Ninth Letter — 2. Web Edition POETRY

Overview
Ninth Letter, a literary journal affiliated with the University of Illinois, operates a distinct web edition that runs parallel to its print counterpart. This call is specifically for poetry intended for digital publication, reflecting the journal's ongoing engagement with how writing circulates online. The web edition maintains the editorial standards of the print journal while embracing the possibilities of the screen. Poets are invited to submit up to three poems, with a total manuscript length not exceeding ten pages. There is no submission fee. The journal requires that poems be formatted without justified text, as the website cannot accommodate justified alignment; poems with strict justification will not be considered. Additionally, a brief note explaining the work's connection to the theme is mandatory—submissions lacking this note will be rejected without review. This opportunity is for poets whose work engages with the specified theme and who are attentive to the material conditions of digital publication. The web edition seeks poems that resonate with the theme while demonstrating a command of language and an awareness of the online reading environment. The curatorial vision prioritizes work that is both conceptually rigorous and formally considered, with the understanding that the digital medium shapes how poems are encountered.