Literary Journal

Breakwater Review

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About the magazine

Breakwater Review is a literary journal founded in 2010 by MFA candidates at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rooted in the belief that poetry and prose should serve as a breakwater against cultural amnesia, the journal publishes work that is formally alert, emotionally precise, and unafraid of intellectual risk. Its editorial vision has remained consistent: to champion writing that resists easy consolation while remaining accessible to the attentive reader. Over the past decade, Breakwater has become a reliable venue for emerging and mid-career writers, with a particular openness to hybrid forms and translations.

Editorial focus

A breakwater is a barrier of rocks or concrete, built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from extreme weather and hazardous conditions. In a world that oftentimes feels shattered and broken, Breakwater Review seeks to publish both established and (more importantly) new voices from diverse backgrounds, words that unite them against the storm—challenging their own perceptions of reality in fresh and interesting ways.

PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeYes

PaymentCash

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsNo

Breakwater Review accepts general poetry submissions year-round via its website. Submit 3–5 poems in a single .docx or .pdf file, with a brief cover letter that includes your name, contact information, and any previous publications. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but notify the editors immediately upon acceptance elsewhere. The journal does not charge reading fees for general submissions and typically responds within 3–5 months. Before submitting, read at least one recent issue to understand the editors’ taste for lyric compression, narrative risk, and resistance to sentimentality. Proofread carefully; typos are a common reason for rejection.

We publish general poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art all year-round. However, we also host the Peseroff Poetry Contest in the Spring and the Breakwater Review Fiction Contest in the fall which both offer $1,000 prizes for winners. For more information on our magazine and submissions, visit our website.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

3 listed

ClosedDeadline · 2026-10-02

Past issues

2 items

Explore the publication through its past issues and volumes.

Issue 40_edited_edited.jpg

Preview cover