We accept poetry and art submissions for no fee through our Submittable page.
We are currently accepting submissions for our first print issue to be published in Spring 2027.
How to Submit:
Find information below on how to submit to Catbird Review, and please visit our Submitable page for the most up-to-date description of our submission guidelines and timelines.
Submission Guidelines
Poetry
- Submit up to 5 poems in one submission.
- Please limit your submissions to one submission per reading period.
- We accept simultaneous submissions. Please let us know immediately if any poems in your submission are accepted elsewhere. You can send us a message through Submittable with the name(s) of the poem that you are retracting indicate if you would like us to continue to review any remaining poems.
- Submitted poems must be previously unpublished in print, online, or self-published formats.
- Document Guidelines: 12-size font, single-spaced. .doc, .docx, .pdf files accepted.
- Word or Line Limit: We have no word or line limit.
- At this time, we cannot offer personal feedback on submissions.
Artwork
We welcome submissions of visual artwork, including digital art, photography, graphic design, illustrations, and high-quality pictures of sculpture, mixed media, paintings. We accept unlimited submissions of artwork on a rolling basis. Even if your artwork is not chosen for our current issue, we may find a home for it in a future issue.
We publish in print (8.5″ x 5.5″) and digital formats (web, app, social media). To ensure the highest quality representation of your work, please follow these guidelines:
File format: Preferred: TIFF or high-quality PNG.
Resolution: At least 300 DPI at final size (minimum 2550 x 1650 pixels for our print trim). When in doubt, please submit your largest, highest-resolution file.
Rights: By submitting your work, you grant Catbird Review rights to publish your work in print, online, and on social media. You retain copyright, and we will credit you wherever your work appears.
Submissions FAQ
Who can submit to Catbird Review?
We welcome work by writers and artists at all stages of their careers. Whether you have several books published or have never published before, we welcome look forward to reading your work.
What kinds of submissions does CBR accept?
Catbird Review currently accepts poetry and visual art submissions through our Submittable page.
We are in search of new voices and poetry that bucks trends. We welcome longer poems, rhyming poems, and poems that may not be able to find a home elsewhere. We are seeking poetry that feels both fresh and informed by voices of the past.
How much does it cost to submit to CBR?
All submissions are free, though we welcome any tips through the “Tip Jar” option on Submittable. We are a two-person team running CBR in our spare time out of sheer love of poetry and creative works; any support of the magazine is greatly appreciated. All tips will go toward webhosting and printing costs.
How long will it take to hear back about a submission?
We are a small team, and we read every submission ourselves with the care and attention creative work deserves. Please allow 4-5 months for us to review your work. If you have yet to hear back about your submission after 5 months, please contact us at our email address with subject line “Submission Query” and your submission information. We will do everything we can to get back to you quickly.
What rights does Catbird Review ask for?
We request first serial rights, including the right to publish the work in our print and online editions, in any associated apps, and to promote it via our social media channels and newsletter. Once published, all other rights remain with you, and you are free to publish it elsewhere with a note that it was first published in Catbird Review.
We also request the non-exclusive right to retain the work in our online archive indefinitely and to include it in possible future anthologies of our published works. Online archives are only available to members of the magazine.
If my work is accepted by Catbird Review, where will it appear?
We publish two print issues in the spring and fall. A limited number of poems from each issue will also be featured on our website and social channels as “Free to Read.” A full digital version of each issue will also be available for members of the magazine.
All artwork will appear in the print issue, on the site, and on social channels.
Can I submit to Catbird Review more than once?
Poets are welcome to submit once (1-5 poems) per submission window/reading period. We accept unlimited visual art submissions. Poetry submissions will close several weeks before we begin editing the upcoming issue and will reopen once the current issue is released. For the latest timeline on when Submissions will open/close, please visit our Submittable page.