THE COMSTOCK REVIEW
outstanding poetry since 1986
THE COMSTOCK REVIEW CHAPBOOK CONTEST
Final Judge: Martin Willitts, Jr.
First Prize: $1000 plus publication and 50 author’s copies
Entry Fee: $30 / manuscript (includes a copy of the winning chapbook) plus Submittable fees
Submissions accepted August 1 - October 31
Updated Submission Guidelines for 2026 - READ CAREFULLY:
1. Previous first prize winners in a chapbook contest sponsored by The Comstock Review are ineligible.
2. Submissions must not have been previously published as a collection. Individual poems may have been published. The manuscript must be the original work of the (single author) submitter. Do NOT include AI-generated poetry.
3. Submit 25-34 pages of poetry, single-spaced. Single poems may be more than 1 page long. Consider the smaller chapbook page when calculating line lengths and page breaks. Maximum line length is generally about 70 characters
4. Manuscripts must be paginated.
5. Manuscript Title page should be title only. Table of Contents may also be included. These two items are not counted in the 25-34 pages of poetry.
6. The following information: poet name, address, phone number, and e-mail address and acknowledgements should ONLY be included in the cover letter.
7. All entries are screened by the editors of The Comstock Review before going to the final judge. To ensure impartiality, do not include author's name or identifying information anywhere in the submitted manuscript.
8. Do not include the following in your manuscript: Title page with author’s name, acknowledgements, dedications, bio, graphics, illustrations, cover art etc. That information will be requested later in the publication process for the winner only.
9. Any simultaneous submission must be withdrawn immediately if accepted elsewhere.
These Guidelines are also available on our website: www.comstockreview.org
Additional guidelines for submitting a hard copy manuscript by US Postal Service if unable to use Submittable may be found on our website.
Winners are notified in December. Winners and finalists will be announced on the website, and in a message to all contributors via Submittable.
Winning chapbooks are available at $15 per copy. (If purchased on Submittable the cost of their fees will be added).
Help us fulfill our mission to support the poetry community by encouraging poets to publish their work and increasing readership by providing a home in our publications for good poetry.
Please include your name and address for successful mailing.
Winner of the 2016 Comstock Writers' Group Chapbook Contest
Own your own copy of Ted Kooser's latest chapbook, AT HOME, while supporting the Comstock Review as well. $14 plus online fees.
If you need to order several copies, do it by mail. You will save on internet costs!