HALSEY Literary Reader Fernwood Press Gold Star Program Gold Star

A semi-regular collection of words and pictures, HALSEY focuses on the art and science of living and what it means to be human. We welcome all kinds of poems and photographs, short essays on craft, and reviews of small press poetry books.

Each issue includes thirty poems and ten pictures from up to twenty artists. Plus at least two short essays on craft. And maybe a review or two. Each piece is both technically sound and doing something only it can do. HALSEY is designed to be looked at and listened to.

Wisdom comes from a collective, iterative process. HALSEY brings readers, viewers, writers, and photographers together. And each issue is organized to prompt insights, ideas, and resolution about what it means to be human, modes of understanding that none of us could reach alone. Because we need each other.

Our readers and editors have decades of combined experience, seeking out work that is timely and timeless; that offers some surprise, taking us somewhere other than what we expected; that is touched by humor; that can be read over and over and over again without losing its power. And each issue of HALSEY is an opportunity for us to celebrate what others are doing.

Independent journals like HALSEY aren’t lucrative. We aren’t guided by target audiences or profit margins. We feature art made for love, and that art is transformed when it is placed in conversation with other pieces in each issue we produce. The voices and visions of our contributors amplify each other. That makes this humble literary journal the perfect place to discover new voices and new ideas.

Note: This project only allows submissions from the following countries:

United States

words & pictures Free Tip Jar Option Open

HALSEY is a nonprofit magazine of poetry, photography, short essays on craft, and reviews of small-press poetry collections. We are looking for poetry, photography, short essays on craft, and reviews of small-press poetry collections. We consider every submission in order to ensure that new/emerging voices are included alongside nationally recognized, award-winning authors.

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable and encouraged. If your work is accepted elsewhere (congratulations!), please withdraw it. Iif a poem has only appeared in your book or chapbook or is set to appear in your book, those works may still be submitted to us, just so long as you have the rights to your own work. Please note, we only allow reprint rights for poetry not found in other magazines.

For Poetry

Send three poems in ONE file (.doc, .docx, .rtf only). Include a bio of no more than 50 words.

For Poetry and Photography

Send three poems in ONE file (.doc, .docx, .rtf only) and an accompanying high-resolution photograph as a separate file (.jpg or .png preferred). The photograph must measure 2,400 pixels on its shortest side. Include a bio of no more than 50 words. Include a title for the photograph and a caption of no more than 50 words. For PhotographsSend up to three black-and-white or full-color photos that fit together and that align with an aspect of our mission. Each photo can be a .jpg or .png file and must measure 2,400 pixels on its shortest side. Include a bio of no more than 50 words. Include a title for the series and/or for each photograph and a caption for each of no more than 50 words.

For Craft Essays

Craft essays should be short, no more than a thousand words and sent as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf file. Include a bio of no more than 50 words and an author photo (.jpg or .png) that measures at least 400 pixels on its shortest side.

For Reviews

Reviews should be of small-press poetry collections released in the last twenty-four months or set to be released in the next twelve months. Reviews should be short, no more than a thousand words and sent as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf file. Include a photo of the book cover (.jpg or .png) that measures at least 1,000 pixels on its shortest side, a URL where the book can be found online, and the ISBN. Include a bio of no more than 50 words and an author photo (.jpg or .png) that measures at least 400 pixels on its shortest side.

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