Cottonwood is a literary magazine publishing new and well-known writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. We publish a wide variety of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Poetry submissions should be limited to the five best, fiction to one story. Fiction submissions are closed until September 1, 2024.
Originally published as Cottonwood Review, the journal has been published at the University of Kansas continuously since 1965. Although current issues include only creative work, archived issues include photos/graphics, book reviews, and interviews with many writers, including Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, Robert Day, and many more. Over the years authors such as William Stafford, Rita Dove, Gerald Early, Connie May Fowler, Virgil Suarez, and Ann Waldman have appeared in the pages of Cottonwood, and recent issues have featured the work of Doug Ramspeck, Patricia Corbus, Joanne Lowery, Donna Pucciani, and Oliver Rice, among others.
Publishes: 1/year (Spring)
Established: 1965
Circulation: 500-750
Copyrighted Publication
Most recent issue published: Cottonwood 79 (Spring 2024), released June 2024 ($10.00)
Forthcoming issue: Cottonwood 80 (Spring 2025), expected release June 2025 ($10.00)
Submissions
We welcome submissions of short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry from new as well as established writers. We read submissions year-round, and usually report in 2-5 months. Please wait to submit again until after we have responded to any pending submission.
All correspondence should include an SASE with correct postage. We will also consider emailed submissions. We acquire one-time rights for the print and digital versions of Cottonwood.
Fiction length: 1500-8000 words
Flash prose length: 150-1000 words
Poetry length: 10-80 lines
Publish: 5-8 stories, 10-15 poems/issue; 2-4 reviews, photos, and nonfiction pieces occasionally
Reporting time: 2-5 months
Payment: 1 copy
Sample copy: $7.00/copy
Back issues: $6.00/copy
Current issue: $10.00/copy
Subscription: $18.00/2 issues
E-Store (for subscriptions and purchases): Cottonwood (touchnet.net)
Writers should submit work to the appropriate editor via this website or via email.
If you choose to mail submissions to our physical address, be sure to include an SASE with your submission:
Cottonwood
Room 400 Kansas Union
1301 Jayhawk Boulevard
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045