About WAYE Small Press

WAYE Small Press is a new poetry initiative designed to highlight a talented community of poets in print. “WAYE” is short for “We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm,” the infamous first line of every rejection letter you’ve ever (or haven’t yet) received.

This project was inspired by the poetry open mic we've been hosting at our vintage shop/used bookstore, Sure Things, in Jersey City, New Jersey, over the past two years. 

Funded in part by the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund, WAYE Small Press aims to produce a quarterly publication of works by local and national (and perhaps international) poets and set their words down in a gorgeous print-only poetry journal.

Meet our Editorial Team.

Submission Guidelines

WAYE Small Press is now accepting poetry submissions. 

  • While we are a Jersey City-based reading series and small press, we are seeking poetry from all walks of life and from all over the United States. (And the world, even.) We do prioritize poets from New Jersey, though, since WAYE Small Press is funded in part by the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund. We especially welcome works from BIPOC poets, as well as poets from all along the identity spectrum.

  • We are looking for quality above all else. Poems that speak of the lived experience; that makes us feel something in the pit of our stomachs; that causes us to think and to question; that will keep us up nights or have us coming back for another read. We want poems written with not only content, but a careful attention to craft in mind; poetry that plays with language and says things in a way that only you can. Poems that will make us remember your name as a poet because the poem is unabashedly a manifestation of your being.

    While we are interested in poetry from all walks of life, we are especially excited to read work from poets who identify as part of a marginalized group or community.

    In short, we’re looking for objectively good poetry, so send us your bangers. #goodshit

  • We are not looking to publish poems that preach hatred, violence, and/or those that are overtly pornographic. (Basically, we don’t want anything that would require a content warning.)

  • Please submit up to five (5) poems in a single PDF document. (One submission per submission period.) Please follow these guidelines for your submission: 

    1. One poem per page. Make sure poems have been proofread and appear exactly how you would want them to appear in print. 

    2. Use 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font.

    3. Your full name should appear above the first poem. (As a header is fine.)

    4. Title the PDF with your name and the words “poetry submission” after it. (So, your name_poetrysubmission.pdf.)

    5. Do not submit a cover letter.

  • WAYE Small Press allows simultaneous submissions, though we ask that you notify us immediately if any poems in your submission are accepted elsewhere. Previously published poetry will not be accepted. We want #newshit.

  • WAYE Small Press considers any use of A.I. to generate your poems, in whole or in part, as instantly disqualifying. Any such poems submitted will be rejected.

  • There is a submission fee of $5.

  • WAYE Small Press acquires First North American Serial Rights.

  • One contributor copy.

    We plan to release the inaugural WAYE Small Press book in the fall/winter of 2024/25.

Submission Deadline: August 31st, 2024.