Poem Stellium

Black Voices – Submissions

A dedicated publishing space for Black African and Caribbean voices across the diaspora.

Black Voices Submissions are an ongoing part of Poem Stellium’s commitment to creating space for Black voices throughout the year.

This opportunity is open to people of Black African and/or Caribbean heritage or descent, including people of mixed heritage who wish to explore, honour or express this part of their identity, ancestry, family history or lived experience.

You do not need to be an established writer or poet to submit.

You simply need something you want to say.

What We Accept

We welcome original:

  • Poetry
  • Short stories

You do not need professional writing experience, qualifications or previous publication experience.

Your work should be your own original writing and should not have been previously published.

What Can I Write About?

There is no single way to write about Black experience.

Your work might explore identity, ancestry, family, migration, belonging, culture, memory, relationships, mental health, community, racism, history, spirituality, joy, grief, love, language, generational experiences or something entirely different.

Your writing does not have to centre struggle, racism or trauma.

Black life is not one experience, and Black writing does not need to tell one kind of story.

We are interested in work that feels honest to the person writing it.

Who Can Submit?

Black Voices Submissions are specifically for people of Black African and/or Caribbean heritage or descent across the diaspora.

This includes people of mixed heritage who have Black African and/or Caribbean ancestry and wish to explore or express that part of their identity, heritage or family history.

We recognise that identity, ancestry and belonging can be complex. You are not expected to prove or quantify your Blackness to submit to this space.

Submissions are welcomed worldwide.

Submission Process

Black Voices Submissions are open year-round.

Contributors may submit one piece at a time.

All submissions are made through a private form, which is provided after payment.

Once you have received a decision on your submission, you may submit another piece, provided you have not had work published through Black Voices Submissions within the previous three months.

If your work is selected and published, you must wait three months from its publication date before submitting to Black Voices Submissions again.

This allows us to continue welcoming returning contributors while creating space for a wide range of voices to be published.

Submission Fee

A submission fee of £2.22 applies to each submission.

This supports the ongoing running of Poem Stellium, including platform maintenance and development, as well as the time involved in reading, reviewing and curating submissions.

Payment does not guarantee publication. All work is considered individually and selected based on the quality and intention of the work and its alignment with the Black Voices space.

Submission fees are non-refundable once a submission has been received and entered into the review process.

Those who wish to support Poem Stellium beyond the submission fee can do so separately through our donation option.

Guidelines

  • One active Black Voices submission at a time
  • Work must be your own original writing and must not have been previously published
  • Submissions must be in English
  • External links are not accepted
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere
  • Submissions are open worldwide
  • Contributors must be of Black African and/or Caribbean heritage or descent
  • People of mixed heritage with Black African and/or Caribbean ancestry are welcome to submit
  • If your work is selected and published through Black Voices Submissions, you must wait three months from its publication date before submitting again

Selection Process

All submissions are read with care.

If your work is selected, you will be contacted using the details provided with your submission.

We aim to respond to submissions within three months of receiving them. However, response times may vary depending on the volume of work we receive.

If you have not heard from us within three months, this does not necessarily mean that your submission has been unsuccessful. All contributors will be contacted once a decision has been made.

Due to the volume of submissions, individual feedback is not provided.

If your work is not selected, you are welcome to submit another piece once you have received your decision.

Why This Space Exists

Black history and Black voices are often given heightened attention during Black History Month.

Our stories exist throughout the year.

Poem Stellium created Black Voices as an ongoing commitment to making room for people of African and Caribbean heritage across the diaspora to write, reflect, create and be heard.

This space recognises that experiences of race, culture and identity can be shaped by histories and systems that continue to affect Black communities today.

But this space is not built solely around hardship.

It is equally a space for imagination, humour, tenderness, celebration, cultural memory, ordinary life and joy.

Across the Diaspora

Black Voices welcomes submissions from across the global African and Caribbean diaspora.

Whether you are based in the UK, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, South America or elsewhere, you are welcome to contribute.

This is a global space for the many different experiences, cultures, histories and perspectives that exist throughout the African and Caribbean diaspora.

Special Themes & Historical Reflections

Throughout the year, Poem Stellium may introduce special Black Voices themes and historical reflections.

These may respond to significant moments in Black history, cultural events, anniversaries, people, movements or subjects affecting Black communities.

These opportunities will invite contributors to engage with particular subjects through creative writing and reflection, creating space for history to be explored through the voices and perspectives of people living today.

Each themed opportunity will be announced separately and will have its own information and guidelines.

Black Voices & The Diaspora Room

Black Voices is Poem Stellium’s wider space dedicated to Black African and Caribbean voices across the diaspora.

Alongside publishing opportunities, The Diaspora Room provides a participatory space for writing sessions, reflective conversations, history-based sessions, community meet-ups, competitions and other initiatives.

The Diaspora Room is designed to create opportunities for expression, reflection, creativity and community beyond publication alone.

Together, Black Voices Submissions and The Diaspora Room form part of Poem Stellium’s ongoing commitment to supporting Black voices throughout the year.

Rights & Publication

You retain full copyright of your work.

If your work is selected, you grant Poem Stellium a non-exclusive right to publish the accepted piece on its platform and associated channels.

Once published, the work becomes part of the Poem Stellium archive.

You are free to republish your work elsewhere, including in personal collections or future publications. Where possible, we ask that Poem Stellium is credited as the original place of publication.

Requests for removal will be considered on reasonable grounds.

Editing & Presentation

All published work appears in Poem Stellium’s house style.

Minor edits, such as spelling or punctuation, may be suggested where necessary. You will always be contacted and asked to approve any changes before publication.

Temporary Pauses

Although Black Voices Submissions are open year-round, Poem Stellium reserves the right to temporarily pause submissions where necessary, including during periods of particularly high submission volume or operational breaks.

Any temporary closure will be clearly communicated on this page.

A Final Note

You don’t have to call yourself a writer to have something worth saying.

You don’t have to write about pain for your experience to matter.

And you don’t have to wait until October to speak.

This space exists all year.

Name
Your full name for administrative purposes.
If you would like your work published under a pen name, please enter it here.
Preferred Name for Publication
Please select your preferred publication name carefully. If your work is selected, we will use your chosen name when publishing it.
What are you submitting?
If your work is selected and shared on our social media platforms, we would love to credit or tag you where possible. Please provide your website or preferred social media profile.
Original Work Declaration
I confirm this submission is my own original work and has not been previously published.
Publication Agreement
If my work is selected, I grant Poem Stellium non-exclusive permission to publish my accepted piece on its platform and associated channels, with credit given using my preferred publication name.
Submission Guidelines Agreement
I have read and agree to the Submission Guidelines.
Formatting Note
I understand that, while Poem Stellium will honour the intention of my piece, selected work may be presented in Poem Stellium’s house style for publication.
Final Submission Confirmation
I confirm that the work I am submitting is my final, publication-ready version. I understand that this is the version that will be considered for publication and that revised versions, redrafts or amendments cannot be accepted after submission.
Black Voices Eligibility Confirmation
Black Voices Submissions are dedicated to people of Black African and/or Caribbean heritage or descent, including people of mixed heritage with Black African and/or Caribbean ancestry.
Price: £2.22