Bicoastal Review is a journal of poetry, nonfiction, photography, and art. We aim to foster cross-genre conversations between readers and contributors, often on (but not limited to) topics related to the East Coast and West Coast. We publish writing that offers a lens into varied schools of thought and showcases epiphany and mastery of language. Our collective of voices circumscribes a study of American writing, highlighting the movements, ruptures, and allegiances happening simultaneously on opposite ends of the nation. Writers and artists from anywhere in the world are welcome to submit, though we prefer the American English spelling of words. If there is a fee posted that presents an economic burden to you, email your submission to us at theeditors@bicoastalreview.com.
We offer a Fast Response option if you would like to hear back from us as quickly as 2 to 14 days. There is also an option to receive in-depth edits, feedback, and suggestions on your submission from our readers and editor-in-chief.
Thank you for your support!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
POETRY
5 poems max, preferably in .doc or .docx (PDFs make it harder to copy formatting). Please separate poems by page. Titles are preferred. No need to put your contact info in the document. If your poems are haikus or otherwise very short, feel free to submit more than 5.
Please read our past issues (free online) to get a sense of our vibe. We particularly like political poetry, ecopoetry and nature poems, love poems, poems about the body, feminist poetry, queer poetry, and poems that engage with history, literature, art, and modern culture. Hybrid, experimental, and cross-genre work is welcome. No covid/quarantine poems, please. We don't usually accept light verse.
We accept translations (into English) with the permission of both author and translator.
NONFICTION
We accept creative nonfiction, critical essays, reviews, interviews, think pieces, and similar work.
1,000-3,000 words preferred, though this is not a hard rule.
FICTION
Occasional short fiction (or hybrid works) may be considered if you think it matches the tone and themes of our journal.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
Submit up to 10 photos or works of art using the highest image quality possible. Include a "museum label" style paragraph explaining materials, process, theory, and/or anything else you would like to share about the art. Please don't select Fast Response if you're submitting photography or art.
*** We do not accept anything created with AI tools, prompts, or edits. We do not accept writing that espouses bigotry, hate speech, discrimination, or harmful stereotypes targeting any group or individual based on their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc. We value accessibility and social progress, and seek to represent a diversity of voices across the American literary landscape.
Bios should be 100 words or less, beginning with "YOUR NAME is...."
Simultaneous submissions are fine. Notify us and/or withdraw your submission if your work is accepted elsewhere. We generally do not publish reprints, but we may consider it with permission from the prior publication. Upon acceptance with us, please withdraw your work from consideration elsewhere. Writers/artists featured in Bicoastal Review should wait six months to submit again to General Submissions (feel free to submit to contests).
Since 2023, Bicoastal Review has been a vibrant space for poetry and nonfiction, showcasing free writing and art on www.bicoastalreview.com and social media.
In August 2025, we're thrilled to release our 10th and longest issue—a colorful print edition with 40+ pages! This issue is a celebration of the incredible writing and dedication of all our contest finalists, this year's contest-winning poem, an exclusive interview with the contest judge, and an editor's note. Within, you'll discover new art and learn more about our staff. (Look out for a poetry print and/or free postcards within—as supplies last!)
In 2025-2026, as arts funding nationwide is being cut, supporting small literary magazines is critical. Small journals are the primary incubators for emerging and diverse voices, publishing innovative work that larger presses often overlook. We maintain literary diversity and artistic freedom, not tied to commercial publishing trends. By purchasing this physical edition, you're helping us invest in the future of poetry and art, and in our staff. Your support enables us to keep art accessible and expand the reach of free poetry (with audio), thought-provoking nonfiction, interviews, and reviews, and unique art. By championing artists, you directly help build vibrant communities and ensure that a diversity of perspectives continues to enrich our culture.
Your contribution is vital to funding our contests, keeping fees low, offering editing, and growing our global community. Your purchase brings us closer to regularly printing more physical issues and even designing/printing custom poetry broadsides and sending free poetry-related mail to our readers and staff. And that's not all—you empower us to collaborate with other arts nonprofits, extending our impact beyond our journal.
Managing this journal and building our community has been a bright light in my life; it's widened my perspective in ways I never imagined, and taught me so much about people, poetry, art, editing, design, and more. Thank you for being a part of the journey so far.
I hope you enjoy a copy of Issue 10!
