Submission Guidelines.

Thank you for your interest in contributing to The Memoirist Review.

Our annual print journal celebrates personal storytelling and creative expression through memoirs, personal essays, poetry, fine art, and photography. We welcome both emerging and established voices and artists, and we believe compelling work deserves to be shared, whether it's being published for the first time or finding a new audience.

Please review the guidelines below before submitting your work for consideration.

What we're looking for

The Memoirist Review welcomes work that explores the human experience through personal storytelling and creative expression.

Memoirs & Personal Essays

We love authentic, engaging stories that offer a glimpse into the experiences, relationships, and moments that shape our lives. Whether poignant, humorous, reflective, or unexpected, we're drawn to writing with a distinctive voice and a story worth telling.

Poetry

We welcome poetry that reflects personal experiences, emotions, memories, and observations. We appreciate thoughtful, evocative work in a variety of styles and forms.

Fine Art & Photography

We seek original artwork and photography that tell a story, capture a moment, or offer a compelling perspective. Both individual works and cohesive portfolios are welcome.

Previously Published Work

We gladly consider previously published work, including pieces that have appeared on Substack, personal websites, or in other publications. Please disclose where your work was originally published when submitting.

Submission Requirements

We want to give every submission the thoughtful consideration it deserves. To help us do that, please follow these requirements.

Writers

Writers may submit one memoir, personal essay, or poem per submission window. There is no fee to submit.

Visual Artists & Photographers

Artists and photographers may submit a portfolio of up to five works per submission window. Individual pieces are also welcome. Please include a title for each work.

All Contributors

Please include the title of your work or portfolio, a brief author or artist biography, and your Substack address, if applicable.

Submissions are accepted only during announced submission windows. All work must be your own, and you must hold the rights necessary to grant publication permission if your work is selected.

Formatting & File Uploads

To help us review your work, please follow these formatting and upload instructions.

Memoirs, Personal Essays & Poetry

Submit your work as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF. Please include the title of your piece in the document.

We encourage writers to submit polished, carefully edited work.

Fine Art & Photography

Artists and photographers may submit up to five works combined into a single PDF portfolio. Please include the title of each piece and, when applicable, its medium.

Images should be clear enough for editorial review. If your work is selected for publication, we will request high-resolution files suitable for print reproduction.

File Uploads

Our submission form accepts one file per submission, with a maximum file size of 15 MB. If you're submitting multiple visual works, please combine them into a single PDF before uploading.

Please do not submit ZIP files or links to external file-sharing services in place of an uploaded submission.

Editorial Review & Selection

Every submission to The Memoirist Review is considered with care and an appreciation for the creativity and personal experiences behind it.

Our editorial selections reflect a variety of voices, perspectives, and artistic styles. We consider the quality of each individual work as well as how it contributes to the overall character and balance of the annual edition.

Submitting your work does not guarantee publication. Contributors whose work is selected will be contacted by email with details about the next steps, including any editorial revisions, publication permissions, and contributor compensation.

We may suggest minor edits to accepted written work or request additional information or higher-resolution files from visual artists. Any substantive editorial changes will be discussed with the contributor before publication.

Due to the volume of submissions, we may not be able to provide individual feedback on every piece.

Contributor Compensation

We believe creative work deserves recognition and compensation. Contributors whose work is selected for The Memoirist Review receive payment upon publication.

Our current compensation rates are:

Memoirs & Personal Essays: $50 per published piece
Poetry: $25 per published poem
Fine Art & Photography: $25 per individual published work

Compensation for multi-piece portfolio features will be determined by the number of works selected for publication and communicated to the contributor before publication.

Contributors retain ownership and copyright of their work. Payment is for publication and promotional permissions, not a transfer of copyright.

As an independently published journal, we are unable to provide complimentary print copies at this time. Contributors are welcome to purchase copies through our print distributor.

Publication Rights & Permissions

The Memoirist Review welcomes both original and previously published work. If your submission has appeared elsewhere, including on Substack, a personal website, or in another publication, please disclose where it was first published.

Contributors retain all copyrights and ownership of their work. We do not require exclusive rights, and contributors remain free to publish, share, or republish their work elsewhere, provided they have the necessary rights to do so.

By accepting an offer of publication, contributors grant The Memoirist Review nonexclusive, ongoing permission to publish their accepted work in the print journal and to reproduce, display, and share it for purposes related to the journal's promotion and marketing. This may include excerpts, images, or reproductions featured on our website, social media, newsletters, and other promotional materials.

This permission also includes continued printing, distribution, and sale of the edition in which the work appears.

These permissions do not transfer copyright or ownership to The Memoirist Review. Contributors will be credited whenever their work is used, and any use beyond the permissions outlined above will require separate permission.

Contributors are responsible for ensuring they own or have obtained the necessary rights and permissions for all submitted material, including any third-party photographs, artwork, or other copyrighted content.