//Submissions Open Through April 2nd//
Every year The Masters Review opens submissions to produce our anthology, a collection of ten stories and essays written by the best emerging authors. Our aim is to showcase ten writers who we believe will continue to produce great work. The ten winners are nationally distributed in a printed book with their stories and essays exposed to top agents, editors, and authors across the country. Our third volume was awarded the Silver Medal for Best Short Story Collection through the INDIEFAB Awards in 2015, and our fourth volume was an honorable mention for best anthology. Check us out on Amazon!
JUDGING
Each year The Masters Review pairs with a guest judge to select stories. Our editorial team produces a shortlist of stories, which our judge reviews to select winners. Our past judges include Lauren Groff, AM Homes, Lev Grossman, Kevin Brockmeier, Amy Hempel, Roxane Gay, Rebecca Makkai, Kate Bernheimer, Rick Bass, Diane Cook, and Peter Ho Davies. This year’s judge is Toni Jensen!
Toni Jensen is the author of Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land, a finalist for the Dayton Peace Prize and a New York Times Editors’ Choice book (Ballantine 2020). An NEA Creative Writing Fellowship recipient in 2020, Jensen’s essays have appeared in Orion, Catapult and Ecotone
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
-
Previously unpublished works of fiction and narrative nonfiction only
- Up to 7000 words
- We accept simultaneous submissions as long as work is withdrawn if it is accepted elsewhere
- Multiple submissions are allowed
- International English submissions allowed
- Emerging Writers Only. Writers must not have published a novel-length work at the time of submission (authors of short story collections and self-published titles can submit as can authors with novels or memoirs with a low distribution [no more than 5000 copies])
- Standard formatting please (double-spaced, 12 pt font, pages numbered)
- $20 entry fee
- Deadline: April 2nd, 2023
- Please, no identifying information on your story
- All submissions are considered for publication in the anthology as well as New Voices
- If requesting an editorial letter, please indicate on your cover letter if the submissions is fiction or creative nonfiction
- A significant portion of the editorial letter fees go to our feedback editor, according to the rates established by the EFA
- All submissions will receive a response by the end of June
- Winners will be announced by the end of July
- To view a list of our most commonly asked questions regarding submitting to The Masters Review, please see our FAQ page
- Friends, family and associates of the final judge are not eligible for this award
- Writers who have earned an Anthology Prize before and whose work appears in our printed book cannot submit to this category but are welcome to send us work in other open categories
We don’t have any preferences topically or in terms of style. We’re simply looking for the best. We don’t define, nor are we interested in, stories identified by their genre. We do, however, consider ourselves a publication that focuses on literary fiction. Dazzle us, take chances, and be bold
TEN PUBLISHED AUTHORS WILL RECEIVE:
- $500 award.
- Publication in our nationally distributed journal.
- Exposure to over 50 literary agencies.
- Contributor’s copy.
- All writers are part of an exclusive mailing. We send our anthology to editors, writers, and literary institutions across the country.
Guidelines
Our New Voices category is open year round to any new or emerging author who has not published a work of fiction or narrative nonfiction of novel length with a wide distribution. Authors with short story collections are free to submit, as are writers with books published by indie presses. We accept simultaneous and multiple submissions but ask that you inform us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere. We pay New Voices authors $200 for short fiction and narrative non-fiction, and $100 for flash-length narratives (up to 1,000 words). While we do not charge submission fees, we are highly selective. To read previously published stories, or to submit a piece of fiction or narrative nonfiction up to 7000 words, please see our New Voices page.
To view a list of our most commonly asked questions about submitting to The Masters Review, please see our FAQ page.
If you have further questions about submissions after reading through the FAQ or would like to query a current submission, please send an email to: contact (at) mastersreview (dot) com
New Voices Submission Options:
- NEW VOICES – We pay for all of our stories all of the time and are proud to offer a free category for those writers who are not interested in a fast response or editorial letter. Response times in this category are usually approximately twelve weeks.
- EDITORIAL LETTER – If you’re interested in knowing a little bit more about what we thought of your writing, utilize our Editorial Letter add-option. When we’ve reviewed your piece we will include up to two pages of feedback on what we liked and didn’t like about your story, suggestions for revision, where it might be a good fit, and other comments about craft. It’s nice to get feedback from the editors reviewing your work… and now you can. There is a reading fee for this option, a significant portion of which goes to our feedback editor, according to the rates established by the EFA. See a sample Editorial Letter.
- FAST RESPONSE – There’s a saying in publishing: “If you need to know now, the answer is no.” Well friends, we’re offering an exception to the rule. If you want to hear back regarding your New Voices story within two weeks, consider ponying up a few bucks to hear back right away and we’ll respond with an acceptance or rejection within two weeks of receiving your story. There is a reading fee for this option.
Curious about submission fees? It’s an interesting issue and the camp is divided. Here’s our take.
To submit a story or learn more about our guidelines, click the submit button:
2022 Contests and Awards
To see a full calendar of contests and awards available this year, CLICK HERE.
The Masters Review Blog – Book Reviews, Interviews & Craft Essays
The Masters Review is now accepting submissions of completed book reviews, interviews and craft essays for publication on our blog. Please do not send pitches or queries to this category. Submissions must be previously unpublished. We do not consider reprints. At the moment, we are unable to pay for book reviews or interviews, but we can pay $50 for craft essays. If you have a pitch or query, please contact us at contact [at] mastersreview.com.
Genre Guidelines
Book Reviews
- Book Reviews must be of books scheduled for a 2023 release. We recommend submitting your review at least one month before the scheduled publication date. Earlier is better.
- Book Reviews should be between 700-1200 words.
- Include in your review at least one sentence that conveys your overall stance on the book and embolden it. (e.g., The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley ruthlessly interrogates what it means to be successful as a Black woman, a Millennial, and a liberal living in an urban center.)
- Our primary interest are debut authors and indie presses. Occasionally, we will consider and publish reviews from major presses or of notable authors.
- Rarely, we will consider a review for a book with a past release date, but it must have been published within four months. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at contact [at] mastersreview.com.
Interviews
- We are interested in interviews with authors, editors, agents or other industry professionals, with a particular focus on recent publications or activity. Our mission is to bridge the gap between new and established writers, so any insight into the profession of writing is valuable (e.g., this interview with agent Miriam Atlshuler).
- Interviews should be between 1,200-2,500 words.
- Please include a bio of both the interviewee and the interviewer with your submission, as well as an introduction to the interview.
Craft Essays
- Craft Essays should focus on a particular aspect of the craft of writing fiction or nonfiction.
- Please do not send craft essays about poetry.
- We are especially interested in craft essays which examine the craft of a particular story. Please see our Stories That Teach and From the Archive series on the blog for examples.
- Craft Essays should be between 1,200-2,500 words.
Submission questions, concerns, and inquiries can be sent to a staff member at: contact [at] mastersreview [dot] com
Author’s Rights
The Masters Review holds first publication rights for three months after publication. Authors agree not to publish, nor authorize or permit the publication of, any part of the material for three months following The Masters Review’s first publication. For reprints we ask for acknowledgement of its publication in The Masters Review first.
