Midwest Review is an annual print magazine featuring the Midwest in new work by writers, photographers, and artists who live in, or have lived in, the Midwest.
The Midwest is the region of the north central United States that includes the Great Lakes area and the upper Mississippi River valley (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Midwest is comprised of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Missouri). Of course, the Midwest is also a state of mind.
We're looking for thoughtful and thought-provoking writing and visual art that examines, interprets, and redefines the wide spectrum of life, past and present, in the Midwest. We accept unsolicited submissions of original creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and visual art from June to December. We're interested in new, diverse, and emerging voices. We welcome work from under-represented communities and from incarcerated writers in the Midwest. Contact the editor at christopher.chambers@wisc.edu regarding those submissions.
We do not consider previously published work (work that has appeared previously in any publication, print or online, including self-published work, in print or online). Simultaneous submissions are okay; please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
We welcome submissions of work from writers in or from the Midwest who are currently or recently incarcerated. There is no submission fee required for these submissions. It can be helpful to have the mailing address and/or email address of a person outside to help facilitate communication.
Authors of work accepted for publication by Midwest Review receive a contract granting non-exclusive first serial rights. Copyright reverts to the author upon publication with the request that subsequent re-publication of the work acknowledges first publication in Midwest Review.
General submissions for Issue 10 open June 1, 2021.
Great Midwest Writing Contest open now! Deadline: March 1, 2021.
ISSN 2471-6871
Submit up to 6,500 words of creative nonfiction. Simultaneous submissions are okay; let us know immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Previously unpublished submissions only. Entries must be submitted online via Submittable.
A $500 prize and publication in Midwest Review for the winning entry. All entries will be considered for publication.
Contest Selection Process & Guidelines
1st Round: Blind Read by MR Editorial Staff with 10 finalists forwarded to the contest judge.
2nd Round: Blind Read by Contest Judge: Ander Monson.
Judge will select the winner from a group of finalists chosen by Midwest Review editorial staff.
Ander Monson is the author of Vanishing Point; Neck Deep and Other Predicaments, winner of the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize; the novel Other Electricities; and the poetry collections Vacationland and The Available World. He grew up in Houghton, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, an MA from Iowa State University, and an MFA from the University of Alabama.
CLMP Code of Ethics
CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines — defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
Submit up to 6,500 words of fiction. Simultaneous submissions are okay; let us know immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Previously unpublished submissions only. Entries must be submitted online via Submittable.
A $500 prize and publication in Midwest Review for the winning entry. All entries will be considered for publication.
Contest Selection Process & Guidelines
1st Round: Blind Read by MR Editorial Staff with 10 finalists forwarded to contest judge.
2nd Round: Blind Read by Contest Judge: TBA.
Judge will select winner from a group of finalists chosen by Midwest Review editorial staff.
CLMP Code of Ethics
CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines — defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
Submit up to 10 pages of poetry (one poem or several; one poem per page). Simultaneous submissions are okay; let us know immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Previously unpublished submissions only. Entries must be submitted online via Submittable.
$500 prize and publication in Midwest Review for the winning poem. All entries will be considered for publication.
Contest Selection Process & Guidelines
1st Round: Blind Read by MR Editorial Staff with 10 finalists forwarded to contest judge.
2nd Round: Blind Read by Contest Judge (TBA).
Judge will select winner from a group of finalists chosen by Midwest Review editorial staff.
CLMP Code of Ethics
CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines — defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
This is to purchase a copy of Midwest Review, issue 8 (this is not a submission category). Please enter "purchase copy 8" in the Title field, your name and mailing address in the Cover Letter field.
You will receive an automatic email from Submittable thanking you for your submission (even though this is an order to purchase a copy). That email is your confirmation that we received your order.
We hope you enjoy the magazine. Thank you for your interest and support!
Volume 8 features new work by:
Eduardo Halfon
Pardeep Toor
Nick Rattner
Arturo Alvarez
Bridget Apfeld
Laura Bandy
Marryam Barrie
Robert Hedin
Anemonie Beaulier
Bethany Armstrong Brietland
Nathaniel Cairney
Annie Christain
Melinda Clemmons
Colin Criss
Naomi Ernest
SG Fromm
Margaret Galey
Irwin Goldman
Rick Graves
Bradley Greenburg
Gwen Hart
CB Adams
Corey Hoppenrath
Debra Hutchison
Mary Ann Inman
Kenneth Jakubas
Carrie Jerrell
Kelsey Kerin
Meara Levezow
Dave Malone
Len Messineo
Robert Miltner
Amie Adams Mortenson
Samuel Piccone
Kat Rosaen
William Rudolph
Bonnie Larson Staiger
Karen Steiner
Alberto Sveum
Erika Veurink
Beth Ann Workmaster
Alice Blue
Vicki Reed
Jody Boyer
Stephan Shambert
Zac Hall
This is to purchase a copy of Midwest Review, issue 7 (this is not a submission category). Please enter "purchase copy 7" in the Title field, your name and mailing address in the Cover Letter field.
You will receive an automatic email from Submittable thanking you for your submission (even though this is an order to purchase a copy). That email is your confirmation that we received your order.
