The Beatnik Cowboy seeks the best poetry from all poets from all around the world. We do not want poetry that slaps us with an open hand across the face, but instead art that gives us a swift kick in the yarbles.

Submission Guidelines: Submit up to 3 of your finest works of poetic injustice to thebeatnikcowboy@gmail.com. Please include your pen name with each entry. Submit your poems in the body of the email. Please do not submit attachments of your words in Word or any other format, as they will not be considered for publication (exceptions can be made in special circumstances). Response time varies from one day up to one month. All who submit to us will have the common courtesy of a response, regardless of whether or not we dig your poetics. Poets and creative writers may submit as much as they like, as long as it is after they receive a response from the Editors regarding a pending submission. Submissions are open year round and we are never closed for business.

Despite the title, we are not seeking words of art that are strictly “beat” poetry or about wild west gun-slinging cowboys. Submissions are welcome in the style of beat poetry and beatniks and the subject can be anything cowboy related, but it will not give you any advantage in The Editors’ decision to publish. We publish any style of poem concerning any subject, as long as your words are good.

Our simplistic style is purposefully designed to have visitors to the site and readers of the site to focus on the artists’ words. But due to our basic format, we are seeking writings (poems, short stories, essays, etc.) that do not require a novel’s worth of reading and are of the highest artistic quality. For short stories and poems, we are seeking pieces that do not exceed 1000 words (exceptions can be made in special circumstances). We advise those seeking to submit to read their pieces before pressing send, and if you cannot finish it in one comfortable sitting, then your pieces are likely better fits in literary journals seeking longer works (there are many of them on the World Wide Web that specifically seek longer submissions). We, the Editors, want to give every chance for each and every writer’s best words to be read and enjoyed, and endlessly scrolling down the page just to find the next piece of exceptional writing was never our intent when The Beatnik Cowboy was resurrected from the dead. If you are unsure if your piece is too long, then it most likely is too long. But, you can always query The Editors regarding a particular submission, and we will respond posthaste.  

The Beatnik Cowboy will also release a print edition featuring the best poems from the best poets during the previous submission period. These will be poems and pieces of art never-before-witnessed by the world in print or online. Those featured in the print edition will be offered a free copy of the literary journal they are featured in, as well as some occasional additional reading material from the Editors. We will require that one provides a snail mail address in order for us to send a copy of one’s work along with the fine work of their fellow best poets on Earth. For those not selected in the journal or those not seeking to submit, we offer subscriptions for a small fee to The Beatnik Cowboy to keep the Marlboro Man’s lungs from succumbing to incurable tumors.

We also accept small or large donations to help extend the Marlboro Man’s life.

Also, we may bring back the T-Shirts for sale in the back! Due to an inconsistent supply chain and lack of demand, we currently do not have any more shirts available. Increased requests for our the shirts will result in us being able to restock with all available sizes. To date, we have created the “Marlboro Man” and “Red Cloud” designs, and hope to create more.

Despite our lifestyle as anti-law-abiding outlaws rebelling against the shield of the 1st Amendment secret police, in order to protect any and all of the artists of the world, we abide by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Although we cannot ride town to town on horseback hunting down fraudulent word thieves with a Smith & Wesson cocked and loaded, attempting to benefit or profit off of the words of the true creator, we cannot assume any liability for unlawfully submitted material.

Any and all questions and/or comments regarding our policies can be sequestered from The Editors.

We look forward to reading your work, as your words are what keeps the website in business.

The Editors,

Dr. Randall K. Rogers and Chris Butler