We’re headed all the way across country this month, from West Virginia to the Pacific Northwest, the Gem State: Idaho! Join editor-in-chief Cole Meyer on a tour of this great state’s literary institutions!
Idaho is known for its vast stretches of natural landscape, those gorgeous mountain ranges, and for being that place where your potatoes probably come from. And here’s something: No one knows why it’s called Idaho. The word seems to have been made up when territory names were being suggested. But what we do know is that Idaho is home to more than spuds: these terrific literary magazines also claim Gem State residence!
The Idaho Review
The Idaho Review was founded in 1997 at Boise State University, and half of the short stories in its inaugural issue found their way into the 1998 Best American Short Stories. That’s a hell of a debut! Since then, The Idaho Review has been regularly featured in the annual awards anthologies and has become a highly respected literary journal across the industry. Submissions are open in the fall, though occasionally will reopen in the spring. Most of the fiction they publish is under twenty-five pages, and they ask that you only send five poems at a time. Check them out!
Fugue
Published out of the University of Idaho, Fugue has been a pillar of the literary magazine world since its inaugural issue in 1990. Their former contributor list is impressive: Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Terrance Hayes, and Jim Shepard (just to pull a few) have all had their work featured in Fugue. They are open now for their annual poetry and prose contests, the winners of which will receive a $1,000 prizes! The journal otherwise publishes poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction, and will also consider your book reviews!
Stonecrop Magazine
Once upon a time, Stonecrop Magazine was known as Basalt, but the student-run journal published by the College of Western Idaho has undergone an identity shift in recent years. The journal hosts a unique microfiction contest, in collaboration with Storyfort, which encourages writers to incorporate the opening line of a song as the opening line of their micro. The contest is unfortunately closed for the year already, but keep an eye out for next year! In general submissions, the journal encourages you submit your fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual art with few restrictions: no page limit, word limit, or submission limit per submitter! Go wild!
Talking River Review
Talking Review Review has called Lewis-Clark State College home since 1994. For those like me who are interested in institutional historical narratives, Talking River Review offers an oral history of its founding and first issue on the about page! The journal publishes two issues a year, and will read your poetry and prose from August to April.
by Cole Meyer