Fiction, Poetry, Essays, Creative nonfiction, Reviews, Interviews
The Missouri Review
The Missouri Review pays $25 per printed page for poetry, fiction and nonfiction, and $100 per story or essay accepted for BLAST, its online exclusive feature. It reads year-round with a 10-12 week response, accepts simultaneous submissions with notice, takes work by post as well as online, and requires any use of AI to be disclosed in detail rather than banning it. Its $5,000 Editors' Prize is a contest outcome, not the rate.
🟢 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
- $25 per printed page for regular submissions; $100 per story or essay for BLAST online exclusivesOf 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
- No length restrictions stated for fiction and nonfiction, though the editors suggest reading back issues; poetry features run 6-14 pages of poems from each of three poets per issue; interviews and omnibus reviews cover 3-6 recently published books
- Who can submit
- Open worldwideThe guideline states the call is worldwide. Diaspora writers are explicitly welcome.
- Reading period
- Open for submissions year-round, with no closing date stated; the 2026 Jeffrey E.Smith Editors' Prize has a deadline of 1 October
- Response time
- Ten to twelve weeks
- Simultaneous submissions
- You may submit elsewhere at the same timeSimultaneous submissions are OK as long as you notify us if accepted elsewhere. — https://missourireview.com/submissions/ (read 2026-10-01)
- AI policy
- AI use must be disclosedThe guideline allows AI use but requires you to declare it.
- Rights
- Not statedBRYME records that 149 of the 288 publications on this desk state their terms. This one does not. Ask what rights you are assigning, for how long and for what territory, before you sign anything.
- 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.
- Rights — you may be asked to assign more than you expect. Get the terms in writing.
- 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
- $25 per printed page for regular submissions; $100 per story or essay for BLAST online exclusives
- Word count
- No length restrictions stated for fiction and nonfiction, though the editors suggest reading back issues; poetry features run 6-14 pages of poems from each of three poets per issue; interviews and omnibus reviews cover 3-6 recently published books
- Submission
- Online through the submission manager, or by post with a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
- 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, Poetry, Essays, Creative nonfiction, Reviews, Interviews. Official guideline: The Missouri Review guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Poetry, fiction and nonfiction of general interest; the page does not consider literary criticism.
- Interviews, and omnibus reviews of three to six recently published books that share a common feature or subject.
- Fiction and essays that do not fit a given issue may still be considered for BLAST, the online exclusive feature, which pays per piece.
- Work by post as well as online, if sent with a cover letter and a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Subjects they avoid
- Literary criticism, which the page excludes.
- Work that has appeared elsewhere: only original, previously unpublished material is considered.
- Generative AI use that is not disclosed - the page requires specific detail in both the piece and the cover letter rather than banning AI outright.
- Mixing genres in one submission.
- Physical manuscripts sent without a self-addressed stamped envelope, which the page says are recycled without a response.
Key requirements
- Read https://missourireview.com/submissions/ before sending.
- Submit through the submission manager, or by post with a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
- Do not mix genres in the same submission.
- Disclose any use of artificial intelligence in detail, in the piece and in the cover letter.
- Allow 10-12 weeks for a standard response.
- Contest entries for the Editors' Prize close 1 October.
Who can submit
Official page: no country restriction stated, and submissions by post are accepted. The page carries the University of Missouri's copyright line, which is where the US filing comes from.
Rights
Not stated on the submissions page.
AI policy
Disclosure required
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 through the submission manager, or by post with a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Online through the submission manager, or by post with a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Read https://missourireview.com/submissions/ before sending.
- Submit through the submission manager year-round, or post a manuscript with a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
- Say in the cover letter if you want the work considered for BLAST, the online feature that pays $100 a piece.
- Keep each submission to one genre, and disclose any AI use in detail.
- Expect a reply in 10-12 weeks; contest entries close 1 October.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Ten to twelve weeks
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.