Call for Submissions for The Big Brutal Act

Small Harbor Publishing— on behalf of the editors Jose Hernandez Diaz, H.E. Fisher, and Jennifer Franklin— seeks submissions for The Big Brutal Act, an anthology of poems written in response to the H.R.1 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): “One Big Beautiful Act” (formerly known as “The Big Beautiful Bill”). This timely, urgent project will offer readers a way to understand, gain a sense of agency, and perhaps process what is, in many ways, too big and too brutal to fathom.

 Many, perhaps most, of us who live in this country do not understand the long arm of this Act and the profound impact it will have on almost every aspect of our lives— from the air we breathe to our rights, our health, and beyond.

 Poets accepted for publication will receive one (1) contributor copy of the anthology as payment for their work and be invited to participate in various readings.

 Guidelines

 You are invited to address a topic in relation to the Bill/Act that speaks to you, such as:

  • civil rights

  • immigration

  • environment/climate crisis (including: forestry, air, water)

  • oil and gas

  • nutrition education and SNAP

  • access to gender-affirming care health

  • Medicaid

  • law enforcement

  • military

and much more. The text for the Act can be found here. There is also a great deal of online information about the Bill/Act; you can search a topic covered in the Act to find out more about it.  You may also choose to write something more visceral in relation to it.

 

  • Please submit one (1) previously unpublished poem no longer than 1 page and a bio no more than 75 words. Please include your pronouns with your submission. (Note: pronouns do not count toward the 75 word bio word limit.)

  • Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Please let us know immediately if your poem is accepted by another publisher while under the consideration.

  • AI generated work will not be considered.  

  • Small Harbor Publishing is a feminist organization. We believe women's rights are human rights, abortion is essential healthcare and an essential human right, and all people deserve equal protection under the law. Our goal is to address gender parity and marginalization in publishing. We are committed to giving diverse voices a home.  If any submission contains racism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, hate-speech or otherwise objectionable content, or speaks in contradiction to SHP’s mission statement, the editors reserve the right to discontinue reading.

  • All decisions made by the co-editors Jose Hernandez Diaz, H.E. Fisher, and Jennifer Franklin are final.

  • Submissions must be sent via Submittable. Click here to access Small Harbor Publishing’s Submittable account to submit for consideration of the The Big Brutal Act from August 15 through September 15.