With gratitude,
Marina
Editor in Chief
* Price includes shipping and handling for U.S. purchases. Email us if your purchase is outside of the U.S.
If you'd like your writing or art to be featured with Bicoastal Review, please read our submission guidelines and submit your work via Submittable. Keep an eye out for our multiple poetry contests!
Please reach out with any questions: theeditors@bicoastalreview.com
Deadline
May 1, 2026
Prize
One winner receives $200, a featured publication in our print issue (to see an example, purchase Issue 10 via Submittable), a uniquely designed physical and digital broadside of their poem, publicity on our social media channels, free contributor copies, and an optional interview.
Check out past contest winners!
The Judge
To be announced!
What Is Ekphrastic Poetry?
Ekphrastic poetry is inspired by existing works of art. For this contest, we're looking for creative writing that is inspired by, in conversation with, critiquing, or responding to a poem that we have published in any past issue. Your poem might provide a new perspective, interpretation, or continuation of the other writer's themes, imagery, or language. Be as creative as you want!
Guidelines
- Please submit one previously unpublished poem of any length, style, or form. You can submit up to 10 times - one poem per submission. We prefer .doc or .docx files.
- Inspiration: Your submitted poem must be inspired by or written in response to one piece of writing or work of art previously published in Bicoastal Review. Please indicate the title of the poem or work of art and the issue it appeared in. Include a few sentences about how your poem relates to the other work.
- Please do not include any of your identifying information (name, email) on the document file itself.
- Anyone from anywhere in the world can submit, though our journal tends to gravitate toward topics relevant to the U.S. West Coast/East Coast. Writing must be in English. American spelling preferred. Including words from other languages is fine.
- While not mandatory, we will ask the winner to record their poem as an audio file. Audio files help us expand the accessibility of poetry to anyone who prefers to listen to works. Find examples in our digital issues.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as we are made aware of acceptance elsewhere - you can simply withdraw via Submittable. (Publishing in your own books or blog is fine.)
- If you win the contest, please respond promptly via email or Submittable (within a week or two) or we may defer to other poems. The winner will have time to make minor revisions if desired. We reserve the right to reject revisions/submissions at any time, or to get a new opinion from the judge if revisions are significant.
- Your submission should not infringe upon copyright or third-party rights. Writing must be original and not plagiarized nor submitted without proper citations – including quotes, borrowed lines, etc.
- Bicoastal Review does not accept works created with the use/help of AI.
- Bicoastal Review abides by the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses code of ethics.
- Past or current students, close colleagues, close friends, and family of the judge are NOT ELIGIBLE. (If you have met the judge once or twice, that's fine.)
We might have a reading fee listed (per submission), as our journal is free to read online. If this is an economic burden for you, email us at theeditors@bicoastalreview.com.
Thank you 💙 We can't wait to read your poems. Find us on Instagram and BlueSky @bicoastalreview.
Deadline
May 1, 2026
Prize
One winner receives $250, a featured publication in our printed issue (to see an example, purchase Issue 10 via Submittable), publicity on our social media channels, complimentary contributor copies, and the opportunity for an optional interview.
Check out past contest winners!
Judge
To be announced!
What to Submit
Any work of nonfiction – critical, creative, experimental, or cross-genre – that fits the vibe of our journal (we often favor writing about literature, art, culture, politics, ecology, love, the body, feminism, and queer identity). We welcome braided essays, reviews, art writing, cultural critique, lyric essays, and everything in between. What we are NOT looking for: short stories, overly academic writing, rants, comedy, purely family-oriented memoirs, anything using AI, or anything too self-absorbed. Your work should be around 1,000 to 3,000 words and can include any art, visuals, and audio you like (as long as we can publish it). If you have further questions, feel free to email us at theeditors@bicoastalreview.com.
Guidelines
- Please submit one submission at a time. You can submit up to 10 times. We prefer .doc or .docx files.
- Please do not include any of your identifying information (name, email) on the document file itself.
- Anyone from anywhere in the world can submit, though our journal tends to gravitate toward topics relevant to the U.S. West Coast/East Coast.
- Writing must be in English. American spelling preferred. Including words from other languages is fine.
- While not a requirement for submission, please note that we often publish audio files to help expand the accessibility of writing to anyone who prefers to listen to works. Listen to examples in our digital issues.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as we are made aware of acceptance elsewhere - you can simply withdraw via Submittable. (Publishing in your own books or blog is fine.)
