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Literary Journal

The Journal

Closes in 8 days
Journals & literary magazines2 open opportunities listed

About the magazine

The Journal is a literary magazine founded in 1972 at Ohio State University by a group of poets and writers seeking a venue for work that challenges conventional poetic forms. Its founding ethos emphasizes the poem as a site of inquiry, where language is tested against silence and tradition. Over five decades, it has maintained a commitment to publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that is formally adventurous and intellectually rigorous, without aligning with any single school or movement. The magazine's core mission is to provide a space for writing that risks obscurity in favor of precision, and to foster a community of readers and writers who value difficulty as a form of pleasure.

Editorial focus

Established in 1972, The Journal is the nationally distributed, prize-winning literary journal of Ohio State University. It publishes the highest quality fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and reviews by both emerging and established authors.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodSep 1 to Dec 1
Reading feeNo
PaymentContributor copies only
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Before submitting, read at least two recent issues to understand the editors' tastes, which lean toward the intellectually demanding and the sonically rich. The Journal does not respond well to work that feels workshopped to a formula; they seek poems and prose that take risks with form and content. For the Wheeler Poetry Prize, submit a cohesive manuscript rather than a collection of disparate pieces, and include a brief cover letter that articulates your poetics without over-explaining. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify immediately if accepted elsewhere. Response times are typically 3-6 months, so plan accordingly. There is no fee for general submissions, but the Wheeler Prize requires a small reading fee.

Our taste is eclectic; excellence is our only criterion. Please check the website’s submission guidelines for the most up-to-date information.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

7 listed
ClosedDeadline · 2026-09-16

The Journal — Creative Nonfiction

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ClosedDeadline · 2026-09-16

The Journal — Interviews

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ClosedDeadline · 2026-09-16

The Journal — Reviews

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ClosedDeadline · 2026-09-16

The Journal: Fiction Submissions

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ClosedDeadline · 2026-09-16

The Journal: Poetry Submissions

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OpenDeadline · 2026-10-13

The Journal — 2026 Wheeler Poetry Prize

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OpenDeadline · 2026-12-01

The Journal — Submissions

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