We are looking for fresh, surprising work that impresses us with its technique and technical control. We want poems with heart (emotional clarity and complication) and brains (theoretical engagement, logic and metaphors that stand up to further contemplation, mastery of syntax and diction). We are committed to publishing underrepresented voices, and we also appreciate work in which the author has a stake: poems that feel both true and necessary. Put simply, we are looking for poems that we would be happy to read over and over again, poems in which we could appreciate new meanings, details, and connections each time.

Please limit poetry submissions to 3 – 5 poems (up to 10 pages) grouped in a   single .doc or .pdf document.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but we ask that you notify us of this at the time of submission. We do not accept previously published work. Multiple submissions are not accepted and will not be read or responded to; please wait until you receive a response from us before submitting again.  

Please withdraw submissions using the online submission system. For withdrawals of a single poem from a packet, there is no need to withdraw the entire submission; simply leave a comment on your submission via the submission manager.

Reading previous issues of The Journal is the best way to determine what the nonfiction editors look for. Generally, we are drawn to essays that are personal, lyric, and/or blended with cultural criticism. Hybridity and formal experimentation excite us. And while we are open to all aesthetic and stylistic approaches, we especially value voices that feel fresh and self-aware. We don't typically publish work over 6,000 words and often love a tight essay of 3-5,000, as well as much shorter flash pieces. Note: We are very unlikely to publish traditional memoir, straight reportage, or academic writing. 

We try to respond to submissions within six months, though it sometimes takes longer. All nonfiction submissions should be double-spaced. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, we just ask that you notify us. Multiple submissions are not accepted and will not be read or responded to; please wait until you receive a response from us before submitting again.

We welcome literary fiction submissions of all forms, including those that incorporate experimental or genre elements. Though we generally do not publish straight genre fiction, we are always excited to read speculative work and frequently publish non-realist fiction. We encourage submissions from all marginalized people, including but not limited to people of color, LGBTQIA and the gender non-conforming, and those with disabilities. All fiction submissions should be double-spaced, Garamond. We are happy to consider self-contained excerpts of novels and long stories, but please note that historically it is unusual for us to publish stories longer than 5,000 words. If you are submitting flash fiction, you are welcome to submit up to three 1000-word stories in a single .doc or .pdf document. 

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but we ask that you notify us of this at the time of submission. Multiple submissions are not accepted and will not be read or responded to; please wait until you receive a response from us before submitting again.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, The Journal is committed to celebrating the incredible work of Ohio writers and artists. From Toni Morrison to Hanif Abdurraqib, Ohio has long been home to some of the most groundbreaking American writers. The Journal is proud to exist within such a vibrant literary community, past and present, and it is our mission to help give a platform to the voices shaping Ohio's future. 

While general submissions open during the Fall and Spring, we welcome submissions from Ohio-based writers and artists year round! In an effort to increase access and opportunities for Ohioans, we are committed to publishing local writers and artists in every issue. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your work with us, and building community together.

In the title of your submission, please indicate what genre you are submitting. 

Each year, The Journal selects one full-length manuscript of poetry for publication by Mad Creek Books, an imprint of The Ohio State University Press. In addition to publication under a standard book contract, the winning author receives the Charles B. Wheeler prize of $2500.

 Entries of at least 48 typed pages of original poetry must be electronically submitted BY OCTOBER 7, 2024. Please note:  Your name or other identification should appear only on a separate cover page. No identifying information should be included on the manuscript.  All manuscripts will be read anonymously. Manuscripts must be previously unpublished. Some or all of the poems in the collection may have appeared in periodicals, chapbooks, or anthologies, but these must be identified in the acknowledgments page. A nonrefundable handling fee of $23.00 (or $11.50 for BIPOC poets) will be charged for each entry. All entrants receive a one-year subscription to The Journal, which includes access to one print issue. If it is a hardship to meet the submission fee, please contact our editor to discuss options for a fee waiver at thejournalprize@osu.edu (please have the word "wheeler" in the subject line). 

The winning entry, screened by the editorial staff of The Journal and chosen by guest judge Marcus Jackson, will be announced the following February.

Our current issue features fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and artwork from: Stephanie Burt, Abigail Carlson, Victoria Chang, Jamaal May, Mandy Shunnarah, Lee Welch, & Rose Zinnia