Literary Journal

Weber—The Contemporary West

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About the magazine

Weber—The Contemporary West is a literary and arts journal published by Weber State University, founded in 1984 as Weber Studies. It has long served as a vital forum for writing and art that engage with the landscapes, cultures, and complexities of the American West. The journal’s mission is to publish distinctive contemporary literature and visual art that reflect the region’s diversity and evolving identity, without resorting to provincialism or stereotype. Under the editorship of Michael Wutz, it has maintained a commitment to both established and emerging voices, offering a curated space where the West is examined as a site of imagination, conflict, and renewal.

Editorial focus

Weber invites submissions in the genres of personal narrative, critical commentary, fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry that offer insight into the environment and culture (both broadly defined) of the contemporary western United States.

PoetryFictionCreative Nonfiction

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentContributor copies only

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Writers and artists should review recent issues to understand the journal’s aesthetic range, which favors literary fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art that thoughtfully address the American West. Submissions are typically open year-round via the website, with reading periods announced. Simultaneous submissions are accepted with prompt notification of acceptance elsewhere. Include a brief cover letter and adhere strictly to genre guidelines; electronic submissions through the online portal are preferred. Response times vary, often several months, so patience is advised. The journal values work that avoids clichés and demonstrates a fresh perspective on regional themes.

To expedite review, authors should enclose two copies of each manuscript and/or send it as an online submission to [email protected] . Weber does not consider nor reprint previously published work, but is willing to consider simultaneous submissions if they are identified as such. Essays, fiction, and creative nonfiction should not exceed 4,000 words, and poets should submit a cluster of three to five poems for consideration. Manuscripts without self-addressed stamped envelopes cannot be returned.

Read official guidelines

Submission calls

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