A biannual online literary journal that publishes culturally significant and innovative writing by writers living in Maine, across the country, and around the world. 

The Maine Review features fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by both established and emerging writers. 

We look for work that cuts across artificial boundaries, that challenges expectations and demands thoughtful attention. 

While we are not promoting a single aesthetic, we look for work that asks its readers to imagine in new ways and that rewards their efforts.

We are committed to including work by Maine writers in each issue, alongside great writing from across the country and around the world.


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 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

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

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

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

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

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

The Maine Review

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, The Maine Review is offering free submissions from November 21-27, or until we reach our allowed free submission maximum. 

  "National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation."  - US Department of the Interior


 
The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers.     

 
All writers are invited to make use of this free submission window. If you're able to donate, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donation options, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs. Direct donations are also welcome at http://mainereview.com/donate.   
If you're able to donate, we also offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.
 
*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting.* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*
 
Fiction Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Double-spaced
  1” margins
  Pages numbered
  Please include word count in your cover letter
  One piece of 3,000 words or fewer (though we will consider longer works of exceptional merit) or three flash pieces no more than 1,000 words each  

 
Payment:  Fiction writers will receive a $25 honorarium per flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more.

Fiction (Native American Heritage Month Free Submissions)

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day The Maine Review is offering a free submission period from October 10-16, or until we reach our allowed free submission maximum.

  "Recognizing and celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples is an essential step towards promoting understanding, equality, and respect. By replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, we acknowledge the resilience, wisdom, and enduring presence of indigenous communities, fostering unity and honoring the diverse tapestry of our nation's heritage." - Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren.
 

All are invited to make use of this free submission window, as The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 
If you're able to donate, we also offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.
 
We are accepting artwork to represent the cover, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction sections of our digital issues.
*Please send only one submission at a time. We do not accept and cannot refund multiple submissions. This includes multiple submissions across different genres.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*

 
General Guidelines: (Failure to meet these guidelines may result in work being automatically declined)

  We accept submissions only through Submittable. Artwork must be previously unpublished in print and online.
  We encourage simultaneous submissions, but please withdraw your submission immediately if it is accepted elsewhere. 
  We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ artists, BIPOC artists, female-identifying artists, unpublished artists, artists with disabilities, and economically marginalized artists.
  Please address cover letters to our Editor and Managing Editor. 
  We ask that contributors whose work we've published wait at least one year before submitting again.
  Please allow us six months before querying.
 
 

Submission and Formatting Guidelines:

  Please send four original, landscape-orientation images for consideration. Accepted images will represent the cover, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction sections of our digital issues, so ideally they should have a more-or-less unified aesthetic. 
  Submission must be in .jpg or .png format. 
  Photography, illustration, and other art forms are welcome. 
  If you have a website or online portfolio, we encourage you to include a link with your bio. 
  High-res versions will be requested if accepted for publication. 


 
Payment:
Contributors are paid $50 upon publication.

Call for Artwork (Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Submissions)

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day The Maine Review is offering a free submission period from October 10-16, or until we reach our allowed free submission maximum.

  "Recognizing and celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples is an essential step towards promoting understanding, equality, and respect. By replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, we acknowledge the resilience, wisdom, and enduring presence of indigenous communities, fostering unity and honoring the diverse tapestry of our nation's heritage." - Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren.


 The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 

 
All writers are invited to make use of this free submission window. If you're able to donate, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donation options, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs. Direct donations are also welcome at http://mainereview.com/donate.   
If you're able to donate, we also offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.   
 
*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting.* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*

 
Poetry Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Single-spaced (or as you would like your poem to appear online)
  Pages numbered 
  Maximum 3 poems, no more than 5 pages in total

 
Payment: Poets will receive a $25 honorarium per published poem.

Poetry (Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Submissions)

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day The Maine Review is offering a free submission period from October 10-16, or until we reach our allowed free submission maximum.

  "Recognizing and celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples is an essential step towards promoting understanding, equality, and respect. By replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, we acknowledge the resilience, wisdom, and enduring presence of indigenous communities, fostering unity and honoring the diverse tapestry of our nation's heritage." - Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren.
 

The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 
 
 
All writers are invited to make use of this free submission window. If you're able to donate, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donation options, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs. Direct donations are also welcome at http://mainereview.com/donate.   
 
*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting.* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*

 
Fiction Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Double-spaced
  1” margins
  Pages numbered
  Please include word count in your cover letter
  One piece of 3,000 words or fewer (though we will consider longer works of exceptional merit) or three flash pieces no more than 1,000 words each  


 
Payment:  Fiction writers will receive a $25 honorarium per flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more.

Fiction (Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Submissions)

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, The Maine Review is offering free submissions from November 21-27, or until we reach our allowed free submission maximum. 

  "National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation."  - US Department of the Interior
 

All are invited to make use of this free submission window, as The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers and artists. 
If you're able to donate, we also offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.
 
We are accepting artwork to represent the cover, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction sections of our digital issues.
*Please send only one submission at a time. We do not accept and cannot refund multiple submissions. This includes multiple submissions across different genres.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*

 
General Guidelines: (Failure to meet these guidelines may result in work being automatically declined)

  We accept submissions only through Submittable. Artwork must be previously unpublished in print and online.
  We encourage simultaneous submissions, but please withdraw your submission immediately if it is accepted elsewhere. 
  We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ artists, BIPOC artists, female-identifying artists, unpublished artists, artists with disabilities, and economically marginalized artists.
  Please address cover letters to our Editor and Managing Editor. 
  We ask that contributors whose work we've published wait at least one year before submitting again.
  Please allow us six months before querying.
 
