We publish quarterly (March, June, September, December) and accept submissions on a rolling basis via bosphorusreview@gmail.com. We send out accept or reject decision emails the month leading up to publication. To ensure a high standard of publication and an equal chance to be published, we do not decide on acceptances on a first come first serve basis.
We hope to give both emerging and published authors an online space and are glad to provide feedback and editorial assistance for submissions. By giving the region a literary outlet in English, we hope to connect Istanbul to the broader global literary community and promote our city’s diversity and uniqueness across the world.
Fiction:
BROB accepts fictional works in English of up to 10,000 words;
Our fiction editor gives preference to works with a strong narrative and is interested in expanding the variety of work published on the site. From pulp fiction to high-brow literature, anything goes. We understand that writing is a courageous act and we want you to share your work with us.
Please send no more than two pieces of work per issue cycle. Only one per issue per author will be accepted.
Poetry:
Poetry submissions can be in any language and length so long as they are accompanied by an English translation.
Please send no more than three works at a time, in one, single Word document. Only a maximum of two poems will be accepted per issue per poet.
If the maximum number of poems per submission are exceeded we will not read the poems past the allotted number (3), and you run the risk of having your submission disregarded.
We have a lot of poetry submissions, so it’s hard to respond to all emails. We will get in touch ahead of publication for the pieces we select.
Nonfiction:
Nonfiction work, including reviews, interviews, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction, are all welcome. In our nonfiction section, we are flexible about the content.
Creative nonfiction works can defy classification or can verge on literary scholarship.
Book Reviews:
For general reviews of literary works, we favour timely critiques of works by Turkish or Turkey-based writers and those based on regional cultural or historic issues.
Our “Why you should Read” column is devoted to expanding an appreciation for literature. If you have a book or a writer that you think people should read more of, write to us! Tell us why.
Magazine Cover:
You can also submit an image to be considered for that issue’s magazine cover.
Ideally, the cover size would be 3200 × 2400 pixels.
You have complete creative freedom over the cover as long as it includes the magazine’s title (Bosphorus Review of Books), the magazine’s slogan (“Words straight from the Bosphorus strait”), and month and year of the publication.
Please keep in mind that this is very competitive as only one submission can be accepted each issue.
If your creative genre is not encompassed by the examples given on this list, then as an eclectic and flexible journal, we are always open to new ideas.
Submissions should be sent as word document attachments, NOT as PDFs or within the body of the email. Please note the genre of your submission in the email subject line. If you are submitting more than one genre at once, please send each genre submission in a separate email.
Please provide a brief introductory paragraph written in the third person to your piece along with word count in the body of your email.
Pieces submitted without body text within the email will not be considered.
Submit via bosphorusreview@gmail.com and please make sure to address our editors politely.