Psst! Hey, you! Cranky announces its first-ever chapbook contest.

The details? ( Also at our Web site: http://www.crankymag.org )

You: Poet with 20-45 pages of poetry waiting to be let out to play.
Maybe a few of these poems have been published in literary journals,
but the set has not been previously published anywhere, though your
poems are deliciously crisp and black (like ants). You live in a
cold-water flat and could use the $500 first prize. You know how
competitive chapbook contests can be; you'll be ecstatic just to
be named a finalist. (Okay, maybe just really, really pleased?)

Us: The Cranky editors. If you've read the journal (and you should
have), you know we admire wit and word play and quirky intelligence.
We share a fanatic commitment to truth, justice and the American (left
wing) way--at least when it comes to judging. We'll read all entries
blindly (like the three mice), which means anything that shouts out
your name will disqualify you; please do not include in your
manuscript any poems previously published by Cranky. Once
semi-finalists have been identified, we will narrow the field to
finalists and then choose a winner, to be announced August 1, 2007. We
will work with the winner regarding design and cover art.

The Prize: We will pay $500 and 25 copies of the chapbook (very nicely
printed).

How, What and Where to Send:

Two cover pages, one with only the title of the manuscript, and one
that lists your name, address, telephone number and email address. You
may include a bio as well, but these will not be read until contest
conclusion.

Your poetry manuscript of 20-45 pages, with no more than one poem per
page. Pagination is encouraged, a table of contents appreciated, and
an acknowledgments page required.

$15 entry fee, payable to Cranky Literary Journal (mailed or sent via
the PayPal link on our site--send a note with your manuscript if you
pay this way.)

Simultaneous submissions don't twist our knickers, but we want to know
if another press calls first dibs.

If you're prolific enough to enter multiple submissions, do so by all
means, but send a $15 entry fee for each one.

We won't publish translations or books you've already published
yourself.

If you send us your only copy, you need more help than we can provide.

Don't send an SASE; instead, include your email address for
notification.

Get your precious tome in the mail by April 15, otherwise
fuggedaboutit.


All work submitted (unless previously published) is considered for
possible publication in Cranky or as a chapbook.

Send through regular U.S. mail, without return receipts or anything we
might have to sign for, to: Cranky Literary Journal, PO Box 70632,
Seattle, WA 98127. Only those sending from outside the U.S. may send
via UPS, FedEx or DHL.

Note: We adhere to the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics. CLMP's community
of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests
serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing
exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity
of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an
ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as
ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the
part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and
specific contest guidelines defining conflict of interest for all
parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection
process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different
contest models produce different results, but that each model can be
run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity
and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our
contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.

Visit our Web site: http://www.crankymag.org (see the Contest link)!
Order a sample copy!

Questions? Sure. Send us an email.

Amber Curtis & Amy Schrader
Publishers, Cranky Literary Journal