Bellingham Review is a nonprofit literary arts magazine affiliated with Western Washington University. Our yearly print edition is published in the spring.

The editors welcome submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, author interviews, and black-and-white photography. There are no limitations on form or subject matter. Prose must be under 6,000 words (Please indicate the approximate word count on prose pieces.) For submissions longer than 6,000 words, please send a query with a brief description of the work. Novel excerpts are acceptable but must be able to stand alone. The editors prefer poetry submissions of up to three poems per submission.

Our general submission period is from September 15th through December 1st. (See contest guidelines for the dates of our annual literary contests.) General submissions will not be accepted between December 16th and September 14th. Manuscripts that arrive during this time will be returned unread.

Bellingham Review is transitioning to online only submissions. For the 2011-2012 academic year, we prefer to receive submissions electronically through Submittable, a link to which can be found on our website. We will also accept mailed submissions.

All electronic submissions should follow the directions available on Submittable and be titled with the name of the work. The author will receive a confirmation of the receipt of the work as well as our final decision through email. All mailed submissions should be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope for reply. Submissions from other countries should be accompanied by a sufficient number of international postal reply coupons.

Please do not submit additional work until you hear back from the editors on work currently under consideration. Reporting time normally varies from one to six months.

If you are a current student at WWU, or have been a student within the last 2 years, please do not submit to Bellingham Review. You may enter your work 2 years after your last year of attendance at WWU.

We pay a small honorarium upon publication as funds permit but cannot guarantee cash payment. All contributors receive one copy of the issue in which their work appears and a gift subscription to give to a friend.

Simultaneous submissions are considered, as long as Bellingham Review is notified immediately if the work is accepted elsewhere. Please withdraw all electronic submission through Submishmash. All submissions must be previously unpublished in North America.

Mailed submissions should be addressed to:

Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry Editor
Bellingham Review
Mail Stop 9053
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA 98225

General Submissions Guidelines