Ninth Letter Print Edition Submissions
Ninth Letter is closed for regular submissions until September.
We are currently reading for our annual Literary Awards Contest. The contest is not themed, and the prize per genre (creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry) is $1000 plus print and web publication. Every entry fee includes a free one-year subscription to our print editions for U.S. entrants, or a free copy of the Fall/Winter 2024-25 print issue for international entrants. Check out the full guidelines and guest judges and submit your work!
Web Edition Submissions
Submissions to our Web Edition are now closed. We will reopen for Web Edition submissions in September. Sign up for our free Substack for updates, reminders, and the theme announcement in August.
USPS Submissions
Please note we are currently closed for submissions. Any mailed submission received after February 28, 2024 will be read and reviewed in the fall of 2024.
Ninth Letter also accepts mailed submission at no charge. USPS submissions should be addressed to the appropriate editor.
Fiction Editor, Poetry Editor, or Nonfiction Editor
Ninth Letter
University of Illinois Department of English
608 South Wright St.
Urbana, IL 61801
Please include your name and contact information on the first page of your manuscript; cover letters are optional. All mailed submissions must include an SASE for reply; we recommend a stamped business-sized envelope. If you wish to have your manuscript returned, you must include adequate postage and a properly sized envelope, and indicate such in your cover letter. We will recycle all unreturned manuscripts.
You should hear from us regarding your submission within 16 weeks; if you haven’t heard from us in that time you are welcome to query about the status of your manuscript at ninthletter9@gmail.com.
We can only review two submissions per author per reading period; if you have submitted twice before the end of the reading period, please do not submit again unless solicited to do so by an editor.
