MIDWEST REVIEW features work by writers, photographers, and artists who have a connection to the Midwest. We define the Midwest as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Missouri. But while borders shape and bind they sometimes need to be crossed.
We publish annually and accept unsolicited submissions of original poetry, creative nonfiction, short fiction, and visual art. We are especially interested in new voices, perspectives, and contributions from underrepresented communities. The issue will appear online six months after print publication.
MIDWEST REVIEW is curated by faculty of the English Department at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, along with an editorial team of practicing writers from across the Midwest.
Submission Period:
We accept submissions of original creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and visual art. Submissions are open January 15 to May 15.
Awards:
We’re proud to nominate our contributors to Alternating Current Press Best of Small Fictions, Pen/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, Pushcart Prize, and more.
Fee waived:
Any writer with financial need can email to request a fee waiver. Writers who have been or are incarcerated may send their submission (hand-written is acceptable) by mail to:
Midwest Review
English Department
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
1801 Fourth Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Other:
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Please let us know if your work has been accepted elsewhere.
- We do not accept previously published work.
- If your work was included in a previous issue, please wait a year before submitting again.
- Authors of work accepted for publication by Midwest Review receive a contract granting non-exclusive first serial rights. Payment is in one free issue copy. Copyright reverts to the author upon publication with the request that subsequent re-publication of the work acknowledges first publication in Midwest Review.
Purchase:
Order issues below. Thank you for your support!
Bookseller purchase:
Current issue available to booksellers at a wholesale rate. Contact Midwest.Review@uwsp.edu
We're looking for thoughtful and thought-provoking poetry that examines, interprets, and redefines the wide spectrum of life in the Midwest.
- Submit up to 5 poems or up to 10 pages of poetry in one file. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A SEPARATE SUBMISSION FOR EACH POEM.
- You can title the submission with the title of the first poem, or with the titles of all the poems.
- To withdraw a poem, add a note to your submission and indicate the poem(s) you would like to withdraw.
- Let us know in your cover letter your connection to the Midwest
We're looking for thoughtful and thought-provoking short fiction that examines, interprets, and redefines the wide
spectrum of life, past and present, in the Midwest. Submit work up to 6,000 words, double spaced. Let us know in your cover letter your connection to the Midwest.
We're looking for thoughtful and thought-provoking essays and creative nonfiction that examines, interprets, and redefines the wide spectrum of life, past and present, in the Midwest. Submit work up to 6,000 words, double-spaced. Let us know in your cover letter your connection to the Midwest.
We're looking for thoughtful and thought-provoking photography and visual art that examines, interprets, and redefines the wide spectrum of life, past and present, in the Midwest. Let us know in your cover letter your connection to the Midwest.
- Submit black & white or color, up to 5 images.
- Please use image title for the file titles.
- Image quality should be a minimum of 300dpi.
This form is to purchase a copy of a new or recent issue of Midwest Review!
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!
Issue guide:
Volume 12 (Spring 2025) features new work by: Maryam Barrie, Jeff Rufus Byrd, Dinah Cox, Jim Daniels, Annie Diamond, John Dorroh, Maggie Farren, Richard Fox, Max Fredell, Matthew Freeman, Paige Früchtnicht-Ponchak, Therese Gleason, Christianne Goodwin, Michayla Grbich, Breen Greer, Suzanne Heagy, Dennis Hinrichsen, Yve Holtzclaw, Nicholas Kriefall, Beth Marzoni, Christopher McCormick, Anne Panning, Nik Price, Kimberly Ann Priest, Peter Ramos, Steven Schlozman, LG Sebayan, Heather Sellers, Sam Sharp, Marcus Spiegel, Deirdre Sugiuchi, Sienna Williams.
Volume 11 (Spring 2024) features new work by: Rick Andrews, Jordan Barr, Stephen Eric Berry, C.S. Carrier, Joanna (Yanna) Demkiewicz, Stephanie Dickinson, Kim Farrar, Anna Girgenti, Polly Hansen, Susanna Herrmann, Morgan Kovacs, LaDeana Mullinix, Marijean Oldham, Kurt Olsson, Doug Ramspeck, Xee Reiter, Jenna Rindo, Hannah Baker Saltmarsh, Adam Sleper, Genevieve Smith, David Starkey, Ellen Stone, Shana Toor, Erin Ruzicka Trondson, Olivia Sio Tse, John Walser, Jane Zich
Volume 10 (Spring 2023) features new work by: Nisha Atalie, Patrick Bernhard, Jason Boitnott, Roger Camp, Peter Colson, Zeus Corona, Keith R. Courtad, Jim Daniels, Lara Frankena, Margaret Gregory, Lasana D. Kazembe, John Krumberger, JP Morrison Lans, Amy Lerman, Raymond Luczak, Michelle Morouse, Heidi Espenscheid Nibbelink, Anthony Afairo Nze, Dakota Parks, Roger Pfingston, Colin Punt, Delia Rainey, Orly Rubinfeld, Luke Rudolph, Ed Ruzicka, Kelly R. Samuels, Sandra Scofield, Kathryn Smith, Ruby Smith, James Stewart III, Holly A. Stovall, Mikey Swanberg, Georgia Tiffany, Dereka Thomas, Richard Terrill, Philip Venzke, Candace Angelica Walsh, J.P. White