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Welcome to The Skinny Poetry Journal
Home of the Skinny Poetry Form—open to all poetry genres.
Rules of the Form
The "Skinny” is a short poem form that consists of eleven lines. The first and eleventh lines can be any length (although shorter lines are favored). The eleventh (last line) must be repeated using the same words from the first and opening line (however, they can be rearranged). The second, sixth, and tenth lines must be identical. All the lines in this form, except for the first and last lines, must be comprised of ONLY one word. The Skinny was created by Truth Thomas in the Tony Medina Poetry Workshop at Howard University (© 2005).
General Submissions
Note: TSPJ will be on hiatus from the end of September 2024 until January 1, 2025. No submissions will be reviewed during this period.
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The Skinny Poetry Journal (TSPJ) is a literary journal that is rooted in “The Skinny” poetry form, yet open to publishing all genres of poetry. We are seeking poems, Skinnys or otherwise, that honor the great electric slide and dance of friction that is life--especially poems that reverence the vital living pulse of all people--all colors, all Latinx familia, all English flowered furious fam--all LBGQT+ pens, BIPOC notepads, all faiths--or lack thereof--all politics, all homo sapiens hooked on the composition of finely-crafted work imbued with unapologetic authenticity.
Up to five poems can be submitted for publishing consideration by emailing them to our editorial team at theskinnypoetryjournal@gmail.com, attached as a single .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf or .txt file.
We never charge a fee for submissions, we accept simultaneous submissions, and the doors to our submission church never close.
Regarding the Skinny, or Skinnys, the point of this fixed form is to convey a vivid image with as few words as possible. Skinnys can be about any subject, although the form generally reflects more serious concerns facing humankind. Also, Skinnys can be linked, much like Haiku, Senryu or Tanka. (Note: As a matter of aesthetics, the plural form of The Skinny should be “Skinnys.”)
Whatever you submit. Our editors are looking for poems that have layers of depth, vivid imagery, freshness, and the accent of authenticity on every lyric line. We prefer poetry that is brave enough to engage more difficult issues of the day. Our editorial hope is "hope" itself -- that all the work we publish will ultimately serve a positive, transformative, purpose in the world.
Truth Thomas
Founding Editor/Editor-in-Chief
Photo: Melanie Henderson © 2024
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