We hope you enjoy the magazine. Thank you for your interest and support!
Volume 7 features new work by:
Stephanie Dickinson
Ingrid Andersson
Mia Pohlman
Gen Del Raye
Timothy Kenny
George Looney
Chele Isaac
Bob Johnson
Beth Marzoni
Nina Macheel
Steve Fox
Les Bares
Elsa Bell
Pierce Brown
Nick Chiarkas
Michael Cole
Rebecca Doverspike
John Dudek
Dennis Etzel Jr
Eileen Favorite
Brianna Flavin
Rick Graves
Jeffrey Gray
Candice Haugdahl
Joseph Harris
Lisa Higgs
Jessica Hunt
Sara Judy
J. Rodney Karr
Sean Kelbley
Amanda Kenny
Angie Mason
Ethna McKiernan
Alison Meschke
Craig Milewski
Matt Morgan
Nina Moyer
Kate Murr
Shannon Nakai
Michael Ostrov
Elaine Fowler Palencia
Alexandra Penland
Gerald Podraza
Mondest Richards
Max Schleicher
Sharon Stauffer
Aaron Steffes
Roi Solberg
Pamela Sumners
Dominique Taquet
Joey Aronhalt
Carol Yoho
Claire Welsh
Robert Westphal
Aaron Zaremsky
Ciaran Cooper
Lolita Ditzler
This is to purchase a copy of Midwest Review issue 6 (this is not a submission category). Please enter "purchase copy 6" in the Title field, your name and mailing address in the Cover Letter field.
You will receive an automatic email from Submittable thanking you for your submission (even though this is an order to purchase a copy). That email is your confirmation that we received your order.
We hope you enjoy the magazine. Thank you for your interest and support!
Volume 6 features new work by:
Sam Savage
Kristin Tenor
Michael Martone
Nicholas Gulig
Sean Lovelace
Jayson Iwen
George Kalamaras
Fermin Calderon-Dujarric
Elke Sommers
Alexis Petri
Colin Matthes
Daniel Stout
Felicitus Ferington
Gail Moreland
Roger Camp
Ross Wilcox
Susan Sinclair Edele
John Robinson
Kailee Pedersen
Mary Mullen
Mondest Richards
Robert Westphal
Carol Schaechterle
Christopher Warner
Danny Burdett
Gary Bouchard
Hannah Craig
Ingrid Andersson
Jeffrey Erlacher
jessie knoles
Joseph Zenoni
Myron Ernst
Natalie Solmer
rikki santer
Sarah Fay
This is to purchase a copy of Midwest Review 5 (this is not a submission category). Please enter "purchase copy 5" in the Title field, your name and mailing address in the Cover Letter field.
You will receive an automatic email from Submittable thanking you for your submission (even though this is an order to purchase a copy). That email is your confirmation that we received your order.
We hope you enjoy the magazine. Thank you for your interest and support!
Volume 5 features new work by:
Catie Rosemurgy
Dylan Krieger
Robert Hedin
Ryan J. Browne
Vincent Wixon
Lorain Urban
Andy Millman
Catherine Young
Nancy Jesse
Barbara Schmidt
Corey Hoppenrath
David Giroux
Deborah Lucas
Den Adler
Gregory Galbraith
Hansa Pistotnik
Patrick Carr
Rick Graves
Sarah Marty
Sevie Kenyon
J. Lawrence Epps
Jane Curtis
W. P. Osborn
Coleman
Georgia Tiffany
Jan Bosman
Pattie See
Ash Goedker
Bonnie Jill Emanuel
Estella Lauter
Evelyn Reynolds
Gregory Galbraith
James Butcher
Joanna Laura Thompson
Judy Brackett
Laura Sweeney
M. Scott Douglass
Patricia Williams
This is to purchase a copy of Midwest Review 4 (this is not a submission category). Please enter "purchase copy 4" in the Title field, your name and mailing address in the Cover Letter field.
You will receive an automatic email from Submittable thanking you for your submission (even though this is an order to purchase a copy). That email is your confirmation that we received your order.
We hope you enjoy the magazine. Thank you for your interest and support!
Volume 4 features new work by:
Rita Mae Reese
Bonnie Jo Campbell
Ginny MacDonald
Guy Thorvaldsen
Kimberly Suhr
Cynthia Hawkinson McEahern
Emi Morita
Helen Klebesadel
Margaret Jankowski
Ruth Ann Molyneaux
Travis Anderson
Courtney Lochner
Dennis Day
Fredric Meek
Julie Tallard Johnson
Lindsey Griffin
Mary Casey Diana
Melissa Olson-Petrie
Agate Nesaule
Gary Jones
Jacob Boyd
Jan Bosman
Lolita Ditzler
Michelle Shappell Harris
Susanne Markgren
Tricia Friesen Reed
Victoria Clayton
Audrie Bretl Roelf
Candace Armstrong
Erika Mueller
Jan Bosman
Jerome Buhman
Jon Ballard
Judith Zukerman
Richard King Perkins II
Sara Burr
Shoshauna Shy
Corey Hoppenrath
Yvette Viets Flaten