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Literary Journal

Iowa Review

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#24 Overall · 57.7 ptsTier 3
Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listed

About the magazine

The Iowa Review is a literary journal founded in 1970 at the University of Iowa, home to the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop. Established during a period of vibrant literary experimentation, the journal has consistently published a mix of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that reflects both the rigor of the workshop tradition and a broader commitment to diverse voices. Its mission is to showcase emerging and established writers, with a particular emphasis on work that demonstrates craft, intellectual curiosity, and emotional resonance. Over the decades, it has maintained a reputation for balancing formal innovation with accessibility, making it a vital venue for contemporary literature. In addition to its regular issues, The Iowa Review features reviews and interviews, offering critical context and conversations with writers. The journal operates with a deep respect for the literary arts, prioritizing thoughtful editorial selection over trends. It remains a space where writers can expect serious engagement with their work, and where readers can discover writing that challenges and rewards.

Editorial focus

The Iowa Review selects most of their content from the several thousand unsolicited manuscripts that arrive each year from throughout the country and abroad. They take their mission to be nudging along American literature, to be local but not provincial, to be experimental but not without love for literary traditions. Discovering a new and compelling writer, one they’d never heard of before but whose writing comes through—that still seems the magic of their work.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodAug 1 to Nov 1
Reading feeYes
PaymentCash
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Writers should submit work that demonstrates a strong command of craft and a distinctive voice. The Iowa Review receives a high volume of submissions, so careful adherence to guidelines is essential: submit during reading periods, include a brief cover letter, and ensure prose is double-spaced. Poetry submissions should include 3-5 poems. The journal values work that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant, and it is open to a wide range of styles, though it tends to favor writing that is polished and purposeful. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify promptly if accepted elsewhere. Response times can be several months, so patience is advised. For reviews and interviews, query first with a concise pitch that outlines the subject and approach.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

2 listed
ClosedDeadline · 2026-01-31

Iowa Review Awards

OpenDeadline · 2026-11-02

The Iowa Review — Reviews and Interviews

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Explore the publication through its past issues and volumes.

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