Burlington Writers Workshop

Celebrating artistic creation, community, and all the wide-ranging voices that tramp and track in the mud of human experience.

Mud Season: when the snow melts, the ground thaws, and everything in New England turns to mud. It’s the time when the inner work of creation is done, before it comes to fruition. This journal aims to celebrate that hidden labor.

Mud Season Review is an international literary journal affiliated with Burlington Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Vermont that brings free writing workshops to writers. Our all-volunteer staff is dedicated to creating a journal that mirrors the openness of these workshops, in which writers of all genres support each other’s love of writing and reading, provide vibrant, kind, insightful feedback, forge significant creative relationships, and demonstrate that the pursuit of excellence in their craft doesn’t have to be formal, exclusive, or anonymous. We aim to publish strong, skillful writing from far and wide. In doing so we seek to discover voices new to us and new to publication.



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

Looking for balance between prestige and accessibility? These magazines are competitive but attainable for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writers.

Literary Magazines in the Sweet Spot

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

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 all-time most competitive speculative fiction literary magazines. These magazines are revered in the fiction world for their editorial rigor.

Most Competitive Speculative Fiction Magazines of All Time

Explore the most competitive speculative fiction literary magazines this year. These magazines are revered in the fiction world for their editorial rigor.

Most Competitive Speculative Fiction Magazines This Year

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

Check out the all-time most popular speculative fiction literary magazines. These publications have a long-standing reputation for quality speculative fiction.

Most Popular Speculative Fiction Magazines of All Time

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

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

Looking for a balance between prestige and accessibility? These speculative fiction magazines are in the sweet spot—competitive but attainable for writers.

Speculative Fiction Magazines in the Sweet Spot

Mud Season Review

Please submit 1 to 6 digital images of your work (JPG is preferred, minimum 300 dpi). Images must be professionally photographed and cropped to exclude anything that is not considered part of the work. 
 We accept all media: paintings, drawings, prints, photography, animation, mixed media, collage, and sculpture (in the case of 3-dimensional work, keep in mind that it must read well in 2-dimensional form). We are open to all content/style; realism, surrealism, abstraction, conceptual, etc. We seek both: 1) images that may be paired with writing to enhance the visual word, and 2) theme-based portfolios. (Please indicate your preference in your cover letter.)

 Please include the artist's last name and the title of the piece in each file name. Also include in your cover letter: 1) the titles, media, and dimensions of each image; 2) a 50-word or less biographic statement; 3) a 50-word or less artistic statement; 4) your consideration preference as noted above; and 5) your email and mailing addresses.
 
 
 Artists must be 18 years or older. See our general guidelines for more information.

Tip Jar Submissions are optional and will be treated exactly the same as standard submissions. Please follow the same guidelines as standard submissions with the exception of noting the genre for your submission in your submission title and in your cover letter. A Tip Jar Submission will not increase your chances of publication, but you will be helping us to manage the costs of Submittable and to continue to pay contributors. Mud Season Review has an all-volunteer staff and is a production of the Burlington Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers free writing workshops. Thank you for your support and for sharing your work with us! We're excited to see what you've created.Please submit one nonfiction piece of up to 6,000 words as well as a brief biography. Please also include your email and mailing addresses. Please do not submit PDF documents.Mud Season Review’s creative nonfiction team seeks:Memoir that goes beyond a personal story to offer insight that feels universal and/orNarrative-driven essays that present data, perspectives, persuasive arguments, and/or critical social topics in a palpable contextIn short, we value well-polished, well-crafted stories that move us.Send us the story that only you can tell, where subject matter isn’t the story but adds another layer to a rich and complex journey of thought. Likewise, craft decisions—point-of-view, structure, chronology, etc.—that enrich meaning and understanding, that have purpose beyond pure wit, whimsy, boundary pushing, or aesthetics.As we read, we remain committed to founding editor Rebecca Starks’ three tenets: A strong voiceA view from elsewhereThat it be fully realizedSee what Rebecca means in this interview. And while our word count is generous, it is not an invitation to be careless. Please be sure that every word in your submission is needed to tell your story. Creative nonfiction accepted for publication will be fact-checked. To the extent your essay draws on research and/or reportage, our editors will ask you for documentation of your sources and for help with the fact-checking process. Citations need not be submitted with essays, but we would recommend that you keep notes and/or a bibliography on file.

