University of Iowa

Create a worldwide conversation among those who read and write contemporary literature.


The Iowa Review's mission is to provide an expertly curated, carefully edited, and beautifully designed print and online space for the voices of writers of every kind of diversity to move and enlighten us; to use the experience gained from fifty-plus years of continuous publication and our connection to the University of Iowa as a home for creative writing to validate, amplify, and encourage those voices; and to serve the reading public by presenting the best contemporary writing in short fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

We asked literary agents which magazines they actually read. They answered with this list of publications—not comprehensive, but damn close.

Lit Mags Agents Love (We Asked)

Who said that poets don't make money? Okay, we don't. But sometimes we do. Start with these amazing magazines paying highly competitive rates.

Lit Mags Paying Big Bucks for Poetry

Journals that have published debut stories later selected for this award honoring exceptional first-time published short story writers.

Lit Mags That Have Published PEN/Robert J. Dau Award Winners

Publications with stories in this respected annual flash fiction showcase. Perhaps the most prestigious flash-specific recognition.

Lit Mags in Wigleaf's Top 50

The mags in this list are competitive and publish physical print editions, so you get the satisfaction of seeing your work in print: pocket-sized, book-like, tangible. Way cooler than you'd expect.

Reputable Lit Mags with Print Issues

Ultra-competitive magazines with one to two percent acceptance rates. They are competitive. They are choosy. But who doesn't love a challenge?

The 1% Club (Good Fuckin' Luck)

The top nonfiction lit mags in our database, ranked by how many users have bookmarked them.

The Ultimate List of Places to Submit Your Nonfiction

Story-focused publications with works chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Less than 5% of nominated fiction typically makes the anthology.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Online publications putting forward exceptional short stories for Best of the Net.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

A targeted resource for short story placements with potential for Pushcart recognition.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Specialized publications that recognize exceptional brief fiction through Pushcart nominations.

Digital publications advancing very short fiction for Best of the Net consideration.

Flash Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications with nonfiction in BAE, the premier American essay anthology. These journals consistently publish thought-provoking, beautifully crafted nonfiction defining contemporary essay excellence.

Lit Mags Featured in Best American Essay Anthologies

Publications with verse selected for America's foremost poetry anthology. These journals consistently publish poetry representing the most significant contemporary verse across styles and approaches.

Lit Mags Featured in Best American Poetry Anthologies

Publications with stories in America's most visible short fiction. These journals consistently publish fiction that represents the highest levels of contemporary American short storytelling.

Lit Mags Featured in Best American Short Story Anthologies

Publications with narratives under 1,000 words selected for this anthology series. These journals consistently identify short-short fiction, exemplifying the artistry possible in compact narratives.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Small Fictions Anthologies

Publications with pieces chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Recognition of exceptional quality across poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

Lit Mags Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Journals that forward outstanding nonfiction to this respected anthology series founded in 1986. These publications identify exceptional essays that might reach the broader readership BAE provides.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best American Essays

Best Microfiction, edited by Meg Pokrass and Gary Fincke, celebrates the art of the extremely brief narrative. These publications have editorial teams with particular sensitivity to the craft.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Microfiction

A curated selection of publications that regularly submit work to this prestigious annual anthology showcasing 50 poems from emerging writers.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best New Poets

Identifies publications that put forward outstanding online work for this respected digital anthology established in 2006.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications that nominate work for this respected anthology series founded in 2015 by Tara Masih to celebrate fiction under 1,000 words.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Small Fictions

Essential publications that nominate short fiction for the O'Henry Prize anthology, one of America's most venerable literary awards. Established in 1919.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the O'Henry Prize

A comprehensive guide to journals that regularly nominate work for the Pushcart Prize.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

BASS represents the most mainstream recognition for short fiction in America. These journals serve as the initial screening layer for potential inclusion in this widely-read collection.

Literary Mags That Nominate for Best American Short Stories

All-time most competitive literary magazines. Getting published in these is a significant achievement for any writer.