- If you win the contest, please respond promptly via email or Submittable (within a week or two) or we may defer to others. The winner will have time to make minor revisions if desired.
- We reserve the right to reject revisions/submissions at any time, cancel the contest, or get a new opinion from the judge if revisions are significant.
- Submissions should not infringe upon copyright or third-party rights. Submissions must be original and not plagiarized nor submitted without proper citations – including quotes, borrowed lines, etc.
- Bicoastal Review does not accept works created with the use/help of AI.
- Bicoastal Review abides by the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses' code of ethics.
- Past or current students, close colleagues, close friends, and family of the judge are NOT ELIGIBLE. (If you have met the judge once or twice, that's fine.)
We might have a reading fee listed (per submission), as our journal is free to read online. If this is an economic burden for you, email us at theeditors@bicoastalreview.com.
We can't wait to read your work!
Find us on Instagram and BlueSky @bicoastalreview
Note: This is NOT Bicoastal Review's Fast Response option (if you would like to hear back from us quickly on your general submission, with feedback and suggestions.)
Book & Chapbook Editing
Hi, I’m Marina, Editor in Chief of Bicoastal Review. I love to read and began my editing career in 2015 by founding a magazine with a staff of 20. Since then, I have worked as a tutor, content manager, and editor for writers and publishers of all sizes. With an MFA in poetry and a decade of editing experience, I have both craft expertise and practical publishing knowledge. I know the most about ecopoetry, political and feminist work, ekphrasis, imagism, Victorian poetry, Eastern European and Soviet traditions and translations, and modern American trends. I also have years of experience with fiction (sci-fi, historical, short stories), creative nonfiction, and other genres.
My goal is to support your voice while refining your work for clarity, rhythm, cohesion, and impact. I edit in Word (Track Changes) or Google Docs.
Free Consultations
Initial conversations are free. Send me your file, then we can talk (or email) about your goals, timeline, needs, and concerns, to see if it is a good fit. This is not my day job - meaning I have no interest in overcharging or taking on work I'm not a good choice for.
Rates
Every manuscript is different, but here’s a general idea:
Poetry
- Manuscript critique (chapbook, up to 40 pages): $250–$400
Big-picture feedback and inline comments on themes, clarity, and cohesion. - Manuscript critique (full-length, up to 80 pages): $400–$600
Review of structure, flow, form, and other strengths/weaknesses across the collection. Includes line editing (word choice, syntax, rhythm, line breaks, consistency, and more). - Developmental edit (full-length collection): from $800
Deep feedback on structure, sequencing, thematic cohesion, pacing, placement, clarity, and more. Includes an editorial letter, commentary, and full line editing suggestions and ideas (word choice, syntax, rhythm, line breaks, consistency, etc.). Includes submission prep: guidance on preparing a polished submission package. Includes helping you work on your bio or website copy, query letter, formatting, and similar. I will help you find great journals and publishers to submit to, and maybe even someone to review your collection! When we reach the final draft, I often include one more read-through for free or cheap, just so we both land on the same page and catch any lingering changes.
Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Textbooks, Other Genres
- Manuscript critique: from $400
Editorial letter with feedback on narrative arc, clarity, and effectiveness - depends on the goals, scope, and length of your project. - Full copy editing with line edits and developmental feedback: from $1,200
In-depth guidance and sentence-level refinement, with proofreading and developmental edits, suggestions, and comments targeting structure, pacing, organization, audience, clarity, tone, word choice, flow, world-building, accuracy, and more. (A 93,000-word fiction novel, for example, would cost $3,000 for copy and line editing.) - Submission prep: from $200
Support with query letters, bios, marketing copy, synopses, or formatting, along with some help finding journals, resources, and reviewers.
Additional Options
- Custom hourly work (like general editing, or smaller packets of poems): $40-$50/hour
- Sliding scale: Available for students or writers with significant financial hardship. I may also be able to refer you to another editor.
Let’s Work Together
Fill out the form below, or email theeditors@bicoastalreview.com, with a bit of info about your manuscript, your goals, and what kind of editing you’re looking for. I look forward to reading your work!
Note: Hiring me has no impact on your submissions to or relationship with Bicoastal Review or any of our contests or editorial decisions.