Notts based independent publisher Bad Betty Press has announced the launch of the East Midlands Pamphlet Prize, a new initiative designed to support and platform poets living, working and studying across our region.
Run in partnership with Writing East Midlands and Nottingham Poetry Festival, the prize responds to the long-standing imbalance within UK publishing, where opportunities and visibility are often concentrated in London and the south-east. The award will offer publication opportunities to two poets from the East Midlands through Bad Betty’s pamphlet imprint, Little Betty.
Submissions will open from 1–30 June 2026, with the winning pamphlets scheduled to launch at Nottingham Poetry Festival in 2027, and the winners will be selected by Little Betty editors Vanessa Kisuule and Anja Konig.
This is an exciting new prize to show the brilliant work of writers in the East Midlands, and elevate an already incredible scene
Jake Wild Hall - Bad Betty Founder
The new pamphlet prize forms part of Bad Betty Press’s wider commitment to regional literary culture and artist development, through which they're committed to publishing bold, risk-taking poetry and championing voices often underrepresented within UK literature.
Writers interested in applying should send a 10-page sample of their work to littlebetty@badbettypress.com. Submission guidelines can be found here.
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