Humanities in 2023. We surveyed Black, African, and African-American-identifying writers and artists residing in Chicago's North Side, West Side, and South Side neighborhoods to better evaluate the needs and interests of local creatives. We are now expanding our research to Black, African, and African-American-identifying writers and artists located across the United States.
How You Can Help:
This self-guided survey will deepen our understanding of the national literary community as we plan to cultivate storytelling and interactive experiences, between neighborhoods and artists.
Earn $5 when you complete this digital survey. By taking 5-10 minutes to support our research, you'll be helping shape the literary landscape throughout the country.
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Don't forget to also complete this form in Submittable!
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**For questions or other requests, please email research@luckyjefferson.com.**