American Prison Writing Archive is a source database accepting submissions of nonfiction essays and poetry up to 5,000 words, providing a site where all who live or work inside can bear witness to what is working and what is not inside American prisons, thus grounding public debate about the American prison crisis in lived experience.

Submission Guidelines:
https://prisonwitness.org/how-to-submit/

The Incarcerated Writers Initiative was started in 2016 by Heather Radke at the Columbia Journal as a way to open the student publishing platform to writers in prisons across the United States.

Submission Guidelines:
https://www.columbiajournal.org/iwi

Writers can send their digital submissions to ColumbiaIWI@gmail.com or physical copies of their work to:

Chyana Marie Sage – Incarcerated Writers Initiative, Columbia Artists/Teachers
415 Dodge Hall
Mail Code 1804
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Reading Period Sept-Dec

Iron City Magazine is an online and print magazine devoted to writing and art from the prison world. It is our hope that through this creative platform, incarcerated writers and artists find value in their stories, fuel for personal growth, and pride in their accomplishments.

Submission Guidelines:
http://ironcity-magazine.squarespace.com/submissions

Rolling Submissions

Justice Arts Coalition

A national network and resource for those creating art in and around the criminal legal system, it maintains a regular page of calls for submissions. P.O. Box 11065, Takoma Park, MD 20913, info@thejusticeartscoalition.org

Submission Guidelines:
https://thejusticeartscoalition.org/consent-form/

The Marshall Project - Life Inside
“Life Inside” is a weekly series of first-person essays from people who live or work in the criminal justice system.

We're looking for 1,000- to 1,400-word nonfiction pieces about a personal experience you’ve had with the system. We want slices of life rather than full autobiographies. Focus on telling a good story — one that is vivid, surprising, instructive or enlightening to a reader who may not share your frame of reference.

Submission Guidelines:
https://www.themarshallproject.org/tag/life-inside

Rolling Submissions

MEND is an online and print journal that celebrates the lives and creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people as well as individuals who have been impacted directly or indirectly by the criminal justice system. This annual publication showcases writing of all types, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. While prospective authors may submit pieces that describe their experiences with incarceration, the publication welcomes contributions on any topic.

Submission Guidelines:
https://stem-ops.org/events/call-for-writing-and-art-submissions-mend-magazine/

Yearly submissions by March 1st.

phoebe is an online and print journal published by George Mason University’s Office of Student Media. Their Incarcerated Writer’s Project aims to open the publishing platform to writers in prisons across the United States.

Submission Guidelines:
https://phoebejournal.com/submissions/


In Addition:
Every spring, phoebe hosts contests in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction, each with a $500 prize. Submissions for the contest issue are open annually from January 15th – March 15th

Prison Journalism Project accepts reported news and features as well as essays, memoirs and op-eds across all topics, including community, family and prison life and hard-hitting topics like COVID-19 and police brutality. We are especially eager for stories with accompanying art or stand-alone art depicting an aspect of prison life. We will also publish narrative poetry that tell true stories.

Submission Guidelines:
https://prisonjournalismproject.org/write-for-us/

Rolling Submissions

Prison Writers
“We offer uncensored, personal stories and thoughtful essays from incarcerated citizens across the country about what really goes on inside the secretive world of prison corrections.”

Rolling Submissions

Send online:
https://prisonwriters.com/contact/
or mail to:
Loen Kelley / Prison Writers
PO Box 334
New York, NY 10002

More Information:
https://prisonwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Helpful-Info-for-New-Prison-Writers-PDF-.pdf

Prism’s Right to Write (R2W)
https://prismreports.org/right-to-write-project/

What we’re looking for: Personal essays, op-eds, features, reported news stories, or explainers. We accept pitches, complete drafts, and as-told-to pieces. All stories must be under 1,600 words.

Who can submit: We accept pitches/drafts from the currently or formerly incarcerated and proxy journalists, writers, organizations, and community members working with incarcerated writers.

Pay: Prism pays $0.50/word

Please pitch or submit to us by email: pitch@prismreports.org or to Prism’s P.O. Box

Prism
1423 Broadway #271
Oakland, CA 94612

The ReSentencing Journal is a collection of poems, stories, essays, and visual art pieces compiled into a beautiful book. The journal highlights art created by currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and acts as a platform for creative expression. This project seeks to represent and re-imagine the experience of imprisonment and freedom in the U.S. from a personal point of view from the perspective of people who have extraordinary talent and a tremendous amount to teach.

Submission Guidelines:
https://sites.tufts.edu/tupit/information-for-our-submitters/

Check website for Submission Period

Scalawag is interested in untold stories, fresh perspectives, and original thought covering the nuances of life, politics, and culture in the American South

Submission Guidelines

Check Website for Submission Dates

The Southeast Review publishes poetry, literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and art in each biannual issue as well as on SER Online, in addition to online book reviews and interviews. We pride ourselves on presenting emerging writers alongside well-established ones.

Our modest reading fee of $3 helps us meet the cost of this service, and all proceeds are directed to our contributor’s fund. Every submission is considered for both biannual and online publication.

To determine what we’re looking for, please read the works we’ve published. Click here to order a single biannual issue, here to become a subscriber, and here to read the latest from SER Online.

Please see our Contests page for information on our annual poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art contests.Currently, SER is interested in increasing its publications by incarcerated writers and invites both incarcerated writers and those who know and work with incarcerated writers to submit. Submissions can be sent through our Submittable page or by mail to the below address:

Southeast Review
English Department, Williams Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306

Check Website for Submission Dates
https://southeastreview.submittable.com/submit

PEN America’s Prison Writing Program

For over 40 years, PEN America, a prominent arts and advocacy organization, has sponsored a Prison Writing Program that pairs incarcerated writers with mentors on the outside. Their annual free Prison Writing Contest accepts poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works.

Link to their Annual Prison Writing Contest: https://pen.org/annual-prison-writing-contest/

Deadline is Sept 1st

Submission Guidelines:
https://pen.org/annual-prison-writing-contest-guidelines/

Must be previously unpublished

Submit by Sending Work To:

PEN America Prison Writing Program
ATTN: 2022 Annual Contest Entry
588 Broadway Suite 303
New York, NY 10012

https://dornsife.usc.edu/pep/content/

Check website for Yearly Contest Update