The Dawn Review is an online journal that seeks to publish the best writing they can find, without genre restrictions or stylistic preferences: “we believe that creative expression is most powerful without the constraint of categorization.” They publish both new and established authors, of all ages and demographics. Their issues often feature high schoolers and unpublished authors alongside well-known voices.
So far, The Dawn Review has published four downloadable digital issues, each with writing from around 20 contributors. All of the writing published in The Dawn Review is unsolicited, and each issue also includes artwork.
The editors at The Dawn Review provide detailed feedback on the first 150 submissions they receive during each submission period. Authors wishing to receive feedback should note this in their submission. They also work with authors who are accepted for publication to polish their writing.
The Dawn Review publishes all forms and styles of writing. They are mainly looking for writing that surprises, “whether through new language, new ideas, or new forms.” They also love writing that’s memorably honest, “that creates truth by refracting it.”
The Dawn Review is open to submissions for their fifth issue, now through July 5th. Authors may submit up to 10 pages of writing. Though The Dawn Review doesn’t require authors to categorize their writing, they accept what would traditionally by classified as poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as all writing that doesn’t fit within genre classifications. They nominate authors published in the journal for The Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.
The Dawn Review also holds an annual poetry contest, “the Dawn Prize for Poetry,” which was created to showcase emerging authors. Although submissions for the contest are currently closed, you can find out more about it here.
The Dawn Review accepts most of their submissions online, but they do also accept email submissions when the online submissions form doesn’t work. They do not accept submissions by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors notify them when submitting writing is accepted elsewhere. They prefer writing this has not been previously published.
The Dawn Review only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.
If you would like to learn more or submit to The Dawn Review, please visit their website here.
Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.