Most Competitive Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the most popular literary magazines of all time. These long-established publications are a staple in the literary world for writers of all genres.

Most Popular Literary Magazines of All Time

Essay-focused publications with works selected for Pushcart Prize anthologies. These journals have repeatedly identified nonfiction that resonates with Pushcart editors and readers.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Digital publications nominating outstanding essays and creative nonfiction for Best of the Net.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Highlights publications that regularly put forward essays, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction for Pushcart consideration.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Verse-centered publications with poems chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. These journals have consistently identified poems that stand out in this intensely competitive field.

Poetry Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Online journals that specifically champion poetry for Best of the Net consideration.

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Focuses specifically on poetry journals with established histories of Pushcart nominations.

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Iowa Review

The page limit for fiction is 25 pages, double-spaced. A submission can be one or multiple stories. We pay $0.08 per word ($100 minimum). 
As submissions are read blind, please do not include your name on the submission document itself. Your name, email, address, and bio can be included in the cover letter.
Please read our full guidelines for further details: https://iowareview.org/content/writers-guidelines

Fiction

The page limit for nonfiction is 25 pages, double-spaced. A submission can be one or multiple essays. We pay $0.08 per word ($100 minimum).
As submissions are read blind, please do not include your name on the submission document itself. Your name, email, address, and bio can be included in the cover letter.
Please read our full guidelines for further details: https://iowareview.org/content/writers-guidelines

Nonfiction

The page limit for poetry is 8 pages. A submission can be one or multiple poems. We pay $1.50 per line for poetry ($100 minimum).
As submissions are read blind, please do not include your name on the submission document itself. Your name, email, address, and bio can be included in the cover letter.
Please read our full guidelines for further details: https://iowareview.org/content/writers-guidelines

Poetry

If your fiction, nonfiction, or poetry has a visual component (graphic novel/memoir, drawings, collage, etc.), please upload a PDF here. If selected, we will request a print-quality file. Maximum number of pages: 10. We pay $40/page for visual literature.

Visual Literature

This creative writing contest is hosted by The Iowa Review and was founded with a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–69), a Vietnam veteran and antiwar writer and activist. It has been continued to be supported thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Amy B. Kretkowski Veterans Law Office, and donors to One Day for Iowa 2024. The contest is open to U.S. veterans and active duty personnel writing in any genre and about any subject matter.
2026 judge: Khadijah Queen
Prize: First place: $1,000 plus publication in an issue of The Iowa Review. Second place: $750. Three runners-up: $500 each.
Submission window: May 1–31, 2026
Full guidelines here.

Veterans' Writing Contest - Fiction

Veterans' Writing Contest - Nonfiction

Veterans' Writing Contest - Nonfiction (copy)

Book reviews should be 1,500–3,000 words and discuss one or more books that have been recently published (within the last two years). Our preference is to feature titles from indie, nonprofit, university, or small press publishers, although we will consider reviews of books from major publishing houses that provide new and substantial insight. Review and review-essay submissions should engage the book(s) considered beyond plot summary, like, or dislike, and provide critical, substantiated assessment, historical or cultural context, and interpretation when relevant. Please do not review books written by close friends, family, or with whom you have a significant professional relationship that the review would overtly benefit.
We pay $0.08 per word.
Please list the title(s) information at the top of your manuscript, following this format:
Author Name. Title of Book. Publisher’s City: Publisher Name, Year Published. [Total page count of book, ex. 120] pages. Price.
Interviews should be 1,500–3,000 words and feature persons of interest to readers and writers of contemporary literature. We ask that interviewers substantially read and research their subjects before the interview. Questions and answers should be an in-depth conversation about the intellectual life and activity of the subject, which might contain moments of consideration, surprise, synthesis, and attention, rather than a publicity-style chat that lends no new insight into the subject. We pay a flat rate of $300 per interview.
For both reviews and interviews, we can only consider complete submissions and cannot respond to queries and pitches.
We do not accept submissions created by or with the assistance of artificial intelligence, either for text-generation or for proofreading.

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