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Organization

pshares.org

Ploughshares

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Creative community3 open opportunities listed

About the organization

Founded in 1971 at Emerson College, Ploughshares is a literary journal that has long been a bellwether for contemporary American letters. Its founding ethos, articulated by editor DeWitt Henry, was to create a journal that balanced established and emerging voices, a principle that continues to guide its editorial selections. The journal publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, with each issue traditionally curated by a different guest editor, a practice that ensures aesthetic diversity and prevents stagnation. This rotating editorship has allowed Ploughshares to remain responsive to shifts in literary taste while maintaining rigorous standards.

Opportunities

4 listed
ClosedDeadline · 2026-03-31

Emerging Writers’ Contest

Official listing
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-15

Ploughshares — Manuscript Submission

View opportunity Official listing
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-15

Ploughshares — Manuscript Submission

View opportunity Official listing
OpenDeadline · 2026-11-15

Ploughshares — Manuscript Submission

View opportunity Official listing

Areas of practice

Ploughshares ’ mission is to champion innovative writing, elevate emerging and established voices, and spark new dialogues in local, national, and global communities. Ploughshares blends the unique editorial perspectives of two guest-edited issues with two staff-edited issues each year, showcasing a variety of established and emerging writers across each issue.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Application guidance

Application windowJun 1 to Nov 15
Application feeYes
PaymentCash
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Ploughshares accepts submissions via its online portal during designated reading periods, typically from June 1 to January 15 for general submissions. Writers should submit only previously unpublished work and adhere to genre-specific guidelines: up to five poems, one story or essay of up to 7,500 words. Simultaneous submissions are permitted with immediate notification of acceptance elsewhere. The journal values work that demonstrates a distinctive voice and structural awareness, and it is recommended that submitters read recent issues to understand the range of work the journal publishes. Response times vary, but typically range from two to five months.

Please note that we charge a $3.75 service fee for online submissions (subscribers may submit online free of charge). Mailed submissions are accepted free of charge. Please read our submission guidelines online at www.pshares.org/submit .

Read official guidelines
1 images

A Celebration of Love Poetry Reading

June 26, 2026
June 26, 2026
Details ↗
Ploughshares — Arts Organization