We welcome submissions to our annual contest, open from April 30th to May 15th.
Poetry: Submit up to three (3) previously unpublished poems with each new poem beginning on a new page.
Fiction: Please submit one previously unpublished story, up to 7,000 words. Submissions should be double-spaced.
Creative Nonfiction: Please submit one previously unpublished essay, up to 7,000 words. Submissions should be double-spaced.
Submissions need not be submitted anonymously—names will be removed before being sent to our judges. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged, though if your work is picked up by another journal (congrats!), please promptly withdraw it from our contest. Multiple entries are accepted, as long as each entry is submitted separately and accompanied by its own contest fee.
Writers who are close friends or students (beyond week-long workshops) of the judge in their genre, should refrain from submitting. Those affiliated with Blood Orange Review and/or Washington State University, should also refrain from submitting. CLMP’s Contest Code of Ethics: CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
