Ninth Letter (Print)

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Ninth Letter is a semi-annual literary magazine published by the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, seeking innovative and traditional poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for both print and web editions.

Response time info: within six months (print), within four months (web)

Read the full guidelines at ninthletter.com↗

Submission calls

fictionLiteraryOpens Sep 1

For web: Submit one piece of short prose (fiction or nonfiction) up to 3,500 words for the themed web issue (Summer 2026 theme: Reaction) with a cover letter explaining the connection to the theme. Open Sept. 1–Nov. 1 and Feb. 1–Apr. 1 or until 350 submissions per genre. No previously published work

nonfictionOpens Sep 1

For web: Submit one piece of short prose (fiction or nonfiction) up to 3,500 words for the themed web issue (Summer 2026 theme: Reaction) with a cover letter explaining the connection to the theme. Open Sept. 1–Nov. 1 and Feb. 1–Apr. 1 or until 350 submissions per genre. No previously published work

poetryOpens Sep 1

For web: Submit up to three poems for the themed web issue (Summer 2026 theme: Reaction) with a cover letter explaining the connection to the theme. Open Sept. 1–Nov. 1 and Feb. 1–Apr. 1 or until 350 submissions per genre. No previously published work.

fictionLiteraryOpens Sep 1

For print: Submit one story up to 8,000 words or up to 3 flash pieces totaling no more than 4,000 words between Sept. 1 – Feb. 28. $3 reading fee, waived Dec. 1-31 or until 300 submissions per genre. No previously published work. No current UIUC students; alums must wait 3 years after graduation.

nonfictionOpens Sep 1

For print: Submit one essay up to 8,000 words or up to 3 flash pieces totaling no more than 4,000 words between Sept. 1 – Feb. 28. $3 reading fee, waived Dec. 1-31 or until 300 submissions per genre. No previously published work. No current UIUC students; alums must wait 3 years after graduation.

poetryOpens Sep 1

For print: Submit 3-5 poems (max. 8 pages) between Sept. 1 – Feb. 28. $3 reading fee, waived Dec. 1-31 or until 300 submissions per genre. No previously published work. No current UIUC students; alums must wait 3 years after graduation.

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