The award-winning Buckman Journal is pleased to open submissions for the annual Ibby Rivers Poetry Prize, named after the one-and-only Elizabeth Rivers. The winning poet will receive a $300.00 prize and have their work featured in Buckman Journal Issue 015. The prize is open to Oregon and SW Washington residents only. There is no entry fee.
 

Please send no more than five pages of unpublished poems. Simultaneous submissions are fine, just be sure to withdraw promptly if accepted elsewhere. All styles are welcome, however, Buckman favors the brave: poets who honor the form as a textual, sonic, and visual art, use words in an unexpected manner, and deploy "I" judiciously. The best poetry, in our view, should always address language itself as the subject. 

As always, Buckman pays to license work with the copyright reverting to the author after the initial publication date, which will be in January 2026. As a small team, we are unable to accept more than 100 submissions total--so the earlier you submit, the more likely that cap has not yet been met. 

Please submit .docx or .pdf files only, use a readable font, and be sure to include the following in your cover letter: Name, author's name (if different), a brief autobiographical bio, and preferred pronouns. Keep these brief, please. 

Ensure that your name does not appear anywhere (including headers/footers) on the document of poems. This is what allows us to read submissions blind so double-check your submission document please and thanks.
 

We hope to read and respond to all submissions within one month of the closing date. Feel free to share this opportunity with other local writers. Aside from the winner, we may also seek to publish selections from additional poets in future issues of Buckman Journal.
 

We thank you for your sharing your work and look forward to reading your words! Know your local!