PRIMERS: Volume Eight

• Guide your poems into print with Primers!

  
  

  
  

  Primers is a biannual mentoring and publication scheme organised by Nine Arches Press, now in its eighth edition. It provides a unique opportunity for talented poets to find publication and receive a programme of supportive feedback, mentoring and promotion. We're delighted to announce that the selecting editor and mentor for Primers Volume Eight is Laurie Bolger.

   

  This year’s scheme will also include an exclusive online workshop for the 10 shortlisted poets with Roy McFarlane.

   

  Laurie Bolger is a London based writer and the founder of The Creative Writing Breakfast Club. Laurie’s work has been widely anthologised and has featured at Glastonbury, TATE, Sky Arts & BBC Global News. Laurie’s first publication Box Rooms celebrated community and her W10 roots.  Laurie was the winner of The Moth Poetry Prize in 2023 & was shortlisted for The Sylvia Plath, Bridport & Forward Poetry Prizes. Her latest pamphlets include Makeover (The Emma Press) and Spin (The Poetry Business). Her debut full collection, Lady,  is now published by Nine Arches Press and celebrates the resilience of working class women, autonomy and love.

   

  Previous selected poets include: Romalyn Ante, Sarala Estruch, Aviva Dautch, Cynthia Miller, Ben Bransfield, Marvin Thompson, Katie Griffiths, Geraldine Clarkson, Lucy Ingrams, Maureen Cullen, Amelia Loulli, Victoria Richards, Lewis Buxton, Hannah Jane Walker, Claire Cox, Krystelle Bamford, Kym Deyn, Estelle Price, Fathima Zahra, Laura Varnam, Antonia Taylor and Jade Cuttle. Could it be you next time?

  
  
  

  The three selected poets will receive:

  • Two poetry mentoring sessions with Laurie Bolger
  • Editorial mentoring session with Nine Arches Press editor Jane Commane
  • Publication in Primers: Volume Eight in summer 2026
  • Ten free copies of Primers: Volume Eight
  • Primers live showcase events (online and in person) in 2026

   

  
  

  All ten shortlisted poets will receive publication in a spotlight feature on our blog, a Nine Arches poetry book bundle worth £30, plus an exclusive online workshop on developing your voice in poetry with Roy McFarlane.

  
  

   

  Entry fee for Primers: £19.00
  
  

  For low income writers:

  Please note there are a selected number of free entries available for writers on a low income.

  Please see guidelines for more information.

  
  
  

   Open for submissions from Friday 23^rd May 2025

   

  PRIMERS VOLUME EIGHT DEADLINE:

  Midnight BST on Tuesday 9^th September 2025

  
  

   

  Submission Guidelines and How to Enter: 

  
  
  

  Eligibility:

  • This opportunity is open to anyone aged 18 or over and resident in the UK.
  • Primers is open to poets who have not yet published a full-length collection of poems in the UK. We define a full-length collection as any collection of poems of more than 40 pages total. Previous publication in a pamphlet(s) of less than 40 pages is allowable.
  • All submissions must be written in English and be the original work of the poet. Translations are not eligible.
  • Please do not enter poems in the initial submission which have previously won or have been placed in any other competition at the time of submission.
  • Please do not enter any poems in the initial submission which have previously been published in a poetry pamphlet or anthology.
  • We reserve the right to disqualify entries that do not meet the eligibility criteria and cannot refund fees if an entry is disqualified or withdrawn.

   
  
  

  Your Primers submission:

  • Your Primers submissions should consist of a maximum of 5 poems and should be no longer than 7 pages overall.  
  • All submissions must be typed, 12pt, in a plain font, and with each poem beginning on a separate sheet of paper.
  • Submissions must be a single PDF or .doc / .docx Word document containing all five poems.
  • Each submission must have a title. Please name your document with the same title. 
  • Please choose a specific not generic title (i.e. ‘A Bag of Tricks’ not ‘Primers Submission’)
  • Submissions are read anonymously so please do not include your name in either the file name or in the title of your submission, or on any of the pages. 
  • You may send more than one entry, but each must be treated as a separate entry and submitted via email individually.
  • If you are unable to send online submissions due to accessibility issues, please contact Nine Arches Press directly: marketing@ninearchespress.com

  
  
  

  How to Enter: 

  Submission to Primers is made by email and paid for via the payment button below. 
  
