earthwords will be accepting submissions for our 46th issue from September 7th, 2025, to 11:59 pm on October 12th, 2025. earthwords is the University of Iowa’s oldest literary magazine and is open to all University of Iowa undergraduate students, regardless of major or area of study. All submissions are read blind, meaning our editors do not see any identifying information with the work. Do not include your name on the submitted document. Writers and artists are allowed 3 submissions total, with a max of 2 submissions in any one genre. Be sure to carefully read the different guidelines for each genre while preparing your work.
We look forward to reviewing your work!
Best,
--The earthwords Staff
Please ensure that your documents do not include your name or any other identifying characteristic. You may submit up to six (6) poems for consideration; please note that each poem must be uploaded as a separate submission. Please submit each poem as a separate submission; three poems will be counted as one submission.
Please include your student ID number and year in school in the submission form, not in the uploaded document. Your submission will not be considered if you fail to follow these instructions.
We accept or reject poetry submissions as-is, with no edits or excerpting.
Please ensure that your documents do not include your name or any other identifying characteristic. We accept pieces of prose up to twenty (20) double-spaced pages in length, with 12-point Times New Roman font. Students may submit up to two (2) pieces per genre and submit a max of three (3) pieces overall.
Please include your student ID number and year in school in the submission form, not in the uploaded document. Your submission will not be considered if you fail to follow these instructions.
We accept or reject fiction submissions as-is, with no edits or excerpting.
Please ensure that your documents do not include your name or any other identifying characteristic. We accept all forms of digital and film photography and video stills, as well as scans or photos of paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, installments, etc. While students may submit up to two (2) pieces per genre and submit a max of three (3) pieces to Earthwords overall, two (2) artistic pieces are considered a single Art & Photography submission. This means the maximum Art & Photography submissions for a single contributor is four (4) total pieces. Please submit each artistic piece separately.
Please include your student ID number and year in school in the submission form, not in the uploaded document. Your submission will not be considered if you fail to follow these instructions.
We accept or reject art and photography submissions as-is, with no additional edits to the file or redoing photos or scans.
Images:
(Photographs, Illustrations, Prints, Graphics, etc.)
Please submit a clean original or digital file in the form of TIFF or PSD. Images need to be cropped to fit and dimensions should be included along with the medium and materials used to creating your piece.(i.e. Film or digital, painting in oil or acrylic, lithography/release/indigo, 3D render or graphic, etc.)
Sculptural pieces/ 3D pieces:
A photo of your sculpture or 3D piece should be lit with soft lighting, preferably shot with a white background, and cropped tightly. Please submit your photo in TIFF or PSD form. You must also submit dimensions and the mediums used. (i.e. Silver, copper, brass, earthenware, porcelain, plaster, etc.)
Please ensure that your documents do not include your name or any other identifying characteristic. We can publish entire plays, if size is reasonable. Typically we ask for excerpts, scenes, or monologues. If your play has been produced and performed, feel free to attach any photographs of production and performance. Please use a standard and readable formatting, typically with 12-point Times New Roman or Courier New. Students may submit up to two (2) pieces per genre and submit a max of three (3) pieces overall.
Please include your student ID number and year in school in the submission form, not in the uploaded document. Your submission will not be considered if you fail to follow these instructions.
We accept or reject drama submissions as-is, with no edits. We may accept an excerpt of a drama submission if warranted.
Please ensure that your documents do not include your name or any other identifying characteristic. We accept pieces of prose up to twenty (20) double-spaced pages in length, with 12-point Times New Roman font. Students may submit up to two (2) pieces per genre and submit a max of three (3) pieces overall.
Please include your student ID number and year in school in the submission form, not in the uploaded document. Your submission will not be considered if you fail to follow these instructions.
We accept or reject nonfiction submissions as-is, with no edits or excerpting.