The Massachusetts Review 2025 – 2026 Submissions Period is now open.
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What kinds of writing are you looking for?
We seek a balance between established writers and promising new ones. We’re interested in material of variety and vitality relevant to the intellectual and aesthetic questions of our time. We aspire to have a broad appeal; our commitment, in part regional, is not provincial. “Inspired pages are not written to fill space, but for inevitable utterance; and to such our Journal is freely and solicitously open.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
N.B. Submissions from BIPOC authors will be accepted year-round; however, outside our regular reading period, when the online submission manager is shut down, all BIPOC submissions should be sent by regular mail or emailed to:
Nonfiction: Articles and essays of breadth and depth are considered. Since its inception, in 1959, the Massachusetts Review has provided a literary space that engaged and challenged society, provoked political and social change, and published under-represented voices. We also publish discussions of leading writers, of art, music, dance, and drama, and analyses of trends in literature, science, philosophy, and public affairs. One essay per submission, with a maximum of 20 pages or 7500 words. Please include your name and contact information on the first page. We encourage page numbers.
Fiction: We are interested in all styles and subjects, from flash fiction and experimental writing to historical and realist fiction; we do typically favor work that focuses more on the world than the self. We consider one short story per submission, a maximum of 20 pages or 7500 words. Please include your name and contact information on the first page, and we encourage page numbers.
Performance: Most work on performance is featured online, to take advantage of the multimedial potential of digital publication. We also occasionally publish short-form performance scripts as well as excerpts from longer works in the print magazine, up to 30 pages per issue.
Poetry: A poetry submission may consist of up to 6 poems. There are no restrictions for length, but generally our poems are less than 100 lines. Please include your name and contact on every page.
Hybrid: A hybrid submission may cross genres with fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or art. We consider one such text per submission, with a maximum of 30 pages or 7500 words. Please include your contact information on the first page; we encourage page numbers.
Translation: Fiction, poems, or essays are accepted. The above guidelines for essays, fiction, and poetry should be followed, and a copy of the translated text should be submitted along with the translation. Before submission, the translator should have researched who holds the rights and, ideally, have secured permission to publish. N. B. Translations will be accepted year-round; however, outside our regular reading period, when the online submission manager is shut down, submissions should be sent by regular mail or emailed to:
Art: We publish one visual artist per issue, and most visual art is solicited. We are happy to consider submissions & will try to respond promptly. One portfolio per submission, a maximum of 8 pages We do not hire illustrators to illustrate our fiction or prose pieces, they run without illustration. Please include your name and contact information on the first page, and we encourage page numbers.
Public Affairs: We welcome contributions that think politically about culture, and think culturally about politics. We welcome internationalist writing and work that centers the lived experiences of historically marginalized peoples. We also seek to prioritize freedom writing, to expand the space for freedom thinking, and to grow our public for both.
Quarterly Print Journal: One essay per submission, with a maximum of 20 pages or 7500 words. Please include your name and contact information on the first page. We encourage page numbers.
Online blog: We welcome short pieces (1000 words max) which tackle public affairs matters of the greatest urgency, op-eds that are radical in spirit and broadly appealing in language, and work where first-hand experience meets history, politics or theory. We ask that you include a short bio, and up to three photos which you have permission to publish (optional, including headshot) to accompany the piece. Photo essays and hybrid work that combines text with graphics are also welcome. Unsolicited blog submissions carry a small honorarium of $50.
Also please note: Essays, fiction, hybrid, poetry, and translation manuscripts should be submitted separately. No mixed submissions please.
Are there any genres or topics that you do not consider?
We publish book reviews online, but not in the print magazine.
When is your reading period?
Submissions are NOT accepted from May 1 to September 30. Mailed submissions received during this time will be held for the next reading period. The electronic submission database will reset once all manuscript decisions have been made, and any work submitted within the subsequent reading period will require an account reactivation.
Due to extenuating circumstances, we are currently experiencing a heavy backlog in submissions. Please allow our readers six months to respond to your submission. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience!
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Reluctantly. It is the author’s responsibility to notify editors immediately once a manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Do you accept multiple submissions?
No.
Prose manuscripts are limited to one submission at a time. Poetry submissions cannot exceed six poems per submission. Authors must await decision notification before submitting again in the same reading period.
Do you pay for contributions?
At the time of publication, we pay a $100 honorarium for work published in a single issue. Authors also receive two complimentary contributor’s copies.
I’m mailing my submission, how should I submit work?
There is no charge for mailed submissions. All prose manuscripts should be typed and double spaced.
Fiction and Non-fiction submissions should include name and address on the first page of the manuscript with page numbers. Poetry should include name and contact information before each title of a poem. The Massachusetts Review is a non-profit journal, and it is impossible for us to acknowledge receipt of manuscripts unless a self-addressed stamped postcard is enclosed with your submission. The Massachusetts Review is not responsible for lost manuscripts. No manuscript can be returned or query answered unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Please read a copy of MR before submitting work. We cannot offer free sample copies, but you may order current or back issues here. We do not accept manuscripts via fax.
I’m submitting electronically, how should I submit work?
Read this first!
All submissions should include name and contact information on every page of the manuscript. A suggestion is to include this information in the header or footer. All prose manuscripts should be typed and double-spaced. We strongly encourage Fiction and Non-fiction to include page numbers.
All poems, a maximum of six per submission, should start on a new page and be included in one document. Multiple submissions will not be accepted.
Please read a copy of MR before submitting work. We cannot offer free sample copies, but you may order current or back issues online.
Please note that there is a $3.00 fee to submit electronically per reading period. In addition to maintaining the database, the fee was designed with the intention of diminishing your submission costs. The process will require a one time account set-up per reading period. We accept Visa, Master Card, or Discover; payment is made via Commerce Manager.
The electronic submission provides continuous access to check on the status of your submission. To withdraw specific poems or prose from consideration, please email the managing editor at:
Should you choose to withdraw your submission for any reason, no refund will be provided.
You will receive a one time account set-up confirmation e-mail, a submission receipt confirmation e-mail every time you submit, and, once our editors read your submission, a notification of decision e-mail.
Click here to begin the electronic submission process.
Address for mailing submissions:
The Massachusetts Review
400 Venture Way
Hadley, MA 01035
