We seek well-crafted writing that takes risks. We publish work in and between all genres: poetry, fiction, essays, and plays—we appreciate work in experimental and traditional modes. We accept prose submissions of less than 6,000 words (24 double-spaced pages) and poetry submissions under 10 pages. We publish scripts in the 10-minute format (10 pages). We publish original translations into English. We only accept work that has not been previously published elsewhere, electronically or in print. We showcase illustrators in every issue: inquire about our art needs at review@tusculum.edu.
We read year round, though our response time may be slower during the summer months. We go to print annually in the fall. We accept simultaneous submissions, but please alert us via Submittable in the event of acceptance elsewhere. We would love to pay you with money, but our budget only allows for payment in copies (2).
Please include your name, address, phone number, email address, and title(s) of your submissions in your cover letter. A short bio is optional.
We nominate for the Pushcart Prize, O. Henry Awards, Best New Poets, and The Best American Series. Irene O'Garden's "Glad to be Human: A Joie de Coeur," published in Volume 6 of The Tusculum Review, won a 2012 Pushcart Prize. Robin Storey Dunn's "Gimme Shelter" and Jamie L. Smith's "Mythology Lessons," published in Volume 16 of The Tusculum Review, were recognized as Notable Essays and Literary Nonfiction of 2020 in The Best American Essays 2021. In The Best American Essays 2022, Priscilla Long's "After Long Silence" and Suphil Lee Park's "An Escape Clause," both published in Volume 16 of The Tusculum Review, were recognized as Notable Essays and Literary Nonfiction of 2021.
Except for second printings of the journal, all rights to material in The Tusculum Review revert to the individual authors and artists after publication. The ideas and opinions expressed in The Tusculum Review are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or ideas of Tusculum University, its administration, faculty, or staff. Tusculum University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, identity, religion, ethnic origin, or disability.
The Tusculum Review 2023 Poetry Chapbook Prize
A prize of $1,000, publication of the chapbook in The Tusculum Review’s 2023 issue, and creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook is awarded for the winning collection of poems.
The deadline is June 15, 2023 on Submittable.com.
The entry fee is $20 per manuscript. Entry fees include a one-year subscription to The Tusculum Review (an annual publication) and consideration for publication. We encourage international submissions but must charge an additional $15 fee to mail the journal to locations outside the U.S.
Each manuscript should consist of a 20-30 page chapbook in a standard 12-point font. Chapbooks may not have been previously published nor be forthcoming, though individual poems may have been published elsewhere (provided rights have reverted to the author). Simultaneous submissions are accepted: please alert us if your chapbook is going to be published elsewhere.
Please submit a cover letter with your entry. The cover letter should include the title of your entry, your name, postal address, phone number, and email address. Please do NOT include your name or any other identifying information on any page of the chapbook manuscript.
Editors of The Tusculum Review and final judge Justin Phillip Reed will determine the winner of the 2023 prize. Family, friends, and previous students of the final judge as well as The Tusculum Review editors are disqualified from the contest, as are those with reciprocal professional relationships.
Names and identifying information will not be visible to the judges. The Tusculum Review reserves the right to extend the call for manuscripts or cancel the award.
Justin Phillip Reed is an American writer and amateur bass guitarist whose preoccupations include horror cinema, ideological failure, and uses of the grotesque. He is the author of two poetry collections, The Malevolent Volume (2020) and Indecency (2018), both published by Coffee House Press. His hybrid collection, With Bloom Upon Them And Also With Blood: A Horror Miscellany, will be released in fall 2023. Born and raised in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, he participates in alternative rock music cultures and enjoys smelling like outside.
Please attach your story of less than 6,000 words (24 double-spaced pages) as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title of the submission in your cover letter. A short bio is optional.
Please attach your poetry submission of less of less than 10 pages as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title(s) of the submission(s) in your cover letter. A short bio is optional.
Please attach your essay of less of less than 6,000 words (24 double-spaced pages) as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title of the submission in your cover letter. A short bio is optional.
Please attach your play of 10 pages as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title of the submission in your cover letter. A short bio is optional.