SUBMITTING YOUR WORK
Gordon Square Review, a publication of Literary Cleveland, holds two open reading periods each year:
Writers accepted for publication receive a $25 honorarium.
- February 1 to March 31. Publication drops May 15.
- August 1 to October 1. Publication drops November 15.
Writers accepted for publication receive a $25 honorarium.
GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Gordon Square Review welcomes works of translation, simultaneous submissions, and previously published work no longer available in print or online.
POETRY SUBMISSIONS
Only include one poem in your submission.
FICTION/PROSE SUBMISSIONS
Only include one story in your submission. The word limit is 5,000 words.
BRIEF NONFICTION SUBMISSIONS
Only include one essay in your submission. The word limit is 1,000 words (if fewer than 1,000 words, that is okay).
POETRY SUBMISSIONS
Only include one poem in your submission.
FICTION/PROSE SUBMISSIONS
Only include one story in your submission. The word limit is 5,000 words.
BRIEF NONFICTION SUBMISSIONS
Only include one essay in your submission. The word limit is 1,000 words (if fewer than 1,000 words, that is okay).
EDITORIAL MENTORSHIPS
All general submissions from writers in any geographical location are eligible for our competitive editorial mentorships. Each Gordon Square Review editor will independently choose one piece of writing received during the open submission period and work with that writer to revise the piece for publication. Selected writers will be asked to contribute a micro-essay about the process. Writers should indicate in their submission [1] if the they are interested in the editorial mentorship and [2] that the work being submitted is a work-in-progress.
NORTHEAST OHIO WRITER?
As a publication of Literary Cleveland, Gordon Square Review is proud to support Northeast Ohio writers. Please make a note in your submission if you currently live in Northeast Ohio (including the Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Youngstown, Kent, or Lorain/Elyria/Oberlin areas) or if you have a strong tie to Northeast Ohio as a past resident, student, etc.
WANT TO READ FOR GSR?
Gordon Square Review relies on volunteer readers to read, provide feedback, and select submissions for publications. Before you apply, please decide if you can commit to the following:
- 3-4 hours of reading per week
- 3-4 in person or virtual meetings per each issue’s interval (February 1 to May 15; August 1 to November 15)
- uplift other writers who are submitting their work to literary journals
- read, comment, and vote on GSR submissions
- help decide which pieces are published in the Spring 2026 issue of GSR
- learn the behind-the-scenes process of selecting work for a literary journal
- collaborate with GSR's editorial staff
AI POLICY
Gordon Square Review does not consider manuscripts that have touched Artificial Intelligence in any part of the writing process. Upon submission, authors will be asked to attest that AI was not used in the creation or writing of that work. The editorial team values original, authentic, weird, unique, uncanny voices; it values human voices.
Every piece published in GSR is reviewed by human editors, and we remain committed to authors who are likewise in the business of the human condition in ways that robots simply cannot.
GSR reserves the right to rescind an offer of publication based on use of AI.
Every piece published in GSR is reviewed by human editors, and we remain committed to authors who are likewise in the business of the human condition in ways that robots simply cannot.
GSR reserves the right to rescind an offer of publication based on use of AI.
