WRITERS' GUIDELINES
Note: Our general reading period (for unsolicited fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) is closed.
The Iowa Review is published in April, August, and December of each year. We look for the best writing available and are often pleased to introduce new writers. We also sponsor The Iowa Review Awards, an annual contest in our three main genres of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome during the fall semester only— September, October, and November. Unsolicited work that arrives at any other time will be returned unread. We have recently begun accepting online submissions at http://iowareview.submishmash.com/submit. Paper submissions without a self-addressed, stamped envelope will not be considered. With the exception of book reviews, we do not consider e-mail submissions.
Submissions should be addressed to the Fiction, Poetry, or Nonfiction Editor. If submitting by mail, please do not mix genres in a single envelope. Prose submissions should be double-spaced. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, provided you contact us immediately if your work is accepted for publication elsewhere. We typically respond in one to four months.
We recommend reading an issue of The Iowa Review before submitting. Ask for us at your local bookstore or library, or purchase a copy here.
FICTION, POETRY, AND NONFICTION
The Iowa Review publishes short stories, flash fiction, graphic novels, self-contained novel excerpts, and plays (limit 25 pages); poetry of all kinds, including verse plays and longer work (limit 8 poems); and all manner of creative nonfiction, including personal essays, lyric essays, memoirs, and literary journalism (limit 25 pages). We pay $1.50 per line for poetry ($40 minimum) and $0.08 per word for prose ($100 minimum).
BOOK REVIEWS
We publish short (750-1,000 word) reviews of book-length fiction, poetry, and nonfiction on our website. We pay $50 per review. View complete book review guidelines. (Please note that we do not currently accept reviews of e-books.) Book reviews are accepted year-round. We are especially seeking reviews of recently published nonfiction.
TRANSLATIONS
Translations should be submitted according to the guidelines of the original work's genre and addressed to that genre's editor. Translators should have permission from the copyright holder and should include a copy of the original work with their submission.
INTERVIEWS
The Iowa Review publishes interviews with writers of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Interviews should be no longer than 5,000 words. Please query by e-mail before submitting an interview. We pay $200 per interview. Note: We are not accepting interviews from February through May 2012.
THE IOWA REVIEW AWARDS
Entries for The Iowa Review Awards—given in fiction, poetry, and literary nonfiction—are accepted during the month of January. Outside judges name a winner and a runner-up in each genre. First prize is $1,500 and publication; second prize is $750 and publication. Any other finalist chosen for publication will be paid at our standard rate. Please consult the full contest rules posted on our website yearly.
SUBMIT ONLINE or ADDRESS PAPER SUBMISSIONS TO:
[Fiction, Poetry, or Nonfiction] Editor
The Iowa Review
308 EPB
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
USA
ADDRESS QUESTIONS AND QUERIES TO:
iowa-review [AT] uiowa [DOT] edu
