Prairie Margins is the national undergraduate literary magazine at Bowling Green State University. 

Prairie Margins is the national undergraduate literary magazine at Bowling Green State University. Publishing writers since 1963, the magazine promotes undergraduate writing nationwide by providing a venue through which talented newcomers to the art of writing can be introduced to a wide audience every year with a print issue. Prairie Margins accepts poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, art, and photography.

Creative Nonfiction

Prairie Margins

*Prairie Margins will make a good faith effort to select a winner, but reserves the right not to select a winner, depending on the number and quality of entries.

Prairie Margins Fall Flash Contest

Prairie Margins Fall Poetry Contest

We consider works of 6,000 words or fewer that show an in-depth knowledge of craft, as well as works that may tread more experimental ground.

In the cover letter please include the name of your university, status as an undergraduate student, year, and contact information including address and email. 

Example Cover Letter: 

Dear Prairie Margins Staff, 

Thank you for considering my poems "In the Dark," "One Day I Will," and "Sometime this Year" for publication in Prairie Margins. 

I am a junior at Ball State University, studying Chemistry. 

Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Joe Smith 

1234 First Street 
Muncie, IN 47305 
joesmith@gmail.com

Please submit a maximum of 8 visual art pieces as a TIFF file with a minimum resolution of 300 ppi. 

In the cover letter please include the name of your university, status as an undergraduate student, year, and contact information including address and email. 

Example Cover Letter: 

Dear Prairie Margins Staff, 

Thank you for considering my poems "In the Dark," "One Day I Will," and "Sometime this Year" for publication in Prairie Margins. 

I am a junior at Ball State University, studying Chemistry. 

Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Joe Smith 

1234 First Street 
Muncie, IN 47305 
joesmith@gmail.com

We consider works of 6,000 words or fewer that show an in-depth knowledge of craft, as well as works that may tread more experimental ground.
In the cover letter please include the name of your university, status as an undergraduate student, year, and contact information including address and email.

Example Cover Letter:

Dear Prairie Margins Staff,

Thank you for considering my poems "In the Dark," "One Day I Will," and "Sometime this Year" for publication in Prairie Margins.

I am a junior at Ball State University, studying Chemistry.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Smith

1234 First Street
Muncie, IN 47305
joesmith@gmail.com

undergraduate students across United States

Fiction

No more than six poems. Please consolidate all poems into one document.
In the cover letter please include the name of your university, status as an undergraduate student, year, and contact information including address and email.

Example Cover Letter:

Dear Prairie Margins Staff,

Thank you for considering my poems "In the Dark," "One Day I Will," and "Sometime this Year" for publication in Prairie Margins.

I am a junior at Ball State University, studying Chemistry.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Smith

1234 First Street
Muncie, IN 47305
joesmith@gmail.com

Prairie Margins

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Creative Nonfiction