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Established in 1971, CSPS is the official state organization representing California to the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). We were incorporated on August 14th, 1985 as a 501(c)(3) organization, so donations above the membership level are tax deductible. Donor and patron support ensure (1) the quality publications of the CSPS continue and (2) our mission to promote poetry and art in California and around the world continues to grow. Information regarding renewal and patron contributions is on the Membership page.

The CSPS began publication of the California Quarterly in the fall of 1972, when Phillip Padellford was the president. There was only one editor, Gordon Curzon of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, who served in the position throughout the 1970s. There were also representatives for Southern California – Kenneth Atchity of Occidental College – and for Northern California – Howard Lachtman of the University of the Pacific, Stockton. We have published the California Quarterly continually since 1972. Click CSPS History to read more.

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The California Quarterly, published four times a year, accepts only unpublished poetry. Foreign language poems with an English translation are also accepted.

Submissions can be made to the journal on the CQ Submissions page (following the instructions there) or by using the Submittable service. The instructions for file names and formats for Submittable are slightly different from those found on the CQ Submissions page for direct submissions via this website.

One-page poems are best, two-page poem maximum, and no theme or style restrictions. Submit 1-5 poems in a single .doc or .docx file labeled with Poet Last Name, Poet First Name, Number of Poems, and Date Submitted.

Each poetry page in the file should start with a header containing the following poet information: Name (last name, then first name), Mailing Address, Email Address, Telephone, and Date Submitted. A poem's title should appear at the top of each page of the poem.

Notification is in 3-5 months. Payment is one copy of the CQ and all rights remain with the poet.

To use the Submittable service, click this link: Submittable.

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The editors select six outstanding poems from the California Quarterly issues published each year as nominees for the Pushcart Prize of the following year. We publish the selected poems on this website under the Pushcart Nominees sub-page of this Home page.

Finally, we also conduct an annual contest--which is accepting submissions through June 30th this year--and twelve monthly contests each year; the information regarding them is on the Contests page of this website. The Monthly Contest Winners and the Annual Contest Winners sub-pages under the Contests page list the winners for the current year and the past year or two. The monthly contest winners and the titles of the winning poems are posted as they are awarded during the year.

Your registration with us includes your email address, a self-selected user name and password, your address and your telephone number.



You can browse the website at your leisure, but for submission, reading fee, membership, donation, or purchase transactions, you'll need to create an account and register.