When to Submit
Submissions are accepted September 1-May 1.

What to Submit
Columbia prides itself on publishing work in a variety of styles. Since our staff changes every two years, there is a refreshing flexibility to the type of work each issue contains, from the experimental to the surreal, from open forms to metered verse, from personal essays to creative nonfiction, from prose poetry and short shorts to narrative fiction.  What we're interested in is exciting writing, the sort that makes a reader want to read the piece again. Check out our current and back issues to get a feel for what we've published lately.

Please note: Columbia does not accept any submissions from Columbia University MFA candidates, nor from those who have graduated within five years of the submission date.

When Will I Hear Back? We aim to respond to submissions within four months. Please do not contact us regarding the status of your submissions before this time. If you have not heard from us after four months, please e-mail the appropriate editor with the subject line "Submission Status" including your name, the title of your piece(s), and the mailing date. We aim to respond to all inquiries within seven business days. 

*** Please also note: we have had an important change in our submissions policy. Inquiries regarding submissions, from now on, should be directed to either the Fiction Editor, Poetry Editor, or Nonfiction Editor, depending on the type of submission.

All contributors receive two copies of the issue in which they feature. In return, Columbia purchases first serial rights to the piece.