Ninth Letter: “Manifest” Issue
Deadline November 1 (must be received by this date). Ninth Letter, a prestigious literary journal published by the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), is seeking creative writing on the theme "Manifest" for their Spring 2027 Web Edition. Send 1-3 poems, or one story or essay up to 3,500 words, with a cover letter briefly explaining how you see your work fitting the theme. Accepted authors receive $25 for poetry or $75 for prose. One entry per person per genre. Editors say, "For writers, to manifest gainfully requires not just will, but expert application of our trustiest of tools—concreteness, detail, specificity, and, their building block, the image. And so, for this issue, we invite you to return to our shared fundamentals: Manifest something real, out of words, using these tools. Show, don't tell: Hold the rabbit by the ears, even though the hat was empty. Make us believe, in spite of ourselves."
Source: https://ninthletteronline.submittable.com/submit
Published: October 6, 2026
