Literary Journal

Massachusetts Review

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About the magazine

Founded in 1959 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, The Massachusetts Review is a quarterly journal of literature, arts, and public affairs. From its inception, it has been guided by a commitment to cultural democracy and aesthetic rigor, publishing work that engages with social justice, global perspectives, and the complexities of the human condition. The journal's ethos is rooted in the belief that literature and art are vital to civic life, and it has consistently provided a platform for voices that challenge the status quo. Over six decades, The Massachusetts Review has maintained a reputation for curatorial discernment, balancing established and emerging writers. Its pages have featured a wide array of literary forms—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and translation—alongside visual art and critical essays. The journal is not merely a publication but a community of readers and writers who value thoughtful, often provocative, work that transcends commercial trends.

Editorial focus

The Massachusetts Review is an independent quarterly journal of literature, the arts, and public affairs. MR has deep local roots but an international scope, with an emphasis on work that provokes debate, challenges ideology, and engages the serious public issues of the current times.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodOct 1 to Apr 30

Reading feeYes

PaymentCash

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Writers should familiarize themselves with recent issues to understand the journal's aesthetic and thematic range. Submissions are accepted year-round, but response times can be slow (often several months). Simultaneous submissions are permitted with immediate notification of acceptance elsewhere. The Massachusetts Review values work that is both artistically ambitious and socially conscious, and it encourages submissions from underrepresented voices. Before submitting, carefully review the guidelines on the website for genre-specific requirements and formatting.

Please read our guidelines carefully. We highly recommend reading an issue (or the work available for free on our website). For poetry, we will consider up to six poems in a single submission. For prose, we consider fiction and nonfiction of up to 7,500 words. We will consider up to three flash fiction pieces (1,000 words or less) in a single submission. For longer prose, we encourage you to submit work to our Working Titles. BIPOC and translation submissions are accepted outside of regular reading period via e-mail.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

1 listed

ClosedDeadline · 2026-10-01