New Plains Review welcomes submissions for our 40th anniversary issue. Affiliated with the University of Central Oklahoma, the journal was founded with the dream of encountering new writers, voices, and perspectives each year. We continue that tradition by inviting writers of all backgrounds, emerging and experienced alike, who work on any subject but with an undeniable point of view. We accept works of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, plays, scripts, experimental work, as well as visual art. 

For this special anniversary issue, we are thrilled to launch a new contest, the New Plains Prize in Poetry and Fiction! All submissions are welcome, though we are particularly interested in work that focuses on water as a theme. Here in the Plains, water is not a resource to be taken for granted. We are grateful when it rains. Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state. Water is a complex part of our lives. The New Plains Review Prizes hope to highlight concerns that most directly impact our communities as part of one shared world.  

The $3 fee for each submission helps defray the costs of production. Contributors may submit multiple times to however many genres they wish, but an additional fee will apply to each submission. Submissions for the contest are considered through a separate process from general submissions. Simultaneous submissions are welcome and encouraged, but inform us immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere. 

Prize submissions will be screened by our editors and considered for general submission. External judges will select the winners.

Your work must be original and previously unpublished in any form–we do not accept any submissions that contain generative AI tools in the creation or editing processes. 

New Plains Review upholds our institution's commitment to inclusivity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, etc.  

October 13th is the deadline for all submissions!