This August, The Broken Spine opens submissions for our 2025 Summer Competition. We’re seeking poetry and prose that refuses to flinch, writing that risks, wrestles, and resonates.
I’m Alan Parry, Founding Editor-in-Chief of The Broken Spine. Since 2020, I’ve published over thirty books from some of today’s most uncompromising indie voices. If your work confronts, questions, or disrupts, this opportunity is for you.
I’m not interested in work that plays it safe or hides behind clever aesthetics. I want poems and stories that wrestle with real life, that take risks and come out bruised. That might sound daunting, but know this. I work closely with every writer I publish. I don’t just put your book out and move on. I champion it. I support you. This process is collaborative from start to finish, and your voice is central every step of the way.
There are three categories, and each one is open to writers of all backgrounds, from anywhere in the world. These books will be published across 2026.
Poetry Chapbooks
– Max 24 pages
– Themed, cohesive, and concept-driven, think of it as a poetic mixtape or concept album.
Full Poetry Collections
– Max 50 pages, ideally structured in 2–3 sections
– Show range without losing coherence. Each section should feel self-contained yet part of a whole.
Prose
– Max 15,000 words (novellas or short story collections)
– All genres welcome, but I care more about character, voice, rhythm, and emotional punch than category.
You retain 100% of profits on copies you sell. We don’t take a cut.
Previously published pieces? No problem. Up to 50% of your manuscript may include work published elsewhere, provided all credits are acknowledged.
Books are published through Amazon KDP using Amazon-assigned ISBNs. While this model offers broad international access and financial sustainability, some indie bookshops may not stock Amazon-distributed titles.
I understand the complexities of self-publishing and distribution choices. This is currently the best way to keep our books available and affordable globally.
I don’t use Twitter, Meta, or other legacy platforms to promote books. That’s a deliberate political choice. You’re welcome to use those spaces. I won’t stop you, but I won’t link there.
While I don’t use legacy platforms, I invest in alternative promotion that prioritises genuine engagement over algorithmic reach. Our campaigns focus on reader communities, newsletter subscribers, and long-tail visibility.
I don’t submit books for prizes. That’s another conscious choice. I don’t believe literature needs a sticker to matter. My focus is on the writing, the writer, and the real-world impact of the work — not industry validation. If I publish you as a result of this, you’ll have already won a competition, if that matters to you. But, if your primary goal is a prize nomination, we’re not the press for you.
Instead, I will promote through:
I won’t promise virality. I will promise integrity, consistency, and meaningful exposure.
These fees go directly into producing your book. That means design, formatting, editing, and promotion. This is about quality publishing, not profit. 33% of all submission fees will also go toward #TheBrokenSpineAward, #ForPoetsByPoets.
Can’t afford the fee?
Email immediately to request one of two free submission slots per category. First come, first served. Please only apply if you’re ready to submit your manuscript.
Fair question.
I hold a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the Open University and an MA in Popular Culture from Edge Hill University. My research into masculinity in low-status media shapes how I read and publish. Since 2020, I’ve released Neon Ghosts, Belisama, Echoes, Twenty Seven, and Peeling Apples. I brought my spoken word show Noir to the Morecambe Fringe in 2023.
I’ve worked with writers like Damien B. Donnelly, Casey Bailey, Lucy Heuschen, Elisabeth Horan, and many others. Many are now friends, collaborators, and return contributors. I don’t rush books. I don’t disappear after launch. This press is built on editorial rigour and mutual respect. I’m here to make your work the best version of itself and to stick around for the long haul.
The Broken Spine is a home for writing that matters. For fringe voices. For literature that speaks plainly and won’t be silenced. If your work is driven by truth, guts, and fire, I want to read it.
As judge, my decisions are final. I curate. I don’t compromise.
Submissions open: August 1, 2025
Deadline: August 31st, 2025
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The Broken Spine is a poetry and arts collective proudly published on the coastal edge of North-West England. Founded in 2019 by Alan Parry and Paul Robert Mullen – two school friends reunited after twenty years through a mutual love of poetry.
