The official literary journal of the Converse University low-res MFA program. We publish fiction, flash, CNF, poetry, blog posts, and interviews.

South 85 Journal is a semi-annual online literary journal managed by the Converse University Low-Residency MFA Program. Established in 2014, it publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, interviews, and blog posts from both emerging and established writers. The journal is particularly interested in works that demonstrate a strong voice and a sense of place. While it does not currently offer payment for submissions, all published pieces are eligible for the Editor’s Choice Award of $100, awarded to one piece in each issue. (south85journal.com)

Submissions are accepted in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and flash fiction/CNF categories, with specific guidelines for each. For example, fiction submissions should be between 800 and 4,000 words, while poetry submissions can include up to three poems, totaling no more than six pages. (south85journal.com)

The journal's editorial team includes Editor Leslie Pietrzyk, Fiction Editor Christine Schott, Nonfiction Editor Laura Platas Scott, and Poetry Editor Laurel Eshelman. (south85journal.com)

For more information on submissions, awards, and the journal's history, visit their official website.

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South 85 Journal

ISSUE: SURPRISE US | UNTHEMED

  Surprise: an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing
  Surprise:  the feeling caused by something unexpected or unusual
  What you hope will happen, what you dread will happen, what happened
  A surprise return, surprise departure, surprise attack; you were caught by surprise; it came as no surprise; that element of surprise
  Or truly surprise us: your piece has nothing at all to do with surprise! (We mean it…that’s legit.)
  The possibilities are endless, and we want this theme that’s unthemed to feel open to countless interpretation, introspection, and examination. As always, we’re eaget to read what you come up with.



• Fiction submissions should be between 800 and 4000ish words. Please include word count. Flash fiction should be under 750ish words, submitted to the flash category. One story per submission.  
• Nonfiction submissions should be between 800 and 4000ish words. Please include word count. Flash nonfiction should be under 750ish words, submitted to the flash category. One piece per submission.  
• Poetry submissions should contain no more than 3 poems, up to 6 total pages, one poem per page.
• Please send only one submission per category (Poetry, Fiction, Flash, and Non-Fiction) during each reading period.  You are welcome to submit to multiple categories. We suggest including the title of your work in your file name.
• Submission fee = $3
• We will publish novel excerpts, provided they can stand on their own. We do not publish genre fiction or children’s stories. We encourage you to read archives of South 85 Journal and acquaint yourself with the material we publish before submitting your work. We encourage the use of a content warning if necessary, in consideration of our manuscript readers.



• Type should be no smaller than 12-pt. font. Please use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial, and refrain from script or “flowery” lettering.
• All work will be considered for our Editor’s Choice Award of $100, which be given to ONE piece in the issue.



• Submissions should be saved in Word or Rich Text format.



• Number pages consecutively, double space, and use margins of at least one inch.



• Place your name, email address, and word count in an upper corner of the first page.
• We do not solict work; each published piece comes to us through Submittable.
• Converse MFA students, grads, and faculty are not permitted to submit work to South 85 Journal.



• Writers whose work has been published in the journal are asked to wait one issue before submitting to the journal again (i.e. your poem appeared in Spring/Summer 2025, so you’re cleared to submit again for the Spring/Summer 2026 issue and any after).



• We accept simultaneous submissions. If your work is accepted elsewhere, please promptly withdraw your piece via Submittable or email to withdraw individual poems: south85journal AT gmail DOT com.
Please include a professional bio of 50ish words written in the third person with your cover letter. 


South 85 Journal does not publish work which has been previously published, either in print or online. Our reply time is typically eight weeks or so. If AI has been used in the creation of the work, please indicate so.
We acquire exclusive first-time Internet rights only. All other rights revert to the author at publication, but we offer formal, written reassignments upon request. Works are also archived online. We are unable to pay for submissions, however thanks to an anonymous donor, ONE piece in the issue will be awarded the Editor’s Choice Award of $100. We ask that whenever an author reprints the work that first appeared in our pages, South 85 Journal be given acknowledgment for the specific work(s) involved.

South 85 Journal

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