About the organization
Blue Mesa is a literary organization rooted in the belief that fiction can be a site of quiet, rigorous inquiry. Founded by a collective of writers and editors seeking an alternative to the commercial pressures of mainstream publishing, it has maintained a commitment to work that prioritizes voice, atmosphere, and moral complexity over trend or spectacle. Its flagship publication, Blue Mesa Review, has for decades provided a home for emerging and established writers whose stories resist easy categorization. The organization’s ethos is one of deliberate attention: to the sentence, to the unsaid, to the landscapes—interior and exterior—that shape human experience.
Programs & opportunities
8 listedOpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Creative Nonfiction General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Creative Nonfiction General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Fiction General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Fiction General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Poetry General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Poetry General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Visual Art General Submissions (Fall 2026)
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-01
Blue Mesa — Visual Art General Submissions (Fall 2026)
Taking part
Before submitting, read at least two recent issues of Blue Mesa Review to understand the range of work the editors champion. They favor stories with a strong sense of place, characters who feel lived-in, and prose that trusts the reader. Avoid high-concept premises that rely on twist endings; instead, let the emotional and psychological stakes emerge organically. General submissions for fiction are typically open in seasonal windows—check the website for exact dates. Include a brief cover letter that situates your work in the context of contemporary fiction, but keep it concise. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify immediately if your work is placed elsewhere. Expect a response time of three to six months; the editors read carefully and appreciate your patience.