FAQ
General
What is the Massachusetts Review?
How do I contact an author or editor?
How do I request permission for a reprint?
Submissions
Do you accept unsolicited submissions? What are you looking for?
When does MR accept submissions?
Do you accept submissions by snail mail?
Do you accept submissions by email?
Do I need to include a cover letter?
How many pieces can I submit at one time?
Can I submit multiple pieces in different genres?
How do I submit to Working Titles?
Why is there a fee for online submissions?
Can I submit work simultaneously to another publication?
Do you accept previously published work? What is the definition of previously published?
How do I withdraw work that has been accepted elsewhere?
How long does it take for MR to respond to submissions?
Can I resubmit revised work if it is still under consideration?
What do you pay for publication and what rights do you get?
Subscriptions
How many issues does MR publish per year?
When should I expect my first issue?
How will I know when my subscription is about to expire?
How do I let you know if my address has changed?
I'm missing an issue (or it arrived damaged)—what should I do?
How do I give a gift subscription?
How do I renew my subscription?
How do I order MR's Working Titles?
Are Working Titles available as print issues?
General
What is the Massachusetts Review?
The Massachusetts Review is a nonprofit, independent literary quarterly. We also publish the digital-only e-books called Working Titles [insert hyperlink here], as well as the MR Blog [insert hyperlink here]. Founded in 1959, MR publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and public affairs. MR typically publishes one special themed issue per year, often with a guest editor. Work that first appeared in MR has been selected for Best American Poetry, the Pushcart Prize, Best American Essays, and other annual awards.
MR is located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, but we are not a student publication, and we are legally and editorially independent from the university. We are grateful, however, for their support and the support of the Five Colleges consortium, which includes Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, in addition to UMass. We have a very small staff of primarily volunteer faculty and professional editors, and offer summer and year-round internship opportunities to local undergraduate and graduate students. We receive over 3,000 submissions each reading period from writers all over the country and the world, and we encourage emerging talents as well as established voices.
How do I contact you?
Massachusetts Review
Photo Lab 309, UMass
Amherst, MA 01003
413-545-2689
How do I contact an author or editor?
If you'd like to contact a specific writer, please send an email to massrev@external.umass.edu. We will be happy to forward it for you—we do not give out author or editor contact information.
How do I request permission for a reprint?
Please see our Sub-Rights and Permissions page [insert hyperlink here] or email massrev@external.umass.edu.
Submissions
Do you accept unsolicited submissions? What are you looking for?
We do accept unsolicited work during our reading period of October 1 through April 30. Articles and essays of breadth and depth are considered, as well as discussions of leading writers; of art, music, and drama; analyses of trends in literature, science, philosophy, and public affairs. For fiction submissions, we consider one short story (or up to three flash-fiction [1000 words or less] pieces) per submission, for a maximum of thirty pages or 8000 words. A poetry submission may consist of up to six poems. There are no restrictions for poem length, but generally our poems are less than 100 lines.
We also seek work in translation: fiction, poems, or essays are accepted. The above guidelines for essays, fiction, and poetry should be followed, and a copy of the translated text should be submitted along with the translation. The translator is responsible for acquiring permission to publish.
Working Title submissions should be between 7,000 and 25,000 words and previously unpublished. They may be fiction or nonfiction. Novellas and translated works are welcome.
MR has a distinctive voice; we highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the magazine or Working Titles before submitting work.
When does MR accept submissions?
We accept submissions postmarked or submitted online between October 1 and April 30 for the journal, and year-round for Working Titles. Any journal submissions mailed between May 1 and September 30 will be held until the next reading period.
Do you accept submissions by mail?
Yes. You may submit work adhering to our Submissions Guidelines [insert link to page] by mail, for no fee, to:
Massachusetts Review
Photo Lab 309, UMass
Amherst, MA 01003
Please include an SASE and the author name and contact information on each page (as a header/footer). We accept submissions of translations and Working Titles year-round; during times when our online Submissions Manager is closed, please send your work by mail.
Do you accept submissions by email?
No. Work submitted by email will be deleted unread.
Do I need to include a cover letter?
We don't require a cover letter, though it is helpful to have your name, submission genre, and any previous publications. If you do not include contact information with your submission, please know that we will not be able to reply to your work.
How many pieces can I submit at one time? Can I submit multiple pieces in different genres?
We do not consider multiple submissions in the same genre, but you may submit work simultaneously in different genres. Otherwise, please wait to hear about your first submission before sending additional work in the same genre.
