SUBMISSIONS
Submissions Open: 1 March to 1 April, 2026
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Categories and Word limits:
Fiction/Nonfiction = 1,000+ to 6,000 words
Flash = 100 to 1,000 words
Poetry/Songs = 3 pages (1 page per piece, up to 60 lines)
Plays/Scripts = max 20 pages
Art/Photography = max 5 images
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Extra Submissions, Expedited Responses, and Feedback can be purchased.from our Ko-fi.com page.​
HOW TO SUBMIT
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Only submit once, to a single category (unless you have paid for an additional submission). Multiple submissions or submissions over the word/page limits will be disregarded.
1/ WHERE TO SEND YOUR SUBMISSION
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-Email your submission as an attachment (.doc/docx .jpeg) to: thebelfastreview@gmail.com.
-Submissions sent to our website contact form will be ignored.
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2/ HOW TO FORMAT YOUR SUBMISSION
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-Title your file: FICTION - Title of Work, or POETRY – Title of First Poem.
--No author names in submitted works. We read submissions blind.​
-Prose must be double-spaced, Poetry single spaced. Readable fonts: Times, Arial, Calibiri.-Accepted formats: .doc .docx .jpeg .png. Poetry with complex formatting can include a .pdf for reference, in addition to the .doc/docx.
-Links to Google Drive or other shared drives will be ignored.
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3/ WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR EMAIL
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-Subject line:
CATEGORY + TITLE OF WORK. Example, Fiction – The Long Walk Home. For Poetry or Multiple works, include the title of the first work only.
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-Body of email:
-Include the title(s) of all works submitted, plus the word/page count for each.
-Include (1) where you are from and where you are based, (2) your name, (3) your artist bio (50 words max in 3rd person), (4) social media links or website (if available)
-Submissions without cover letters, or cover letters without identifying author information, will be ignored. We do not publish anonymous authors.
-Pen names are okay, but your real name must be provided.
Example cover letter:
Dear Editors,
I’m submitting a short story “Where the Forest Lies” (2,000 words) and a poem, “Edge of Tomorrow” (1 page). I’ve paid for an extra submission for the poem.
I’m a student at Queen’s University, originally from Paris, France. My bio is: A. G. Wryter (he/him) is a poet from France currently studying for a PhD at QUB. He has previously published in Famous Magazine, The Very Literary Times, and Edgy New Journal, and placed finalist in Prestigious Competition, 2022.
Best wishes,
Ambitious G. Wryter
Example bio: ‘Dorothy Parker (she/her) is a writer from New York City and has published poetry and short stories, book reviews for The New Yorker, and theatre reviews for Vanity Fair. She also writes screenplays. If she ever stops being a free thinker, her mother thinks she just might be a star.’ (50 words)
About Pronouns: We champion diversity, but we understand that the world isn’t a safe place for everyone. Any personal information you include in your cover letter will be kept strictly confidential. You don’t have to ‘out’ yourself just to get published. You matter, either way.
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NOTES ON SUBMISSIONS:
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We accept submissions from around the world, but give preference to writers and artists from/ based in Ireland and UK BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and working class creatives are welcome and encouraged.
Any genre, so long as it has literary depth.
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Submissions must be original, unpublished work created by yourself. No AI generated/ enhanced work - we verify using a variety of means. Read our "No AI Policy" here.
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Simultaneous submissions are okay, just notify us as soon as your work is accepted elsewhere.
Previously published works are no longer allowed. (Social media sharing doesn't count as publication for us.)
Novel excerpts are okay. You must have permission from the publisher, or be self-published.
No ‘hard sell’ content, including but not limited to hate speech, p*rn, gratuitous violence, or graphic depictions of harm against women, ethnicities/minorities, children, or animals. Deplorable people doing deplorable things isn't for us.
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We are unable to offer pay or contributor copies at this time. Authors can receive a free PDF of their own work upon request. Copyright returns to the creators upon publication.
We nominate our writers for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and the Forward Prize for Poetry. Nominees are notified individually via email.
We respond 2 months after submissions close.
Publication in our blog is by invitation only.
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We ask for first serial publishing rights (print, digital) for any selected pieces. This means the piece (art, prose, poem) cannot be previously published in print or online publications. We don’t count social media sharing as being published.
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By submitting to our magazine, we assume you are familiar with who we are and what we offer contributors. Our current issue is provided free to view on our website. Our social media handles are @belfastreview (Twitter/X), @thebelfastreview (Instagram), @thebelfastreview.bsky.social (Bluesky).
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TERMS & CONDITIONS. before accepting an offer of publication from us, it your responsibility to read and agree.​
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