The Comstock Review is proud of its long-established reputation of publishing the finest known and unknown poets anywhere. We choose our poems solely on the basis of what we consider their artistic merits. We are not swayed by long publishing histories. We are not afraid of the avant garde but shy from the overly obscure, the patently religious, and needlessly graphic language.
Our editors appreciate: well-crafted verse (traditional or nontraditional), consistency of metaphor, refreshing, distinctive imagery and diction, effective use of poetic devices and sonic qualities, a theme or approach that casts new light on the world and the human condition, and a poem that tickles the brain long after the page has turned.
Updated Guidelines as of 2024 – read carefully!
1. We do not publish poems under 10 lines or over 60 lines including stanza breaks, epigraphs etc.
2. The maximum line length cannot exceed 70 characters including spaces and punctuation.
3. Poems must be your original work, unpublished in ANY medium, print or electronic. Do NOT submit AI-generated poetry.
4. The Comstock Review, a print-only journal, accepts simultaneous submissions. Notify us immediately of withdrawals before poems are accepted. We reserve first refusal rights after acceptance in the case of simultaneous submission.
5. Submit your poems as Word documents. Our editors’ eyes appreciate the use of standard fonts and size such as Times New Roman 12 or Calibri 12
6. Limit each online submission to 5 poems. You may submit more than once per reading period.
7. Do not put your name on your poem submission document(s) or in the name of the submission file, so judging can be impartial. (When submitting poems by mail, DO put your name on the BACK of each sheet of paper)
8. Depending on the volume of submissions, replies may be sent up to 2 months after the close of the reading period or even longer. We are working hard to reduce response time!
Acceptances are published in either Issue 1 (Summer 2025) or Issue 2 (Winter 2025-26) (Volume 39 in 2025).
Candidates for Pushcart nominations are selected from the current year’s accepted poems.
REMEMBER – There is NO FEE for poems submitted during this Open Reading Period.
IF SUBMITTING or SUBSCRIBING ONLINE, go to http://comstockreview.submittable.com/submit
IF SUBMITTING BY MAIL Send poems to: The Comstock Review, att: Open Reading, 4956 St. John Drive, Syracuse, NY 13215 (poems will not be returned).
