Stacking Stones – short tanka sequences
Reading window: March 1 – April 30, 2018
Submission address: Keibooks at gmail dot com — include subject line “Stacking Stones sub : [your name]”
Keibooks will publish an anthology of short tanka sequences ranging in length from 2-13 tanka, or equivalent, edited by M. Kei. Wilsonian sequences that mix tanka with other forms, including tanka prose, are acceptable, as long as at least 50% of the content is tanka. Collaborative works by multiple authors are acceptable.
Tanka have been composed in sequences since the earliest day. Certain sequences, such as the 100 poem sequence, or the 1000 poem sequence, are well known. In English, numerous variations of short tanka sequences are published in most journals. Of these, the tanka pentaptych, made up of five tanka in sequence, are probably the best known, but tanka pairs, triptychs, and other lengths are published as well. Occasionally, sequences in the form of circles, crosses, or other shapes are published, but these are rare. All kinds of tanka sequences, including tan renga, are welcome.
POETS: Poets are invited to submit up to 40 new or socially published poems. ‘Socially published’ works include poems that have appeared on Twitter or other social media, a personal blog site, or similar location. Poems which have appeared in edited websites, journals, anthologies, or other curated media are ineligible. Poems that have been socially published must be accompanied by a note explaining their previous appearance.
Note: ‘40’ refers to the number of tanka or equivalent. In other words, a submission can be made up of multiple short sequences, with the maximum total verses being 40. A paragraph of prose counts as a ‘verse’ for purposes of counting.
Submitting to the anthology certifies that the submitter is the holder of the copyright or the authorized representative of the copyright holder. In the case of multiple authors, the submitters must include a statement that they are the authorized representative of the collaborators. That representative will be responsible for communicating with their writing partners about all relevant matters.
BIOGRAPHY: Include a short biography written in the third person as well as the country of the sequence, or your home country, whichever is relevant. Submissions that lack biographies may be rejected.
FORM: We are seeking tanka, waka, kyoka, gogyoshi/gogyohka, and related forms. Generally speaking, each tanka in a sequence must be able to stand on its own, and is our preferred form, but we will consider sequences that use tanka as a stanza within a longer poem.
STYLE: We are open to all creative styles that make effective use of the tanka form and present material that engages the human heart. We especially value contributions from poets that show freshness and creativity, but we welcome poets that have mastered classical forms as well. Strong language and topics are acceptable, but works that are hateful, pornographic, or just plain vile will not be published.
TRANSLATION: All poems must be submitted in English, but we will consider poems written in other languages if
an English translation is provided. Correspondence for the anthology will be in English. All translators must be identified and the poet certifies that they have the translator’s permission to publish if selected. Translators will receive a byline.