Tip Jar - Creative Nonfiction

Please submit one short story of up to 6,000 words, as well as a brief biography.  Please also include your email and mailing addresses. Please do not submit PDF documents.
We are looking for fully realized stories that remind us of what it means to be human, that take risks, that show us something new, and that stand up over multiple reads, deepening with each encounter.

Fiction

Please submit in one file a portfolio of 3-5 poems (up to 10 pages), with each poem on its own page(s); along with a brief author's bio (50 words or less). Please also include your email and mailing addresses. Please don't submit PDF documents.
We respond to a wide range of poetry, and to voice above all else. We are looking for poems that compelled their own writing, emotions that purify and intensify language, and unique points of view. We are also looking for portfolios that communicate a common thread and are made up of poems that work well together. Each poem should be able to stand on its own, but the poems in a portfolio should have a collective impact as well.

Poetry

Tip Jar Submissions are optional and will be treated exactly the same as standard submissions. Please follow the same guidelines as standard submissions, with the exception of noting the genre for your submission in your submission title and your cover letter. 
 
A Tip Jar Submission will not increase your chances of publication, but you will be helping us to manage the costs of Submittable and to continue to pay contributors. Mud Season Review has an all-volunteer staff and is a production of the Burlington Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers free writing workshops. Thank you for your support and for sharing your work with us! We're excited to see what you've created.
 
Please submit 1 to 6 digital images of your work (JPG is preferred, minimum 300 dpi). Images must be professionally photographed and cropped to exclude anything that is not considered part of the work. 
We accept all media: paintings, drawings, prints, photography, animation, mixed media, collage, and sculpture (in the case of 3-dimensional work, keep in mind that it must read well in 2-dimensional form). We are open to all content/style; realism, surrealism, abstraction, conceptual, etc. We seek both: 1) images that may be paired with writing to enhance the visual word and 2) theme-based portfolios. (Please indicate your preference in your cover letter.)

Please include the artist's last name and the title of the piece in each file name. Also include in your cover letter: 1) the titles, media, and dimensions of each image; 2) a 50-word or less biographic statement; 3) a 50-word or less artistic statement; 4) your consideration preference as noted above; and 5) your email and mailing addresses.
Artists must be 18 years or older. See our general guidelines for more information.

Tip Jar - Art

Tip Jar Submissions are optional and will be treated exactly the same as standard submissions. Please follow the same guidelines as standard submissions with the exception of noting the genre for your submission in your submission title and in your cover letter.  A Tip Jar Submission will not increase your chances of publication, but you'll be helping us to manage the costs of Submittable and to continue to pay all of our contributors. Mud Season Review has an all-volunteer staff and is a production of the Burlington Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers free writing workshops. Thank you for your support and for sharing your work with us! We're excited to see what you've created.
Please submit in one file a portfolio of 3-5 poems (up to 10 pages), with each poem on its own page(s); along with a brief author's bio (50 words or less). Please also include your email and mailing addresses. Please don't submit PDF documents.
We respond to a wide range of poetry, and to voice above all else. We are looking for poems that compelled their own writing, emotions that purify and intensify language, and unique points of view. We are also looking for portfolios that communicate a common thread and are made up of poems that work well together.  Each poem should be able to stand on its own, but the poems in a portfolio should have a collective impact as well.

Tip Jar - Poetry

Tip Jar Submissions are optional and will be treated exactly the same as standard submissions. Please follow the same guidelines as standard submissions with the exception of noting the genre for your submission in your submission title and in your cover letter.
A Tip Jar Submission will not increase your chances of publication, but you will be helping us to manage the costs of Submittable and to continue to pay contributors. Mud Season Review has an all-volunteer staff and is a production of the Burlington Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers free writing workshops. Thank you for your support and for sharing your work with us! We're excited to see what you've created.
Please submit one short story of up to 6,000 words, as well as a brief biography.  Please also include your email and mailing addresses. Please do not submit PDF documents.
We are looking for fully realized stories that remind us of what it means to be human, that take risks, that show us something new, and that stand up over multiple reads, deepening with each encounter.

Tip Jar - Fiction

Please submit one essay of up to 6,000 words, as well as a brief biography.  Please also include your email and mailing addresses. Please do not submit PDF documents.
We are looking for fully realized essays that remind us of what it means to be human, that take risks, that show us something new, and that stand up over multiple reads, deepening with each encounter.

