Poetry, Fiction, Creative nonfiction
Blue Mesa Review
Blue Mesa Review pays $25 per poem, essay, short story or artwork published during its general reading period. Fiction and nonfiction run to 6,000 words and poetry packets hold no more than three poems. It does not accept writing or art generated by or with the use of AI, rights revert to the author upon publication, and it waives the submission fee for incarcerated authors and artists.
🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-09
The docket
The nine things that decide whether a pitch is worth sending. Every answer below is either taken from the publication’s own guideline or computed by BRYME from the 288-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- $25 per poem, essay, short story or artwork publishedOf the other 48 records based in the United States that state a flat-fee figure, 6 state less, 35 state more, 7 state exactly this.
- Length
- Fiction and nonfiction no more than 6,000 words; poetry no more than three poems per packet
- Who can submit
- Open worldwideThe guideline states the call is worldwide. Diaspora writers are explicitly welcome.
- Reading period
- Not yet assessedBRYME has not recorded a reading period for this market from its guideline page. That is our gap rather than the publication's silence: it does not mean the window is open, and it does not mean there is none. Read the guideline linked on this page before you send.
- Response time
- Standard two to six months, sometimes longer given volume
- Simultaneous submissions
- You may submit elsewhere at the same timeWe gladly accept simultaneous submissions. — https://bmr.unm.edu/submissions/ (read 2026-09-30)
- AI policy
- AI-assisted work is prohibitedThe guideline forbids AI-generated or AI-assisted writing.
- Rights
- StatedRights revert to the author upon publication.
- Experience
- Not yet assessedBRYME has read this publication's guideline but has not yet put the experience question to it, so this row is untouched rather than unanswered — it is our gap, not theirs. Treat it exactly as you would an unstated policy.
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 2 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Reading period — no window recorded yet, so check the guideline before you pitch rather than assuming it is open.
- Experience — BRYME has not assessed this one yet, so do not read the blank as either a welcome or a bar. Look at who the publication normally publishes before you pitch.
Record last human-checked 2026-09-30. Sources listed at the foot of this page. Figures are compared only against other records based in the United States quoted the same way, so a per-word rate is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- $25 per poem, essay, short story or artwork published
- Word count
- Fiction and nonfiction no more than 6,000 words; poetry no more than three poems per packet
- Submission
- Submittable — fee waived for incarcerated authors
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-09
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Poetry, Fiction, Creative nonfiction. Official guideline: Blue Mesa Review guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Fiction of no more than 6,000 words.
- Nonfiction of no more than 6,000 words.
- Poetry: no more than three poems per packet.
- Visual art.
Subjects they avoid
- Writing or art generated by or with the use of AI.
Key requirements
- Submit online via Submittable only.
- Keep prose to 6,000 words and poetry to three poems per packet.
- Incarcerated authors and artists: the submission fee is waived for you, and submissions are welcomed.
- Expect two to six months, and longer during heavy periods.
Who can submit
Open internationally. Blue Mesa Review states it gladly accepts submissions from incarcerated authors and artists and waives the submission fee for them.
Rights
Rights revert to the author upon publication.
AI policy
Prohibited
How to write for them
Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.
BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.
How to pitch
Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.
- Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
- Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
- Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
- Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
- Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
- Say why it fits this publication.
- Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
- Close professionally and thank them for their time.
- Send through the official channel only.
Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.
How to submit
Submittable — fee waived for incarcerated authors
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Submittable — fee waived for incarcerated authors
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Read https://bmr.unm.edu/submissions/ before sending.
- A flat $25 regardless of category, so length does not change the payment.
- Submittable is the only route.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Standard two to six months, sometimes longer given volume
If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-09.