Submit to Barnstorm.
Submit to Barnstorm.
Publishing Schedule
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and published from October through May. We make every effort to respond in a timely manner.
An important note on our publishing seasons:
As the literary journal of a graduate program, we follow the academic calendar. While you can submit at any time, our editorial team only reads submissions from September through December and from February through April. Submissions are not read during May, June, July, August, and January.
If you submit work during one of our non-reading periods (May–August or January), your submission will not be reviewed until the journal resumes its regular schedule. Similarly, if you contact us through our contact form or by email during a non-reading period, we will not be able to respond until the journal resumes its regular schedule.
Please note that Barnstorm welcomes a new editorial team every academic year, so response times may vary as the incoming staff settles into their roles. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition.
Submission Guidelines
For prose, submit one work of fiction or nonfiction, no longer than 5,000 words.
For poetry, submit up to three poems in a single document, with a combined length of no more than 10 pages.
For art, we accept digital representations of visual work, including photography, graphic design, drawings, illustration, animation, and high quality pictures of sculpture, mixed media, and paintings.
Please review our additional guidelines on Submittable before submitting your work.
FAQs
What do you publish?
1
Barnstorm publishes previously unpublished works of nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. We also publish visual art to accompany written works.
Can I submit to multiple genres?
2
While we welcome submissions to multiple genres, please wait until you receive a decision on your current submission before submitting additional work in the same category.
Note we will not publish the same author more than once in the same year.
Do you allow simultaneous submissions?
3
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please withdraw your submission through Submittable as soon as your work is accepted elsewhere.
Where do I submit?
4
We only review submissions sent through Submittable. Writing and art sent through our contact form or email will not be considered.
Rights & Policies
By submitting, you grant Barnstorm First North American Serial Rights to publish your work. Upon publication, all rights revert to the author, while we retain the right to reprint the work in future print and digital editions. If you choose to republish your work elsewhere, we ask that you acknowledge Barnstorm Journal as its original place of publication.
AI Policy: We believe art is most meaningful when it reflects the imagination, experiences, and distinct voices of human creators. We do not accept written work or artwork generated by artificial intelligence (AI). All submissions must be original work created by the author without the use of generative AI to write, generate, or revise the work.
A note on our submission fee: This small financial contribution directly supports Barnstorm and our ongoing work to create opportunities for writers and artists. It helps cover the costs of producing print editions of the journal and may also fund future projects, including writing contests, prizes and awards, and live reading events. Most importantly, your support allows us to continue our mission of publishing work that is playful, takes risks, and, as our motto says, harnesses energy.
We charge a $3 submission fee for poetry and fiction.
We look forward to reviewing your work!