Poetry Chapbook Lab Application Help

Applications are open June 15 to August 21. This page helps you prepare for filling out the Poetry Chapbook Lab application. This is a fairly lengthy process that includes a document upload; please review this page before starting. When you’re ready, you’ll find the applications here:

Application, Part 1 (questions about you and your chapbook project)
Application, Part 2 (12 sample poems, plus $20 application reading fee)

Tip: Each part must be completed in one go; you can’t save your progress and return. If you’d like to pre-write your answers then copy and paste, refer to the questions below.

[Return to the program details page]

COME TO AN INFORMATION SESSION! One hour, covering everything you need to know. Note: You can apply to the Lab any time, but attending an info session is REQUIRED for application review. Find a session and pre-register here.

Part 1 Application Questions

You’ll need to complete Part 1 in one sitting; you can’t save your work and come back to it. To help you prepare, here are the questions for Part 1:

  1. Your name
  2. Your email address
  3. Your mobile phone number
  4. Your postal address
  5. How would you describe yourself as a poet?
  6. How much work have you done on the collection so far?
  7. Do you have a topical or thematic vision for your proposed collection?
  8. What do you want to accomplish with this collection?
  9. Is there a poetry collection that serves as inspiration or model for yours? In what ways?
  10. What is the last book of poetry you read? What is your favorite book of poetry?
  11. Have you completed a poetry collection or chapbook before? If so, what was it and what became of it? (Generally, a chapbook is 15-30 poems; a full collection is 50+ pages.)
  12. Describe your writing experience. (You might include education, publications, contests, blogging – anything to give us a sense of your writing history.)
  13. What are your strengths as a writer/poet and what skills would like to develop?
  14. What formal poetry workshopping experience have you had?
  15. What did you find most helpful in your previous workshopping experiences? What aspects of those experiences did you find difficult or frustrating?
  16. What do you hope to gain from the Poetry Chapbook Lab experience?
  17. What is your plan for the finished collection? (Would you like to seek publication with a traditional poetry press, publish with Charlotte Lit’s Writers/South Press, or self-publish?)
  18. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your poetry?
  19. In our experience, you will need to commit an average of 7-10 hours per week to participate fully in the Poetry Chapbook Lab program. For most people, this means giving up or cutting back on something you’re doing now. Are you able to commit to making that change?
  20. Finally, what questions or concerns do you have?

Part 2 Document Upload

The application requires that you upload a single document with 12 finished poems that are candidates for inclusion in your chapbook. Please follow these guidelines:

• Each poem should begin on a new page and should show the title and author’s name.

• If a poem was previously published, please include that information after the poem.

• Document specs: .doc, .docx, or .pdf format; Times Roman 12 point; 1-inch margins; pages numbered.

Application Fee

Charlotte Lit collects a $20 application fee to offset the cost of reading and evaluating applications and writing samples.

COME TO AN INFORMATION SESSION! One hour, covering everything you need to know. Note: You can apply to the Lab any time, but attending an info session is REQUIRED for application review. Find a session and pre-register here.