MAR does accept and read submissions year round; all genres are accepting submissions. We accept fiction, poetry, translations, and nonfiction (including personal essays, essays on writing, and short reviews)—There is NO reading fee for a regular submission, but our contests do require an entry fee. Contributing authors will receive two complimentary copies of MAR as payment. We encourage simultaneous submissions, but request immediate notification if the work is accepted elsewhere. We seek to acquire first rights for most works (excepting the original language of translated work) and First North American Serial Rights; all rights revert to the author upon publication. MAR does not consider work which has previously appeared elsewhere in print or online, for regular consideration or for its contests.

We do not accept work that has been generated, in whole or in part, by Artificial Intelligence (AI). If you have questions about the use of generated material within, for instance, a story about AI, or similar, please reach out to us at mar@bgsu.edu.

To submit via our submission manager, please click here.

Fiction Editor: Sydney Koeplin
Mid-American Review considers work that doesn’t shy away from the weird, the unfamiliar, or the unexpected. We are open to submissions from new and established writers, both traditional and experimental work, including flash and microfiction. We consider fictional works of all genres, and we especially love pieces that find meaning in strangeness. Please send only one story per submission, or up to 5 shorts. MAR considers pieces up to 6,000 words in length; authors wishing to submit longer manuscripts or novel excerpts should query first at mar@bgsu.edu. We are looking to read a story we haven’t read before, or a familiar story presented in an original way.

Poetry Editor: Melayna Pongratz
Our editors are interested in poems that incorporate textured, evocative images and have a definite sense of voice. Please send us poems with a strong awareness of sound and meaning. We encourage new as well as established writers to submit and have no length limit on individual pieces, but please send no more than six poems.

Nonfiction Editor: Karen Craigo
Intensive examination and getting below the surface of the subject is of primary consideration in MAR‘s essays. We gravitate to a distinct voice and work that goes beyond the author’s own experience to engage the larger world. We enjoy pieces that are grounded in the unique and particular that broaden our perception of the human experience. We’re drawn to pieces that experiment with style and form that go beyond the rigidity of tradition. We love to read braided essays, hermit crab essays, lyric essays, fragmented essays, flash nonfiction, and other experimental forms. We do not typically publish journalism or scholarly essays, but personal examinations of scholarly and critical topics are welcome. Hybrid works are also welcome. MAR considers pieces up to 6,000 words.

Reviews Editor: Abigail Cloud
We also seek book reviews of ~500 words, following the MLA style sheet, of works of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction published within six months of our publication dates (June & December). Please query (click on editor’s name above) before sending a book review, to ensure we find it promptly in our system.

Translation Editor: George Looney
All submissions must include the original as well as the translated work. Chapbooks (approximately 10-15 poems) are designed to provide readers with an introduction to a single contemporary poet or a group of poets. An introductory essay of 300-500 words outlining the historical context of the poetry is encouraged. Translations of contemporary fiction and poetry are also welcome and should follow the guidelines listed under Fiction and Poetry. All rights to translate should be acquired before submitting, and translators should be prepared to provide proof of these rights.

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