Please read the following guidelines before you submit.

• Double-space, please. 
• We primarily look for personal essays, but memoir excerpts are acceptable if self-contained. 
• Unsolicited book reviews and criticism are not considered.
• Send one prose piece at a time.
• Query before you send a prose piece over 8,000 words.

General Guidelines

• Blackbird does not accept previously published work.
• Simultaneous submissions are acceptable so long as they are indicated as such and we are immediately notified upon acceptance elsewhere.
• Translations are welcome so long as permissions have been obtained from the author.
• Please submit a cover letter, either in the box provided or as the first page of your submission; if you have previously published with Blackbird or received encouragement on a previous submission, please include that information as well.

If you are a currently-enrolled student, please email us at blackbird@vcu.edu for a link to a waived-fee submission form.