Arachne Press are looking for poems linked to The A470

Expressions of interest only at this stage, so that we can make a clear proposal to funders.  

[feriswn Gymraeg]

Arguably the most famous road in Wales, the A470 is 186 miles from shore to shore through the backbone of Wales, linking north to south. 

Peaceful and picturesque or slow and never-ending, what does the A470 mean to you? The road out of here, the road home, the beginnings of devolution? Glorious national parks, bypasses, being stuck behind a certain lorry firm, or worse, a caravan, the road to the Royal Welsh? From the seashore to slates, from nuclear power stations and fighter plane flypasts to forests and mountains: Bwlch yr Oerddrws, Pen Y Fan. On the road or on a journey, there’s no need to take the A470 too literally.

Arachne Press’ first foray into Welsh language poetry came from the publication of Ness Owen’s Mamiaith (Mother Tongue). We enjoyed the translation process both Welsh to English and English to Welsh and we’re back for more, with Ness and fellow editor Sian Northey, who helped with those translations, at the helm. (Sian takes credit for the brilliant A470 idea.) This is part of our plan for the next three years and we anticipate publication in Autumn 2022.

We want unpublished  poems from Welsh poets wherever you are, and all other poets living in Wales.

We are looking for the unanticipated: sensitive poems, or poems that challenge, in traditional forms and new forms.

NO Erotica, horror, gratuitous violence, sexism, racism, or homophobia.

We actively encourage submissions from underrepresented voices, including ethnically diverse poets, LGBTQ poets, poets with experience of multiple socio-economic deprivation and women poets. Where relevant we encourage you to also submit to our Deaf anthology and our B.M.E. anthology (call out coming soon).

This will be a fully bilingual anthology, celebrating the magnificence of both languages, and the artistry of both poets and translators.

Poems may be submitted in Welsh, English or in both languages. Poems that are submitted in one language only will be translated – either by the poet themselves or experienced translators, including our editor, Sian Northey.  

We aim to give Welsh and English equal weight and the translations will be laid out side by side. This does mean each poem, regardless of language, can only be 27 lines including title and spaces between stanzas. We have room for a maximum of 50 poems plus their translation.

We will definitely pay royalties, but are not expecting to pay advances – that will depend on funding.

Tell us you are interested (in either language or both) via this link. https://arachnepress.submittable.com/submit

Deadline 8th January 2021

All we need at this stage is your name and contact details and a short biographical paragraph including previous publications if relevant.