Creative Nonfiction

Our all-volunteer staff at Mud Season Review is dedicated to bringing great literature to life. It's our passion. The cost of this service will help us cover Submittable fees, our website, and pay each and every one of our journal contributors. Your payment will also help support the Burlington Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(c) nonprofit that provides free writing workshops. While our highly qualified reviewers are paid a token stipend for their time, the vast majority of your payment goes to the efforts listed above. We're grateful for your contribution, and for the opportunity to provide such an in-depth service to writers dedicated to their craft. 

Please include a title page with a one-paragraph summary of your manuscript and your current email address. Please also provide any direction you’d like to give us regarding the type of feedback you’re hoping for, and when you’d like to receive the feedback. Typically, we can provide a full review within two to three months, but you’ll have the opportunity to establish a mutually satisfactory schedule with your reviewer. To query about chapbooks, or for any questions about full-length reviews, email us at editor@mudseasonreview.com.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered in the FAQs below, feel free to send us an email and we’ll be sure to respond promptly. We greatly appreciate your interest and support! More details about this manuscript review service can be found at: mudseasonreview.com/manuscript-reviews/

What does this review consist of? 
You'll be paired with one of our highly qualified reviewers who will provide extensive, detailed comments in the margins of your manuscript as well as thoughtful written feedback of 700-1,500 words.

What is the word count or page limit? 
Fiction and creative nonfiction manuscripts are limited to 110,000 words. Poetry manuscripts should be no more than 80 pages, with the standard one poem per page.

Who does the reviewing? 
One of our highly qualified reviewers will be matched and assigned to your manuscript. By including a short paragraph summarizing your project and your goals, you help us match you with the best reviewer for your work-in-progress.

What is the deadline to submit? 
Right now we’re accepting manuscripts on a rolling basis, however we recommend submitting on the sooner side as we may need to close early or periodically as volume demands. We put a lot of effort into reviewing your work and like to give each submission the time and attention it deserves.

How do I submit my manuscript? You can use this submission category to send us your manuscript. To query about chapbooks, or for any questions about our manuscript review service, email us at editor@mudseasonreview.com.

Are there any subjects or themes you don't review? We openly welcome a variety of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry manuscripts of diverse perspectives. However, we ask that you don't send us work that clearly supports the violation of basic ethical standards. Such submissions will be returned unread and refunded.

Will I be satisfied with the feedback I receive? 
We work hard to make sure you’re satisfied, and we’re proud that this service has been so well-received—in fact, several authors have reported that their manuscripts were accepted for publication thanks to our team’s insight and guidance. We look forward to reviewing your manuscript and thank you for trusting Mud Season Review with your work.

Full-Length Manuscript Reviews

For $45.00, one of our highly qualified reviewers at Mud Season Review will provide you with a 250- to 500-word critical response to your piece, which we will try to send within 2-4 weeks of your submission date. Limit 3,500 words. 
Please include in your cover letter any guidance you'd like to give in terms of what feedback would be most helpful to you. Pieces submitted for feedback are not considered for publication. We look forward to reviewing your work.

Please do not submit PDF documents.

Note: We don't provide feedback on work that clearly supports the violation of basic ethical standards. Such material is refunded and returned unread.

Fiction: Feedback Request

For $45.00, one of our highly qualified reviewers at Mud Season Review will provide you with a 250- to 500-word critical response to your piece, which we will try to send within 2-4 weeks of your submission date. Limit 3,500 words. Please include in your cover letter any guidance you'd like to give in terms of what feedback would be most helpful to you. Pieces submitted for feedback are not considered for publication. We look forward to reviewing your work.

Please do not submit PDF documents.

Note: We don't provide feedback on work that clearly supports the violation of basic ethical standards. Such material is refunded and returned unread.

Creative Nonfiction: Feedback Request

For $45.00, one of our highly qualified reviewers at Mud Season Review will provide you with a 250- to 500-word critical response to your poems, which we will try to send within 2-4 weeks of your submission date. Limit 3 poems, up to 10 pages. Optionally, please include in your cover letter any guidance you'd like to give in terms of what feedback would be most helpful. Pieces submitted for feedback are not considered for publication. We look forward to reviewing your work.
Please do not submit PDF documents.
Note: We don't provide feedback on work that clearly supports the violation of basic ethical standards. Such material is refunded and returned unread.

Mud Season Review

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