Words Without Borders

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Reviews. Official guideline: Words Without Borders guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• A pitch for a book with a publication date at least four months in the future.
• Subject line: Book review.

Subjects they avoid

• General fiction, poetry or nonfiction while the 10 August 2026 close is in force. Official: those submissions will not be considered or answered.

Key requirements

• Email submissions@wordswithoutborders.org
• Book at least four months from publication

Who can submit

No country list on the current submissions page. WWB publishes international writing in translation.

Rights

Translators hold copyrights to their translations. Review rights are not separately spelled out.

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.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Email a review pitch — subject Book review

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Email a review pitch — subject Book review
• Submission email: submissions@wordswithoutborders.org

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Read https://wordswithoutborders.org/submissions/.
• Email a review pitch only.

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.