Literary Journal

Grey Sparrow Journal

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About the magazine

Grey Sparrow Journal is a literary magazine founded in 2005 by poet and editor David C. Kopaska-Merkel. Operating under the aegis of Grey Sparrow Press, the journal has maintained a consistent commitment to publishing poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction that leans toward the lyrical, the speculative, and the quietly experimental. Its founding ethos is one of eclecticism without laxity: work is selected for its precision of language and emotional resonance rather than for adherence to any single school or trend. Over the years, the journal has cultivated a readership that appreciates writing which is at once accessible and formally alert, often bridging the gap between mainstream literary sensibilities and the stranger edges of the imagination.

Editorial focus

Strictly literary writing please; flash and poetry. Emerging and established voices are welcome. Sparrow Poets address global issues that haunt us all. Book manuscripts are published sporadically. Grey Sparrow Journal also offers a “National Treasure” series in poetry and features a Pulitzer Prize writer for most issues and/or a national treasure from a country outside the United States.

PoetryFictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentNo payment

Response timeGreater than 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Before submitting, read at least one full issue to gauge the journal’s tonal range—it favors work that balances clarity with a touch of the uncanny. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted, but notify the editors promptly if your work is placed elsewhere. Cover letters should be brief and professional; there is no need for elaborate bios. Expect response times of several weeks to a few months, and avoid querying before the stated reading period has ended. Most importantly, proofread meticulously: the journal’s editorial eye is drawn to clean, polished manuscripts that demonstrate care for the sentence.

Editor Diane Smith (ALM, Harvard University) publishes poetry, flash fiction, fine art, and photography. Review the ezine before submitting work. Grey Sparrow Journal has a large online following with over 1,000,000 cumulative visitors since inception. Forward Grey Sparrow Journal submissions and book manuscripts to: [email protected] for review. Watch at the site for calls regarding Snow Jewel .

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Submission calls

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