Literary Journal
North American Review
Open nowAbout the magazine
Editorial focus
Founded in Boston in 1815, the North American Review is the oldest literary magazines in the United States. Contributors include important nineteenth-century American writers and thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, Edith Wharton, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman; and twentieth-century writers like William Carlos Williams, John Steinbeck, Thomas Wolfe, William Saroyan, and Flannery O’Connor.
Submitting your work
Writers should approach the North American Review with an awareness of its traditional literary standards. The magazine runs annual contests, such as the James Hearst Poetry Prize, which offer a focused opportunity for submission. Before sending work, review several recent issues to understand the editorial range, which tends toward well-crafted, accessible poetry and prose rather than experimental or hybrid forms. Follow the guidelines on the website precisely, including reading periods and fee requirements. Because the review receives a high volume of submissions, patience is advised; simultaneous submissions are generally discouraged unless stated otherwise. A cover letter is not necessary, but a brief note of previous publications may be included.
We like stories that start quickly and have a strong narrative arc. Poems that are passionate about subject, language, and image are welcome, whether they are traditional or experimental, whether in formal or free verse (closed or open form). Nonfiction should combine art and fact with the finest writing.
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6 listedPast issues
2 itemsExplore the publication through its past issues and volumes.
Spring 2023 Issue 308.1 Cover Art | "Where Do You Belong" by Gary Kelley · Spring · 2023
NAR OER Textbook Cover