Black Warrior Review See other projects related to this listing. About Established in 1974 by graduate students in the MFA Program in Creative Writing, Black Warrior Review is named for the river that borders the campus of The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The city, the river, and the magazine all derive their names from the 16th-century Indigenous leader Tuskaloosa (also spelled “Tushkalusa”), whose name comes from two words of Creek or Choctaw origin—tasca, meaning “warriors,” and lusa, meaning “black.” In 1540, Tuskaloosa battled the Spanish colonizer Hernando de Soto at Mabila, a fortified settlement perhaps in the vicinity of present-day Selma. Tuskaloosa was likely among the thousands who perished in the resistance effort, which is thought to have stopped the advance of de Soto’s campaign. BWR publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, comics, and art twice a year. Contributors include Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners alongside emerging writers. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, except for writers for whom the fee presents a financial hardship, who can request fee waivers. The fee is USD $5. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1974 Publication Medium & Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationPublished 2 x per year Collapse section Fiction Open Fee-based Dates:Open to fiction submissions through 01 September 2025* (approx. 44 days from now).14Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $50-$250.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Open Fee-based Dates:Open to nonfiction submissions through 01 September 2025* (approx. 44 days from now).4Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 6,000 words. Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $50-$250.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Open Fee-based Dates:Open to poetry submissions through 01 September 2025* (approx. 44 days from now).18Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Poem: No line limits known; Up to 3 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) to Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $50-$250.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Visual Art Closed This project has permanently closed to submissions in this category. 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. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookInstagram @blackwarriorrevX (Twitter) @BlackWarriorRev For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Subscribe Black Warrior Review Submission Statistics Free Preview! 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. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Fiction Publishers in our database. Accuracy: We have received 338 reports from 273 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported: 2 min | 88.5 mean avg | 92.0 median | 365 max days (244.4 std dev) Responses 92.90 % Acceptances: 1.48 % of submissions accepted (81.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 1.83 % 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: 91.42 % (88.7 avg. days per rejection) | 14.6 % personal, 63.4 % form, 22.0 % unspecified | 0.6 % shortlisted Non-Responses 7.10 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: 0.59 % (364.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals: 6.51 % (50.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 64 responses are pending (1 min | 47.1 mean avg | 39.5 median | 410 max days waiting | 837.5 std dev) from 64 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. (3.6 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 180 days.) Do not query on the status of your submission before 180 days have passed. The most common submission fee paid: USD $5.00. Submissions are acknowledged within 2 days on average. Most recent response reported was received on 12 Jul 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 02 Jul 2025. Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsBlack Warrior Review Contest Charges fees for all submissionsBlack Warrior Review Creature(s) Contest CLOSED Charges fees for all submissionsBWR Online: Boyfriend Village Charges fees for some submissions Before SubmittingWe 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. DatesLast Updated: 31 May 2025Last Audited: 26 Mar 2025 Date Added: 02 Aug 2005We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.