Thank you for considering Room for the publication of your original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, or art. Room publishes work by people of all marginalized genders, including cis and trans women, trans men, nonbinary and Two-Spirit people. Visit https://roommagazine.com for more!


Submission Periods

Unsolicited submissions to Room make up over 90% of our published submissions. We open for submissions four times a year. 

48.4: closed

49.1, SCIENCE: closed

49.2: closed

49.3, November 2025: closed

Submissions are open to both Canadian and international writers for periods of approximately 4-6 weeks, depending on when the submissions limits for any given genre are reached. Once the cap has been hit, our submissions close even if it's before our submission deadline, and will not open again until the following submission period. 

Please note: Room does not accept pieces that have been written, partially written, edited by, supplemented by, or in any way created by AI.

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Before submitting please see here for our genre submissions guidelines. 

We also strongly suggest you get a sense of our tastes by reviewing material we've published in recent issues—buy newsstand copies, subscribe, borrow from a library, or visit our latest edition online. Alternatively, you can order single copies of specific issues, including soldout digital exclusives for just $10.

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Contests

Visit our contests page for more information about our contests.

Ends on
Submit to Room to CONTEST ENTRY: Poetry

FIRST PRIZE: $1,000 + publication in Room SECOND PRIZE: $250 + publication in Room HONOURABLE MENTION: $100 + publication on Room's website

Poetry Contest Guidelines:

Entry Fees 

  • All first submissions include a one-year subscription to Room. Residence is based on the address associated with your Submittable account, as this is where your subscription will be shipped. Our entry fees are designed to cover shipping costs and are:
  • If you reside in Canada: $35 CAD
  • If you reside in the US: 45 CAD
  • If you reside outside North America: 55 CAD
  • Additional entries are $7 CAD and do not come with another subscription. 
  • You must submit an initial entry before submitting an additional entry. If you submit an additional entry without first submitting an initial entry, your additional entry may be disqualified without refund.
  • Under "Fee," select the correct payment amount from the drop-down menu. You must choose the appropriate submission fee option, or your piece may be disqualified. No refunds are provided for selecting the incorrect fee option. 

 

Contest Rules

  • An entry (both initial and additional) can include up to three poems or 150 lines of poetry in a single document. Please start each poem at the top of a new page.
  • Unless form requires, submit your work in 12-point font, Times New Roman preferred.
  • You can only upload ONE document (.pdf, .doc, or .docx preferred; can also accept .rtf) per submission on Submittable, so you must submit your entire poetry submission in one file. 
  • Submissions must be anonymous—please do not include your name or personal details anywhere in your document, including the file name. You will have a chance to include your contact information on the Submittable form. Cover letters and bios are not necessary and will not be forwarded to the judge.
  • Each entry must be original and unpublished.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions, but if your submission is accepted elsewhere, please notify us and withdraw your submission immediately. 
  • Room's contests are open to women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people. We specifically encourage writers with overlapping under-represented identities to submit their work.
  • Previously commissioned Room writers are disqualified from entering the contest.
  • Any submission that does not meet these guidelines will be disqualified. The submission fee is non-refundable. 
  • Please direct any questions or concerns to contests@roommagazine.com
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