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Submit to Ruminate
A mindful literary arts magazine that respects
what you do and why you do it.
Ruminate receives over 5,000 general submissions and contest submissions each year. We can't publish every story or poem, and we seek not to be a solution for all but rather a sign for all—a sign that points us toward hospitality, welcome, and care for one another's stories. We are particularly excited about sharing stories, poems, and art from voices that aren't often heard.

CONTESTS

VanderMey Nonfiction Prize
is open!
Each year we award $1500 and publication to the winning writer. Essay/short memoir must be 5,500 words or less. Entry fee is $20 (includes a digital copy of Ruminate). Deadline is Oct. 15th (plus 3-day grace period).
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William Van Dyke Short Story Prize
is closed.
Each year we award $1500 and publication to the winning writer. Short Story must be between 1000 and 5,500 words. Entry fee is $20 (includes a digital copy of Ruminate). Deadline is Feb. 1st
(plus a 3-day grace period).

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Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize
is closed.
Each year we award $1500 and publication to the winning poet. Entry fee is $20 (includes a digital copy of Ruminate featuring the winning pieces). Deadline is May 1st (plus 3-day grace period).

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Ruminate Broadside Poetry Prize
is closed.
Two poems per entry; 10 to 30 lines each. Entry fee is $12 (includes a digital copy of Ruminate). Deadline is August 15th (with a 3-day grace period)

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Flash Prize - Fiction
is closed.

Each year we award $500 and publication to the winning flash fiction piece. Entry fee is $6.30. Deadline is June 28th (plus 3-day grace period).

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Flash Prize - Nonfiction
is closed.

Each year we award $500 and publication to the winning flash nonfiction piece. Entry fee is $6.30. Deadline is June 28th (plus 3-day grace period).

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GENERAL SUBMISSIONS

Short Prose - Fiction/Nonfiction

General Submission to The Waking for both flash fiction and flash nonfiction work are open from August 1, 2021 - April 30, 2022.

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Image-Text/Hybrid Work

General Submission to The Waking for both flash fiction and flash nonfiction/hybrid work are open from August 1, 2021 - April 30, 2022.

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Readers Ruminate
column is closed.
Each issue of Ruminate includes personal notes, 300 words or less, from our readers on a particular topic. We notify our readers of the topic for each issue's Readers Ruminate column via our email newsletter and social media. To be notified of the topic, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page.
Poetry is open!
General Magazine Submissions Reading period is open now through December 31. The first two weeks of the reading period is free, after that we will charge a reading fee for $3.50/submission. (Between Jan. 1st-May 4th we will only accept poetry submissions to our Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize.) You may submit up to five poems/submission (we prefer 3-5), with a maximum of 10 pages per submission.
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Nonfiction is closed.
General Magazine Submission Reading period: January 6th - June 1st. We've closed the queue for now and will let you know when it's reopened!
(Between June 15th-October 18th we will only accept nonfiction submissions to our VanderMey Nonfiction Prize.) We accept pieces that are 5,500 words or less.
Visual Art is closed.
Images must be professional quality digital images in TIFF or JPG formats and must be PC and Mac compatible.
Fiction is closed.
General Magazine Submissions Reading period: February 15th - June 15. We're catching up on our submissions! We'll let you know when we're caught up. (Between August 15th-February 4th we will only accept fiction submissions to our William Van Dyke Short Story Prize). We accept pieces that are between 1000 and 5,500 words.

Submission FAQs
We know that sharing your art is a brave act–
we look forward to seeing your work!

  • General magazine submissions are always free—there is no entry fee.
  • We currently pay $20/page of poetry (with a maximum of $80 per poem), $20/page for visual art pieces, and $20/400 words for prose. Ruminate firmly believes in paying our contributors, and we are working hard to increase the amount we pay them.
  • We only accept submissions that are previously unpublished.
  • We do accept simultaneous submissions, however, please notify us right away if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • If you agree to allow Ruminate to publish your work, we will receive first serial rights and all rights revert back to you upon publication.
  • We only accept online submissions, as our readers are spread across the country. Any submissions made by postal mail or email will not be considered.
  • Our response time is 3-4 months. Please wait 3-4 months before inquiring about the status of your submission.
  • Please wait for a response to your submission before sending us more work.
  • We highly recommend reading a copy of the magazine to better understand the type of work we are looking for.

"I wrote my essay with Ruminate in mind and am just thrilled to have it appear in such a great magazine."

- Tony Lusvardi, 2016 VanderMey Nonfiction Prize recipient

" It is encouraging and uplifting to be supported and recognized for one’s passion and effort as an artist."

- Eloisa Guanloa, 2018 Kalos Visual Art Prize recipient

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