The Massachusetts Review See other projects related to this listing. About Founded in 1959 by a group of professors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke, and Smith, The Massachusetts Review is one of the nation’s leading literary magazines, distinctive in joining the highest level of artistic concern with pressing public issues. As The New York Times observed, “It is amazing that so much significant writing on race and culture appears in one magazine.” MR was named one of the top ten literary journals in 2008 by the Boston Globe. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for some submissions. They charge fees for electronic submissions, except for BIPOC writers. The fee is USD $3 (average for magazines that charge). Important: Submissions from BIPOC writers are accepted year-round with no fee. Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s). Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1959 Publication Medium & Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationPublished 4 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed The Massachusetts Review's overall average response time is within a normal range for magazines. More ChallengingThe Massachusetts Review's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines. ResponsiveThe Massachusetts Review's overall rate of non-response is within a normal range for magazines. Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 October 2026* (approx. 25 days from now) through 30 April 2027.5Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words. Novelette: 7,500 - 8,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: 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 $100.Submissions:Methods: Email. Online form. Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed Articles and Essays of breadth and depth are considered, as well as discussions of leading writers; of art, music, and drama; analyses of trends in literature, science, philosophy, and public affairs.Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 October 2026* (approx. 25 days from now) through 30 April 2027.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Article: No specific word count limits known. Essay: No specific word count limits known.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Literature/Books: General, Theory/Analysis/Criticism. Music: General, Theory/Analysis/Criticism. Performing Arts: General, Theory/Analysis/Criticism. Philosophy. Society/Culture: General, Current events. Visual Arts: General, Theory/Analysis/Criticism.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 $100.Submissions:Methods: Email. Online form. Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 October 2026* (approx. 25 days from now) through 30 April 2027.11Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Poem: Up to 100 lines; Up to 6 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: 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 $100.Submissions:Methods: Email. Online form. Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. 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:Bluesky @themassreview.bsky.socialFacebook FacebookInstagram @themassachusettsreviewX (Twitter) @MassReview Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Purchase Issue(s) Subscribe For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope The Massachusetts 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. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Fiction Publishers in our database. Filter: Category: All Categories Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 289 reports from 235 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 1 min | 84.9 mean avg | 71.5 median | 438 max days (111.8 std dev) Responses 89.28 % Acceptances: 0.35 % of submissions accepted (375.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 0.43 % 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: 88.93 % (78.5 avg. days per rejection) | 8.2 % personal, 74.3 % form, 17.5 % unspecified Non-Responses 1.73 % Lost/Returned: 0.35 % (39.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as lost or returned) Never Responded: 1.38 % (352.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals 9.00 % (59.1 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 54 responses are pending (67 min | 182.6 mean avg | 144.0 median | 436 max days waiting | 639.0 std dev) from 53 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. (8.3 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 180 days.) The most common submission fee paid: USD $3.00. (58.8 % of reports specified whether they paid a fee; of those, 96.3 % paid fees.) Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 26 Aug 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 30 Apr 2026. Date compiled: 05 Sep 2026 13:03 UTC (7 hours, 25 minutes ago). View report of recent responses from this project 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 ProjectsWorking Titles DNQ 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: 14 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only