We are excited to announce the launch of a new fundraising campaign centered on a simple idea: writers helping writers.
Beginning October 1st, donors who make a gift of $100 or more to Sundress Publications can receive a poetry manuscript consultation as a thank-you for supporting our work. Your donation not only provides you with valuable feedback on your writing but also helps us continue creating accessible opportunities for writers in our community.
Here are the consultation options available:
- $100 donation: Receive a chapbook manuscript consultation with approximately 250–500 words of feedback.
- $150 donation: Receive a chapbook manuscript consultation with approximately 250–500 words of feedback, plus a 30-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting.
- $200 donation: Receive a full-length poetry manuscript consultation for a manuscript of up to 80 pages, along with approximately 250–500 words of feedback.
- $300 donation: Receive the full experience! This includes a consultation for a full-length poetry manuscript of up to 80 pages, approximately 500 words of feedback, and a 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting.
Over the past year, we have seen a decrease in available grant funding alongside growing need for scholarships for our virtual retreats. We are thrilled that more writers are finding their way to Sundress and taking advantage of our programs—but continued growth also means an increased need for funding.
Your donation will help us continue meeting the needs of our writing communities through initiatives such as our virtual writing retreats and free monthly workshops. This year, we hosted two virtual retreats, and we hope to expand to four in 2027. Funds raised through this campaign will directly support scholarships and staffing costs for our 2027 retreats, including our annual Poetry Retreat and Trans and Nonbinary Retreat, as well as two new offerings: a Poetry Manuscript Retreat and an LGBTQIA+ Writers Retreat.
Our manuscript consultations are provided by experienced members of the Sundress community, including writers with published collections and individuals who have served on our editorial board. Donors can feel confident that they will receive thoughtful feedback from readers with real-world experience in writing and publishing.
If you have a poetry manuscript that could use an extra set of experienced eyes—or if you simply want to support writers and the literary community—we invite you to donate and participate in this new initiative. By supporting your own work, you are helping create opportunities for many more.
