Our Spring 2024 Contest is now open for submissions in poetry and prose.
Blue Mesa Review accepts previously unpublished work in Fiction (up to 6,000 words), Nonfiction (up to 6,000 words), Poetry (up to 3 poems), and Visual Art. We have a rotating editorial board, so each issue is fresh and unique. In general, we are seeking strong voices and lively, compelling narratives with a fine eye for craft. We look forward to reading your best work!
*We only consider unpublished work. Please do not submit anything that has been published on your blog, through your Facebook page, in other magazines including those online, or in an anthology or chapbook.
*We only accept submissions online through Submittable. We do not accept submissions via email or postal mail. Any submissions received by means other than Submittable will be returned to the submitter unread or recycled if a stamped, self-addressed envelope was not provided.
*We gladly accept simultaneous submissions. Please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere and withdraw your submission through the Submittable system. If a poem in a group of up to 3 poems is accepted, simply add a message identifying the piece that is no longer available.
*Individuals currently affiliated with the University of New Mexico (students, staff, and/or faculty), should not submit to Blue Mesa Review until they have been unaffiliated for at least five years.
*Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, response time can be longer than our standard six months. Please be patient. If you have not heard from us in six months, you can email us at bmreditr@unm.edu. “Submission Query” should be the subject line.
*Submissions should be saved in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or as a PDF (.pdf). Prose submissions should be double-spaced. Poetry can be single-spaced. Please use a standard typeface and font size (12 pt). Pages should be numbered and a brief cover letter should be provided.
Please submit only once per reading period.
Payment varies for our contest issue.
Rights: We ask for first North American serial rights and non-exclusive electronic rights for our website. Blue Mesa Review does not consider work that has been previously published in print or online. Rights revert to the author upon publication. Each piece is published in our online issue.
Blue Mesa Review is a labor of love run by hard-working graduate students at the University of New Mexico, and our staff is always exploring ways to improve the magazine. Unfortunately, our ambitions are often restricted by limited resources.
Any donations you can make to our tip jar will go directly toward improving the magazine and creating professional development opportunities for the staff. Your contributions will make a huge difference for us, and we thank you sincerely for your generosity.