Fiction, Essays, Poetry, Creative nonfiction, Reviews
Colorado Review
Colorado Review pays $300 for short stories and nonfiction, a flat $100 to each poet featured, and $100 for cover photography. Fiction and poetry are read 1 August to 31 March and nonfiction year-round, with a $3 charge on online submissions. Simultaneous submissions are accepted with immediate notice, and first North American serial rights revert to the author on publication.
🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-10
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
- $300 per short story or essay, $100 per poet, $100 for cover photographyOf the other 48 records based in the United States that state a flat-fee figure, 20 state less, 21 state more, 7 state exactly this.
- Length
- Stories and essays of 15-25 manuscript pages, one piece at a time; poetry up to 7 poems and 20 pages, with single long poems up to 10 pages
- Who can submit
- Open worldwideThe guideline states the call is worldwide. Diaspora writers are explicitly welcome.
- Reading period
- Fiction and poetry are read 1 August to 31 March; nonfiction is read year-roundand photography for cover art is open now
- Response time
- Not statedNo response time recorded. A follow-up after two to three weeks is reasonable; silence past that is a soft no, not a rejection.
- Simultaneous submissions
- You may submit elsewhere at the same timeSimultaneous submissions are accepted; writers must notify us immediately if the work is accepted elsewhere. — https://coloradoreview.colostate.edu/colorado-review/ (read 2026-10-01)
- AI policy
- Not statedThe guideline is silent. BRYME records that 127 of the 288 publications on this desk do restrict AI-assisted work, so silence here is not permission — ask.
- Rights
- StatedColorado Review purchases First North American Serial Rights, and all rights revert to the author upon publication in CR.
- 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 3 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Response time — expect to wait blind, and keep other pitches live.
- AI policy — assume disclosure is expected unless the editor says otherwise.
- 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 2026-10-01. 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
- $300 per short story or essay, $100 per poet, $100 for cover photography
- Word count
- Stories and essays of 15-25 manuscript pages, one piece at a time; poetry up to 7 poems and 20 pages, with single long poems up to 10 pages
- Submission
- Online form through Submittable. Paper submissions are no longer accepted.
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-10
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Fiction, Essays, Poetry, Creative nonfiction, Reviews. Official guideline: Colorado Review guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Short fiction and personal essays with contemporary themes; the editors say they are equally interested in work by new and established writers.
- Poetry of any style - about fifteen poets are featured in each issue.
- Cover art photography, now open for submissions.
Subjects they avoid
- Flash fiction and flash nonfiction, which are not accepted.
- Scholarly essays and literary criticism.
- More than one story or essay at a time, or more than one group of poems.
- Lines longer than 65 characters, which the print page cannot fit.
- Work by current or emeritus CSU faculty, staff or students.
- A second submission while an earlier one is still awaiting a response.
- Work published in Colorado Review within the last two years.
Key requirements
- Read the guidelines at https://coloradoreview.colostate.edu/colorado-review/#submission-guidelines before sending.
- Submit online through Submittable; paper submissions are no longer accepted.
- Fiction and poetry: send one piece at a time, from 1 August to 31 March. Nonfiction is read year-round.
- Poetry: up to 7 poems totalling no more than 20 pages; a single long poem may run to 10 pages.
- Translations need proof of permission to translate.
- Wait until you have a response before submitting again.
Who can submit
Official page: "Authors do NOT need to be residents of Colorado or the United States." Colorado State University faculty, staff and students are excluded, and alumni may submit three years after leaving.
Rights
Colorado Review purchases First North American Serial Rights, and all rights revert to the author upon publication in CR.
AI policy
Not stated in the guideline
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
Online form through Submittable. Paper submissions are no longer accepted.
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Online form through Submittable. Paper submissions are no longer accepted.
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Read the guidelines page before sending.
- Submit through the Submittable portal linked from the guidelines; email and paper submissions are not accepted.
- Fiction and poetry are read 1 August to 31 March; nonfiction is read year-round.
- Book reviews go through Submittable and carry no charge.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted - tell the editors immediately if the work is taken elsewhere.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Not publicly stated
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: 2026-10.