Rebecca Paredes leads us to the PNW on our tour of litmag destinations. Today’s stop: Washington State! The home of Starbucks, the Seahawks, and several fantastic literary publications.
The Evergreen State is home to more than rainy days and coffee shops. Washington state is home to a rich literary community thanks to several creative writing MFA programs, community writing centers such as the Hugo House, and a diverse array of litmags. On this leg of our road trip, we take a tour of active literary magazines publishing fiction.
Bellingham Review
Established in 1977, Bellingham Review publishes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid works. Bellingham Review previously published print and online editions, but recently became a fully digital journal. Contributors’ work has appeared in publications such as Harper’s, Utne Reader, and the Pushcart Prize anthology.
Blood Orange Review
Founders H.K. Hummel and Stephanie Lenox built Blood Orange Review “from their respective kitchen tables in Tempe, Arizona and Port Angeles, Washington” in 2006. Today, the journal is supported by Washington State University and publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art twice per year. Blood Orange Review also hosts an annual Emerging Writers Contest from April 30 to May 15.
Pacifica Literary Review
Headquartered in Seattle, Pacifica Literary Review says it best—the journal “publishes poetry, fiction, and creative non three times a year on our website, and we are the best at what we do.” Pacifica Literary Review endeavors to be an inclusive space for emerging and established writers, and the editors seek work that “is excellent and gives us the feels.”
Shark Reef
Originally, Shark Reef was launched in 2001 to showcase the writers of the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Since then, the journal has expanded to publish writers from all parts of the world. Shark Reef is intended for “writers whose perspectives are often overlooked in the mainstream but whose voices are strong, not driven by publishing trends and nuanced with a kind of truth that comes with first-hand experience.” This online journal publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry twice per year.
Tahoma Literary Review
The Tahoma Literary Review (TLR) is based in the Pacific Northwest, but its scope is international. TLR is an online and print journal that publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry three times per year. Notably, TLR publishes their payments and fees online.
The Other Journal
The Other Journal is a publication of the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology that publishes critical essays, reviews, creative writing, and visual or performance art with an emphasis on theology and culture. The editors “seek pieces that consider the interaction of faith with contemporary life, art, politics, sexuality, technology, economics, and social justice.” Although The Other Journal primarily focuses on Christian perspectives, this biannual publication invites “dialogue with all who are interested in exploring the ongoing role of faith and spirituality in the world.”
Willow Springs
Since 1977, Willow Springs has published work by emerging and established writers, including Erin Belieu, Jorge Luis Borges, and Tobias Wolff. The journal is affiliated with Eastern Washington University’s MFA program and releases two print issues annually. Willow Springs accepts fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and interviews with notable authors.
by Rebecca Paredes