For all our submissions, themed or otherwise, we welcome especially work by writers who are part of marginalized groups: immigrant and indigenous writers; writers of color; women, non-binary, LGBQIA and trans writers; writers with disabilities both visible and invisible. Send us your best work!
The Fourth River welcomes submissions of previously unpublished poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and visual art, that explore the relationship between humans and their environments, both natural and built, urban, rural or wild. We are looking for writing that is richly situated at the confluence of place, space and identity—or that reflects upon or makes use of landscape and place in new ways.
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Multiple submissions by the same author are welcome as long as they are submitted individually.
We do not consider work created through the use of AI.
Submission Guidelines
Poetry: Please submit 3-5 poems of any style
Prose: Please submit single stories or essays of up to 7000 words. (Note that it is unusual for us to publish work at the high end of this range unless it is exceptionally well-suited for The Fourth River.)
Flash: Submit up to 3 flash fiction or nonfiction pieces in one submission, with a total word count of 3000 words or less.
Visual Art: Up to 3 pieces in one submission.
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The Fourth River publishes print and online issues.
Submissions for fall digital issues are accepted November 15-January 15
Submissions for spring print issues are accepted July 15-September 15
We will occasionally run special calls for theme issues as well.
Submissions for the web series, Tributaries, is rolling, though we will sometimes close for a short time to catch up on reading.
There is a $3 submission fee, however we will announce FREE submission days occasionally over social media, so be sure to follow us! Submissions to Tributaries are always free.
We wish it were otherwise, but The Fourth River is not a paying market at this time. Contributors to our print issues will be offered one copy of the issue in which their work appears. Digital contributors will be offered either one back issue or a copy of the upcoming print issue.
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Recent authors we’ve published include Barbara Hurd, Susan Cohen, Todd Kaneko, Mia Ayumi Mahlotra, Ira Sukrungruang, Lisa Summe and Bk Loren. Contributors to The Fourth River have received Pushcart Prizes, NEA Fellowships, and The Drue Heinz Literature Prize. The Fourth River’s contributors have been published in Glimmer Train, Alaska Quarterly Review, The Missouri Review, The Best American Short Stories, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and The Best American Travel Writing.
Purchase a print copy of The Fourth River!
Issues available for purchase:
- Current Print Issue, (Spring 2025)
- Boosie Bolden Chapbook Series; part of Chatham University's Emerging Black Writers-in-Residence Program:
- The Bones We Lose (2024), Cameron Barnett (EBWR, 2022-2024)
Please indicate which issue you would like to purchase in the "Recipient's Name" section of this form. For example: Smith_BlackVisions, Jones_TheBonesWeLose, or Miller_CurrentIssue.