Can I submit my work online?
We encourage you to submit online via our Submissions Manager. We charge a $3 fee for online submissions, which helps us to offset service fees and pay our published contributors.
How do I submit to Working Titles?
We accept Working Titles submissions through our online Submissions Manager during our reading period, or by mail year-round. We will not consider work sent by email. Please see our Working Titles Submissions Guidelines [insert link to page] for more information.
Can I submit work simultaneously to another publication?
Yes. It is the author's responsibility to notify editors immediately once a manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Do you accept previously published work? What is the definition of previously published?
We do not accept previously published work. We consider any work that has been made publicly accessible, in print or on the web, to be previously published. This includes self-published work. The one exception is work that appears in another language; as long as the translator's version has not been published before, we will consider it.
How do I withdraw work that has been accepted elsewhere?
Our Submissions Manager does not currently allow writers to withdraw their work, so if you submit online, you'll need to let us know by email at massrev@external.umass.edu. Please note that you will receive confirmation of your withdrawal—if you do not, please let us know. For mailed submissions, you may email or let us know by mail. Please include an SASE if you would like confirmation of the withdrawal.
How long does it take for MR to respond to submissions?
We try very hard to respond within six months of receiving submissions for the print journal, and within one year of receiving Working Titles submissions. We apologize for the wait, but have a very small staff of readers. Please send queries by email; if that is not possible, be sure to include an SASE with your mailed notification if you expect a response.
Can I resubmit revised work if it is still under consideration?
If you have significantly revised your work, and it is still under consideration, please email us to discuss replacement. If you wish to resubmit a piece that was previously rejected, please query our editors first at massrev@external.umass.edu.
What do you pay for publication and what rights does MR get?
For MR's print journal, we pay $50 per publication, plus two complementary copies and a year's subscription. For Working Titles, we pay $250 upon publication. We purchase First Serial Rights. Copyright reverts to the author after publication. The author retains the authority to reprint the work elsewhere after it has appeared in MR or as a Working Title, provided MR is credited with first publication.
Subscriptions
How many issues does MR publish per year?
MR publishes four issues per year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). We publish between four and six Working Titles per year as well.
How can I subscribe?
You can subscribe online with a credit card through UMass's secure commerce manager or by mail with check or money order to:
Massachusetts Review
Photo Lab 309, UMass
Amherst, MA 01003
Checks should be payable to Massachusetts Review. Our rates are $29 for one year (four issues) or $55 for two years (eight issues). All international orders, including Canada and Mexico, are subject to a $19 annual shipping surcharge.
When should I expect my first issue?
New subscriptions begin with the current issue, and are typically shipped within two days of the receipt of the order. Subsequent issues mail upon publication (typically the 15th of March, June, September, and December). Renewals will continue with the next issue.
How will I know when my subscription is about to expire?
We will notify you by mail in advance of your final issue with a renewal postcard.
How do I let you know if my address has changed?
If you've moved, please let us know by email (massrev@external.umass.edu) or mail. If you have missed an issue, please let us know and we will replace it for you.
I'm missing an issue (or it arrived damaged)—what should I do?
If your issue is damaged, missing, or has a printing error (missing pages, etc) please let us know by email and we will replace it. If there is a printing error, we would appreciate knowing what it is, so we can check that our remaining stock is not affected!
How do I give a gift subscription?
When you buy a subscription online, you will have an opportunity to provide an alternate mailing address for the recipient. We are working to enable gift messages and designations, but at this time, if you would like a personal message sent, please email us at massrev@external.umass.edu.
How do I renew my subscription?
You can renew online, by mail, or by calling us at 413-545-2689. Please note that we cannot accept credit cards over the phone; however, we are happy to record the renewal and bill you.
How do I order back issues?
All MR back issues are available for sale on the website, or you can email massrev@external.umass.edu for specific queries.
How do I order MR's Working Titles?
Working Titles are currently available for sale and download through Amazon Kindle Singles; Kobo, and Weightless Books. You may also purchase them from MR directly, by emailing massrev@external.umass.edu. If you have trouble downloading a Working Title directly to your device, connect your e-reader to a computer with a USB cord, download the file onto the computer, and click and drag or sync it onto your device. For information, visit Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, orKobo.
Are Working Titles available as print issues?
Unfortunately, at this time Working Titles are not available in print. If you have a specific need for a print version for accessibility reasons, please contact the Managing Editor at massrev@external.umass.edu.