It was a pleasure to read these diverse poetry manuscripts. Themes ranged from the lived experiences of the natural world to intimate relationships to hybrid forms of ‘Insta’ poetry. The stronger submissions were accompanied by clear, detailed statements of intent that reflected on both the semantics of the collection as a whole and its shortcomings. Some writers stated that it would be helpful to work with a mentor because they were not part of ‘the poetry scene’ and didn’t really know where their work fit in. I would encourage all aspiring poets, with or without mentors, to become familiar with contemporary poetry by reading recently published books and literary magazines, and attending readings. While it is crucial to read and listen to the work of other poets, it is, at the same time, important to allow your work to follow its own trajectory, and for your poems to ‘be themselves’. There are very few phenomena in the world that have not already been written about in poetry. If I were a publisher, I would be looking for an original voice born of a view of the world that only the writer could possess on account of their own lived experience, interests, and obsessions. That is not to say that all poetry is memoir – a great deal is not. But your lived experience has ground the lens of a unique view of the world: I would advise to begin with that view, trust the voice that evolves from it and your own creative instincts. The more promising manuscripts featured a strong voice and arresting imagery that only their writers could have written.