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American Literary Review

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About

Since 1990, the American Literary Review has been published through the Department of English at the University of North Texas. We feature poems, stories, essays, reviews, and interviews that reflect the diverse tradition of writers living in the United States and abroad. Our aim is to expand the notion of publishing literature that is American. We welcome work that speaks to American place, culture, history, and future, among other subjects.

We are particularly interested in writing that speaks to underrepresented and historically disadvantaged communities in the United States, including Black and Indigenous people of color, disabled communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, Latine communities, and intersections thereof. Including such a diversity of perspectives in our journal is essential to our mission of expanding the breadth of American literature.

This mission also entails welcoming authors of varying experience. From the journal’s inception, we have made a point of publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by writers at all stages of their careers. We revel in the opportunity to be a promising writer’s first publication, just as we relish the chance to publish writers with multiple books.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, except for fee waivers, and they do not offer monetary payment for accepted submissions. (Note: About 8% of magazines always charge fees.)
The fee is USD $3 (average for magazines that charge).
Submission Caps: They may close to submissions early if they reach their quota.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 1990

Publication Medium & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Unknown publication frequency

AI Policy

Human-created work only; no AI use allowed
584 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Slower
American Literary Review's overall average response time is slower than most magazines.
More Challenging
American Literary Review's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines.
Responsive
American Literary Review's overall rate of non-response is within a normal range for magazines.
Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed

We publish the best fiction that comes our way, but we prefer stories that are well-crafted and which reveal the nuances and complexities of characters and situations that surprise us with their unerring truths.

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 01 October 2026* (approx. 16 days from now) through 01 December 2026.

3

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words.
Novelette: 7,500 - 8,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed

We welcome nonfiction submissions in personal essay, memoir, literary journalism, and experimental nonfiction.

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 01 October 2026* (approx. 16 days from now) through 01 December 2026.

1

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Essay: Up to 8,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary, Personal.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Memoir.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Temp Closed

The poetry we search out should challenge the reader's imagination through fresh language, precise imagery, formal artistry, and it should demonstrate an attention to the craft and tradition of poetry. We tend to prefer poems that are pleasing to the ear as well as the imagination.

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 01 October 2026* (approx. 16 days from now) through 01 December 2026.

5

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; Up to 5 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Visual Art Open Fee-based

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Artwork: 5 - 10 pieces.

Art Media:

Open to all/most Art Media.

Art Styles:

Open to all/most Art Styles.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Image.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.
* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment.

Recent cover image or website screenshot for American Literary Review

Go to publication's website

Report:
Submission/Response
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Social:
Instagram @americanliteraryreview
X (Twitter) @alitreview

For the Editor(s):
Request Interview
Duosuma Submission Manager
Link to Duotrope

American Literary Review Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:
Accuracy
We have received 99 reports from 89 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
11 min | 87.2 mean avg | 72.0 median | 240 max days (56.0 std dev)
Responses
88.89 %
Acceptances:
1.01 % of submissions accepted (105.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 1.12 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here.
Rejections:
87.88 % (89.4 avg. days per rejection) | 8.1 % personal, 73.6 % form, 18.4 % unspecified
Non-Responses
1.01 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
1.01 % (240.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded)
Withdrawals
10.10 % (52.8 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
19 responses are pending (10 min | 135.7 mean avg | 163.0 median | 256 max days waiting | 487.6 std dev) from 18 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 180 days. (6.1 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 180 days.)
The most common submission fee paid: USD $3.00.
Submissions are acknowledged within 15 days on average.
Most recent response reported was received on 11 Sep 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 01 Apr 2026.
Date compiled: 14 Sep 2026 16:10 UTC (2 hours, 33 minutes ago).
View report of recent responses from this project

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American Literary Review Flash Flood Contest  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 06 Aug 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.

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