 

Submission and Formatting Guidelines:

  Please send four original, landscape-orientation images for consideration. Accepted images will represent the cover, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction sections of our digital issues, so ideally they should have a more-or-less unified aesthetic. 
  Submission must be in .jpg or .png format. 
  Photography, illustration, and other art forms are welcome. 
  If you have a website or online portfolio, we encourage you to include a link with your bio. 
  High-res versions will be requested if accepted for publication. 


 
Payment:
Contributors are paid $50 upon publication.

Call for Artwork (Native American Heritage Month Free Submissions)

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, The Maine Review is offering free submissions from November 21-27, or until we reach our allowed free submission maximum. 

  "National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation."  - US Department of the Interior


 The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 
 
All writers are invited to make use of this free submission window. If you're able to donate, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donation options, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs. Direct donations are also welcome at http://mainereview.com/donate.   
If you're able to donate, we also offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.     

 
*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting.* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*
 
Poetry Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Single-spaced (or as you would like your poem to appear online)
  Pages numbered 
  Maximum 3 poems, no more than 5 pages in total

 
Payment: Poets will receive a $25 honorarium per published poem.

Poetry (Native American Heritage Month Free Submissions)

The Maine Review is now taking art submissions!
 
Who We Are:
The Maine Review (MeR) is a biannual online literary journal that publishes culturally significant and innovative writing by writers living in Maine, across the country, and around the world. Maine Review Publications is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible to readers and writers of all incomes.
MeR is committed to fostering an inclusive, creative community, free of discrimination and harassment, for people of all colors, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, national origins, ages, abilities, veteran statuses, and educational backgrounds. Our editors and staff readers are passionate about literature and are fervent advocates of excellent writing from unpublished, emerging, and established writers.
 
We are now accepting artwork to represent the cover, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction sections of our digital issues.
 
*Please send only one submission at a time. We do not accept and cannot refund multiple submissions. This includes multiple submissions across different genres.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.*

 
General Guidelines: (Failure to meet these guidelines may result in work being automatically declined)

  We accept submissions only through Submittable. Artwork must be previously unpublished in print and online.
  We encourage simultaneous submissions, but please withdraw your submission immediately if it is accepted elsewhere. 
  We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ artists, BIPOC artists, female-identifying artists, unpublished artists, artists with disabilities, and economically marginalized artists.
  Please address cover letters to our Editor and Managing Editor. 
  We ask that contributors whose work we've published wait at least one year before submitting again.
  Please allow us six months before querying.
 
 

Submission and Formatting Guidelines:

  Please send four original, landscape-orientation images for consideration. Accepted images will represent the cover, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction sections of our digital issues, so ideally they should have a more-or-less unified aesthetic. 
  Submission must be in .jpg or .png format. 
  Photography, illustration, and other art forms are welcome. 
  If you have a website or online portfolio, we encourage you to include a link with your bio. 
  High-res versions will be requested if accepted for publication. 


 
Payment:
Contributors are paid $50 upon publication.

Call for Artwork

The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding poetry, including works in translation and hybrid forms, and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 
During our Open Submission periods, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.  

 
*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting. Failure to meet these guidelines may result in work being declined unread* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions. Please wait until you receive a response from us to submit again.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.* 

 
Poetry Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Single-spaced (or as you would like your poem to appear online)
  Pages numbered 
  Maximum 3 poems, no more than 5 pages in total  


 
Payment:  Poets will receive a $25 honorarium per published poem.

Poetry (Open Submissions)

The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary fiction and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 
During our Open Submission periods, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.  


*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting. Failure to meet these guidelines may result in work being declined unread* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions. Please wait until you receive a response from us to submit again.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.* 


Fiction Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Double-spaced
  1” margins
  Pages numbered
  Please include word count in your cover letter
  One piece of 3,000 words or fewer (though we will consider longer works of exceptional merit) or three flash pieces no more than 1,000 words each



Payment:  Fiction writers will receive a $25 honorarium per flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more.

Fiction (Open Submissions)

The Maine Review is dedicated to making contemporary literature accessible and to supporting representation, innovation, and literary artistry. We seek outstanding contemporary nonfiction and are pleased to publish new, emerging, and established writers. 
During our Open Submission periods, we offer $3 or $5 Community Supported Literature donations, of which we receive $1.86 or $3.76 respectively. All donations are tax-deductible and are used to pay writers and support our programs.  
 
*Please read our General Guidelines before submitting. Failure to meet these guidelines may result in work being declined unread* 
*We do not accept multiple submissions. Please wait until you receive a response from us to submit again.*
*We will not publish work that normalizes hatred of any marginalized group or individual, though submitted work may thoughtfully consider subjects of discrimination.* 


Nonfiction Formatting Guidelines:

  12-point Times New Roman font
  Double-spaced
  1” margins
  Please include word count in your cover letter
  One piece of 3,000 words or fewer (though we will consider longer works of exceptional merit) or three flash pieces no more than 1,000 words each.



Payment:  Nonfiction writers will receive a $25 honorarium per flash (1,000 words or fewer) and a $50 honorarium for work 1,001 words or more.

The Maine Review

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About

Featured Call

Call for Artwork

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