Motown Poetry Revue: Call for Submissions

Does Motown keep you hangin’ on? Have you ever heard a modern R&B song and been transported back to the days of Marvin Gaye and Erykah Badu? Have you ever wondered what defines Motown, in its history, sound, and impact on culture? If so, we want your poems that pay tribute to the greats, life-changing Motown concerts, and the history of the genre for our upcoming, 2024 anthology, SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: THE MOTOWN POETRY REVUE.

Don’t rehash the lyrics. Instead, show us Motown poetry that exemplifies your knowledge of Motown, its history and its current place amongst R&B, soul, and Hip-Hop artists. Pay homage to the greats: Martha and the Vandellas, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Rick James, The Pointer Sisters, Lionel Ritchie, Teena Marie, DeBarge, Erykah Badu, Toni Braxton, Queen Latifah, Diddy, Ne-Yo, Lil Yachty, Migos and so many more. Show us the artistic and cultural impact of Berry Gordy, Jr, the label and the artists.

Submissions open March 10 and close on June 1, 2023.

Submission Guidelines:
  • Submit up to five Motown poetry poems via Madville Publishing’s Submittable portal. No single poem should be over three pages long.
  • Submissions should be “blind.” Author name should not appear on the submissions anywhere. This info is collected elsewhere when you submit.
  • Submission fees: There’s an $8.00 submission fee, but your work will be considered for cash prizes: $300 for first place, $150 for two runners-up.
  • Previously published work is acceptable as long as rights have reverted back to you.
  • Editors: Cherise Pollard, Yalonda JD Green, Curtis Crisler, and Luanne Smith.

Read more about the submission guidelines for SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: THE MOTOWN POETRY REVUE below.

A poster of a Call for Motown Poetry Submissions with Madville Publishing. It reads: MADVILLE PUBLISHING CALL FOR POETRY SUBMISSIONS SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: THE MOTOWN POETRY REVUE We're dancing in the street, celebrating our new poetry anthology. Help us celebrate the Motown legacy, both past and present. The crossover label made rhythm and blues the soul of American popular culture. Honor the artists connected to Hitsville, USA, and 30 years' worth of "The Sound of Young America." Don't rehash the lyrics. Instead, show us your knowledge of Motown, its history and its current place amongst R&B, soul, and Hip-Hop artists. Pay homage to the greats: Martha and the Vandellas, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Rick James, The Pointer Sisters, Lionel Ritchie, Teena Marie, DeBarge, Erykah Badu, Toni Braxton, Queen Latifah, Diddy, Ne-Yo, Lil Yachty, Migos and so many more. Show us the artistic and cultural impact of Berry Gordy, Jr, the label and the artists. Submission Guidelines: Submit up to five poems via Madville Publishing's Submittable portal. No single poem should be over three pages long. There's an $8.00 submission fee, but your work will be considered for cash prizes: $300 for first place, $150 for two runners-up. Previously published work is acceptable as long as rights have reverted back to you. Submissions should be "blind." Author name should not appear on the submissions anywhere. This info is collected elsewhere when you submit. Keep in mind titles are free for usage, but lyrics cost money. A LOT of money. Leave the artistry of those famous lyrics to the songwriters! Submissions open March 10 and close June 1, 2023. The anthology will launch at AWP 2024. Editors: Cherise Pollard, Yalonda JD Green, Curtis Crisler, and Luanne Smith Scan for Details A QR code is pictured in the bottom right hand corner.

Ready to submit your poetry? Click here to access our Submittable page. For more information about the submission process at Madville Publishing, click here to access our Submissions page.