Reviews
Words Without Borders
Words Without Borders closed general submissions on 10 August 2026. Official exception: book-review pitches for titles at least four months from publication. Official review fee is $175. Email submissions@wordswithoutborders.org with subject “Book review”.
🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-08
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 304-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- $175Of the other 51 records based in the United States that state a flat-fee figure, 34 state less, 17 state more.
- Length
- Not statedNot publicly stated for reviews. The guideline states no length BRYME could record.
- Who can submit
- Not statedNo country list on the current submissions page. WWB publishes international writing in translation.
- 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
- 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
- Not statedThe guideline does not address simultaneous submissions. BRYME records that as silence rather than assuming a yes: if you are sending the same piece to several publications, say so in your cover letter and withdraw it everywhere the moment it is taken.
- AI policy
- Not statedThe guideline is silent. BRYME records that 138 of the 304 publications on this desk do restrict AI-assisted work, so silence here is not permission — ask.
- Rights
- StatedTranslators hold copyrights to their translations. Review rights are not separately spelled out.
- Experience
- Not statedThe guideline sets no experience requirement. BRYME records that as silence, not as a welcome — a first-time writer is not excluded, but nor are they invited.
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 7 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Length — propose a length in your pitch and let the editor correct it.
- Who can submit — the guideline leaves this open, so ask before you spend an evening on the pitch rather than assuming a yes.
- Reading period — no window recorded yet, so check the guideline before you pitch rather than assuming it is open.
- Response time — expect to wait blind, and keep other pitches live.
- Simultaneous submissions — the guideline leaves this open, so declare it in your cover letter rather than assuming.
- AI policy — assume disclosure is expected unless the editor says otherwise.
- Experience — look at what kind of writer this publication normally publishes before you pitch; its guideline does not say.
Record last human-checked 2026-08-19. 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
- $175
- Word count
- Not publicly stated for reviews
- Submission
- Email a review pitch — subject Book review
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-08
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.
- 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
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.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-08.