Submission Guidelines for River Teeth

 

River Teeth invites submissions of creative nonfiction, including narrative reportage, essays, and memoirs, as well as critical essays that explore the impact of nonfiction narrative on the lives of its writers, subjects, and readers. We do not have a page length or word count limit (or minimum). We cannot accept previously published works, including writing from blogs, social media, etc. At this time, we do not accept submissions created with the assistance of generative AI. Please wait to submit another essay for consideration until a decision has been made on your previous submission.
 
We take submissions through Submittable with a $3 processing fee. We will consider simultaneous submissions as long as writers follow the normal etiquette of such submissions by indicating so in a cover letter or the notes section of the submission, and notifying us immediately if the essay is picked up by another journal. We try to respond to submissions within three to six months, though we always work hard to return submissions as quickly as possible while giving each submission a fair read. River Teeth requests first North American serial rights. 
 
River Teeth encourages underrepresented writers to submit work for consideration, including but not limited to: BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled writers. We accept submissions Sept. 1 – Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 – April 1.
 
If published, the writer will receive $100, two complimentary issues of the journal, a one-year subscription, and the option to purchase additional copies at a discounted contributor’s rate.

We invite incarcerated writers without regular internet access to submit your essays to us via postal mail. Please send your manuscript and SASE to:

River Teeth: A Journal of Narrative Nonfiction
Department of English
Ball State University
2000 W. University Ave.
Muncie, IN 47306

 
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to read your work.

 

Submission Guidelines for Beautiful Things

Micro nonfiction submissions to River Teeth‘s weekly online magazine, Beautiful Things, must be 250 words or fewer. Please submit one beautiful thing at a time, via Submittable; there is a $3 submission fee. At this time, we do not accept submissions created with the assistance of generative AI. Our team tries to respond within three to six months. We request first North American serial rights. We cannot accept previously published work. If published, writers will receive a one-year subscription to River Teeth: A Journal of Nonfiction Narrative. 

Beautiful Things encourages underrepresented writers to submit work for consideration, including but not limited to: BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled writers. Incarcerated writers are welcome to submit their work to us via mail at the address above. We accept submissions Sept. 1 – Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 – April 1.

Book Reviews

River Teeth only accepts submissions of or queries for our web-published book reviews only through Submittable now.

When submitting or pitching your book review, please consider these specific guidelines:

  • We will only consider pitches for a review of a literary nonfiction book published by a small, independent publisher or university press.
  • Your pitch must include a specific title to review.
  • Your pitch should also show some broader knowledge of the author’s work and/or subgenre of nonfiction in which the book is situated.
  • While your review can be critical, ultimately we want the review to shine a light on the work that you are excited to recommend to readers.
  • Reviews will need to be in the neighborhood of 1,000–1,200 words in length.
  • Be mindful that we are well into the next year with our publishing schedule.
More generally, we welcome reviews of a variety of literary nonfiction books, whether that be memoir, essays, literary journalism, a hybrid of nonfiction, etc. We also want to make space for titles that explore the experiences, issues, etc. from all walks of life.

Most importantly, we are looking for thoughtful reviews of the featured book. We want prose that is well-crafted and offer insight into the book under review while also providing an understanding of its purpose within its larger context. At this time, we do not accept submissions created with the assistance of generative AI.

Thank you for considering River Teeth Book Reviews, and we look forward to reading your pitch.

Review copies of books may be sent to River Teeth for potential review. Please send copies to:

River Teeth Book Reviews
University of Alabama
c/o Brooke Champagne
Box 870244
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487