Meet the team.
Learn more about the creative staff behind the broken spine
About
Inside The Broken Spine
About
The Broken Spine is a poetry press and arts collective based on the coast of North-West England. It was set up in 2019 by Alan Parry and Paul Robert Mullen — two old school friends who found their way back to each other through poetry.
We publish the kind of work that doesn’t always fit neatly into categories — poetry that cuts deep, prose that lingers, voices that feel like they’ve got something to say. We care about craft, but we care just as much about honesty. What matters most is that it moves you.
Alongside publishing, we run reviews across music, TV, theatre, film, gaming and even professional wrestling — because culture doesn’t exist in silos, and we’re not here to pretend it does. We also hold space for the indie poetry community through workshops, advice, and projects that put people before ego.
We’re serious about creating a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard. That means there is zero tolerance here for racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, or any other form of hate — whether it’s overt, coded, or hiding behind the mask of ‘free speech’.
We don’t publish it. We don’t excuse it. And we don’t work with individuals, platforms, or organisations that enable, spread, or profit from hate — or misinformation.
Whether it’s denying lived experiences, distorting facts, or amplifying conspiracy, we see misinformation as a form of harm. The Broken Spine exists to platform voices, not noise. Truth matters here — on the page, in the community, and behind the scenes.
If something ever feels off — whether in the work, the relationships, or the way we operate — please reach out. We’ll treat your concerns with care and take action where needed.
Ethos
The Broken Spine publishes work rooted in the real — writing that rips through the surface and speaks to human experience in all its tenderness and brutality. We’re interested in poetry and prose that challenge, confront, and connect. Joy, grief, fury, survival — if it’s true, we want to read it. We favour voices on the fringes, especially those historically excluded or underrepresented.
What we don’t publish is visual poetry, concrete form, or work that leans too heavily into the experimental. We believe in craft, rhythm, emotional weight, and work that knows the value of clear connection. Rough edges are welcome. Self-indulgence is not.
We’re a small, independent press powered by donations, book sales, and the tireless labour of our founding editor, Alan Parry, who keeps the engine running through regular workshops and outreach. We charge a small submission fee to sustain the press and can’t currently offer payment — but when we can, we will. Contributors receive 50% off any publication they appear in.
We read all submissions with care and respond as quickly and honestly as we can, offering feedback where possible. We’re serious about building a creative community — especially through active engagement on Bluesky, where we connect, share, and support the kind of work that needs to be read. No bots, no bullshit — just a real person reading your work.
Submission Guidelines
longing to be published? here’s what we’re looking for