  

  • Please first pay for your entry via the payment button at the bottom of this page.
  • Take note of your order number from your email payment confirmation from stripe.com as you'll need this to submit your poems.
  • Email your submission as one single Word or PDF document to primers@ninearchespress.com and please include the following in your email only:
  1. Your full name
  2. Your phone number
  3. The title of your submission(s)
  4. The receipt number from your payment (from stripe.com) 
  5. In the subject line of your email, please also include the title of your submission.

  
  
  

  • All payments and submissions must be completed by the deadline: midnight (BST) on Tuesday 9th September 2025.
  • It is entrants' responsibility to ensure payment has been processed. All payments will receive an email confirmation.
  • Successful submissions will receive an automatically-generated confirmation email, unless you have made multiple separate submissions, in which case please note that only your first submission email will be acknowledged.
  • Any unpaid entries will be disqualified.
  • No alterations can be made to poems after submission.
  • If you have any technical issues with paying or submitting your poems, please contact us at:  marketing@ninearchespress.com not at the Primers email address.

   

  Submission Fee and Closing Date: 

  • The cost of submission is £19 per submission of up to 5 poems.
  • The closing date is midnight (BST) on Tuesday 9th September 2025. All submissions and payments must be received by the deadline.
  • We recommend you enter early, as we may not be able to provide technical support at the last minute.
  • This fee supports the programme of development, including mentoring, editing and publication that the three selected poets will receive.
  • Payment is non-refundable.

   

  Free Entries for Low-Income Writers

  • Applicants should initially email marketing@ninearchespress.com to confirm they are on a low income and would like to apply for free entry.
  • Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis to eligible entries.

   

  Shortlisting

  • All submissions will be read by selecting editor Laurie Bolger
  • Submissions are read anonymously in the first round.
  • The shortlist will appear on the Nine Arches Press website and be announced publicly on Tuesday 21^st October 2025.
  • The shortlisted poets will be asked to submit a further selection of 15 additional poems as well as the poems they submitted originally (20 poems total) by noon on Thursday 30^th October 2025.
  • Please do not include any poems in the full submission which have been previously published or are about to be published within the next 12 months in any form of poetry pamphlet, book, or anthology.
  • The three Primers finalists will be announced on the Wednesday 12^th November 2025.   

   

   

  
  

  Finalists  

  • The editors will select three poets from the shortlist of ten, who will receive one-to-one mentoring and editorial support with Laurie Bolger and Jane Commane, leading to publication by Nine Arches Press in their Primers series book.
  • Selected poets must be able to make themselves available for mentoring and editorial workshops via Zoom or phone, with dates by arrangement.
  • Copyright remains with the poet, although the organisers reserve the right to use the winning collection and any related material for publicity and marketing purposes.
  • Whilst the poet will retain copyright of the poems, the design and layout of the winning published collection will remain with Nine Arches Press. Nine Arches Press will retain the right to publish additional print and digital editions of the book and individual poems.
  • Selected poets will need to sign a publishing contract with Nine Arches.
  • Winning poets should be prepared to make themselves available for promotional performances and events in 2026, unless prevented by circumstances beyond their control.
  • Any performances will be accessible and will include both live and online events.

   

  
  

  All Entrants please note:

  • The selecting editors’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
  • We cannot give feedback on any submissions.
  • Entry indicates an acceptance of these rules. Submissions failing to meet these rules will be disqualified.

   

  Dates to remember:

  • 23^rd May 2025: Primers and scheme opens. 
  • 9^th September 2025 at midnight (BST) - deadline for entries.
  • 21^st October - shortlist of 10 Poets announced.
  • 30^th October - 10 shortlisted poets enter final, full manuscripts of max 20 poems.
  • 12^th November – announcement of the three Primers finalists.
  • Primers Volume Seven publishes in July 2026

  
  
  

  READY TO ENTER PRIMERS? 

   

  Please Pay Here: