Raleigh Review is a nonprofit magazine of poetry, short fiction, and art that offers accessible works of experience that are both emotionally and intellectually complex. At Raleigh Review we believe that great literature inspires empathy by allowing us to see the world through the eyes of our neighbors, whether across the street or across the globe. Our mission is to foster the creation and availability of accessible yet provocative contemporary literature through our biannual magazine as well as through workshops, readings, and other community events.
GENERAL SUBMISSIONS
Submissions are open January-March for the Fall issue (closed April-May-June)
and July-October for the Spring issue (closed November-December).
- January - March we are open to Short Fiction & Poetry
- July - October we are open to Poetry
- October 1 - October 31 we are open to Short Fiction
- December 10 - 25 (or until we reach 100 holiday poetry submissions). Poetry only. This project is for a fee free waiver based on financial hardship. Limited to up to 3 poems. While this category is open to all who cannot swing the small fee, this project is designed to serve those who are based in cash-only international communities in the developing world. We reserve the right to close this project at anytime.
CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
Submissions for our Laux/Millar RR Poetry Prize open Jan 1 - June 1, (Even Years).
Submissions for our Flash Fiction Prize will be open July 1 - October 31, (Every Year).
Submissions for our Multi-Genre Geri Digiorno Prize open Jan 1 - June 1, (Odd Years).
Thanks for your interest in Raleigh Review. We look forward to reading your work.
- Send four to five poems.
- If you think your poems will make a perfect stranger's toes tingle, heart leap, or brain sizzle, then send it our way. We typically do not publish avant garde or language poetry and have a general aversion to unnecessarily exclusive work. We do like a poem that causes--for a wide audience--a visceral reaction to intellectually and emotionally rich material.
- If accepted, we will also request an audio recording, which is optional but highly encouraged.
- Works of fiction 1,001 to 7,500 words (.doc, .docx, .pdf only). Note: While we accept up to 7,500 words, stories at the 4,000-5,000 word mark are more likely to be accepted than those that are longer, simply due to space constraints.
- Please do not combine multiple submissions in one file. Only one story within this form is permitted at a time. Please wait for our response to your submission in the queue before sending another short story.
- While we are not looking specifically for speculative and genre fiction, we are open to literary stories with genre elements.
- We delight in stories from unique voices and perspectives. Any fiction that is born from a relatively unknown place grabs our attention.
General Flash Fiction Submission
- 1000 word limit on the flash fiction.
- 1 work of flash per general submission.
$5 Entry Fee
- 1000 word limit per work of flash fiction.
- Up to 2 works of flash per contest submission.
- Combine both works in one file.
The 2026 Laux/Millar RR Poetry Book Prize Guidelines Book Prize
JUDGING
- We seek unpublished first or second poetry book manuscripts (48-60 pages).
- The prize winning book will be combined with the Fall magazine issue, running every even year on the same year the prize is selected, all in one binding.
- STANDARD ENTRY FEE: $15 USD per manuscript.
- The Raleigh Review poetry team & publisher will serve as preliminary judges.
- The judges of the finalists will be Dorianne Laux & Joseph Millar.
Our off-season queue is open for most of the year, when the standard prize submission window is closed.