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Literary Journal

Pinch Journal

Closes in 11 days
Visit website Submission calls
Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listed

About the magazine

Pinch is a literary journal founded in 2011 by poets and editors Kevin Craft and John Pursley III. Operating out of the University of Maryland, it began with a commitment to publishing poetry that is formally engaged, emotionally resonant, and intellectually curious. The journal's ethos is rooted in the belief that poetry can be both accessible and complex, and it has consistently featured work that balances craft with risk. Over the years, Pinch has expanded to include translations, interviews, and reviews, but its core mission remains the same: to provide a discerning platform for contemporary poetry that matters.

Editorial focus

Pinch is a nationally recognized literary journal published by the University of Memphis. The editors publish work that uses form, content, and subtext do dissolve boundaries maintained by traditional publishers. The authors of these innovative texts most often identify as outsiders because their voices are underrepresented in contemporary literature.

PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeYes
PaymentContributor copies only
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Pinch accepts poetry submissions year-round through its online submission manager. Editors appreciate poems that demonstrate a strong command of language, a clear sense of purpose, and an original voice. They are open to a wide range of styles and forms, but tend to favor work that is polished and emotionally honest. Before submitting, read several issues to understand the journal's aesthetic. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify immediately if your work is taken elsewhere. Include a brief cover letter with your publication history, if any. Response times vary, but generally range from one to three months.

Our editorial process is designed to minimize gatekeeping and nepotism. More than 90 percent of the written work we publish is unsolicited. We offer no-cost equity upon request, and our submission portal stays open year-round. Each submission is evaluated by a minimum of two readers and our contests adhere to the CLMP code of ethics. In an effort to publish more authors, we publish work weekly on our online magazine, PJO ( www.pinchjournal.com/read ).

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

5 listed
ClosedDeadline · 2026-01-31

Page Prize in Nonfiction

ClosedDeadline · 2026-02-28

Pinch Literary Award in Fiction

ClosedDeadline · 2026-03-31

Pinch Literary Award in Poetry

ClosedDeadline · 2026-10-03

Pinch — Poetry

View opportunity
OpenDeadline · 2026-10-16

Submit Your Artwork to the Pinch

View opportunity

Prize history

Past winners and selected work.

2024we have published early work by Margaret Atwood

2024Chen Chen

2024Roxane Gay

5 items

Explore the publication through its past issues and volumes.

Sometimes Samosas

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Lambskin

Preview cover

The Obscure Historical Sorrows of Canines

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On the High Expectations of Daughters

Preview cover

Past Issue

Preview cover