Guidelines
The Timberline Review is an all-volunteer literary journal operated by Willamette Writers. We want to read your clear writing, your well-crafted words, your original voice, whether you’ve been previously published or not.
What We Want
The theme for issue #10 is “Time Capsule.” The theme is open to interpretation, so interpret away!We are seeking work in the following categories:
- Poetry
- Fiction (flash, short story, novella, and novel excerpt)
- Creative nonfiction (essay and memoir)
- Critical commentary (annotation, book review, literary analysis, and craft instruction)
- Drama and screenplay
- Hybrid
- Graphic novel (b&w)
- Visual art (b&w)
General Submission Guidelines
Submissions failing to meet all guidelines below will be disqualified.Text Formatting:
- Submissions are anonymous: Do not include name or contact information on your attachment. Any identifying information in a submission results in immediate disqualification.
- Font: Times New Roman
- Size: 12 pt.
- Spacing: 1.5 line spacing for prose; single space for poetry
- Margins: 1 inch left/right and top/bottom
- Headers/Footers: Not necessary. Please check that your name is not in the header or footer.
- Title of Work: Only at the top of the first page.
File Formatting: Documents must be in .doc, or .docx. Digital images must be in tif, gif, or jpeg, with a resolution of 300+ dpiFile Name: Only the title of the piece. (NOT your name and title)
Word and Page Limits:
- Critical Commentary, Fiction, Hybrid, Non-fiction: 3,500 words.
- Drama: Up to 10 pages
- Screenplay: Up to 10 pages
- Poetry: Up to 3 poems; maximum of 10 pages total.
- Graphic Novel: 10 pages total (text-only or text/images).
- Visual Art: Up to 5 pieces.
Genre-Specific Guidelines
Follow genre-specific formatting anywhere the genre-specific formatting conflicts with the general text formatting.
- POETRY: All poems must be single spaced. If you have specific spacing within the poem, please explain in a note at the end of the poem.
- DRAMA: Screenplays or dramatic writing must follow standard text formats (though, please, no page numbers): Modern Play Format, or the screenwriting programs “Final Draft” or “Movie Magic Screenwriter.” Please save as a .doc or docx file.
- VISUAL ART: we accept up to six (5) photos or graphics in color or b/w. Color submissions may also be considered for the cover. All images selected for the interior will be produced in b/w. We can only accept digital images submitted as tif, gif, or jpeg files with a resolution of 300+ dpi. Check your camera settings: the default setting for digital cameras is often 72 dpi.
- GRAPHIC NOVEL: Submitted work must be formatted exactly as work submitted as visual art—saved as a .tif, .gif, or .jpeg file, and having a resolution of 300+ dpi. All images will appear in b&w when printed. For writer–artist collaborations, be sure to specify the name of the writer and the artist.
- HYBRID: Hybrid work is the deliberate blend, deconstruction, or juxtaposition of multiple elements: genre, form, structure, and/or theme to name a few. Some hybrid works explore larger questions of body or life through fragmented or braided structures which often creates space for conversations and further exploration. Cross-genre and experimental works are welcome here. Note: There must be a discernible need and authorial decision present in hybrid; it is not a haphazard process, but one of careful crafting and close textual examination. One idea to keep in mind when writing hybrid work is: “What specifically does this fusion allow me to do?”
Reprints & Simultaneous Submissions
We do not accept reprints. Previously produced or performed drama and performance poetry is welcome as long as it has not appeared in print elsewhere. Simultaneous submissions are always welcome, but if your work is accepted elsewhere, please make sure to inform us right away.
Payment and Rights Acquired
We pay $25 + one e-book contributor copy. First North American Serial Rights.To Contact Submissions EditorEmail submissions@timberlinereview.com. Normal response time is one week.We look forward to reading your work!
Kay Snow Awards
2021 Call for Submissions
The Kay Snow Awards, named in honor of Willamette Writers founder, is to help writers reach professional goals in writing through a broad array of categories, and also to encourage student writers. In addition to prizes, winners are listed on the Willamette Writers website and honored at our Willamette Writers Conference held annually in August.Please note: This year, YA/Middle Grade and College students are not being offered as separate categories, and will be integrated into Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction submissions.
What We Want
We are seeking work in the following categories:
- Fiction (flash, short story, novella, and novel excerpt)
- Creative nonfiction (essay and memoir)
- Poetry
- Drama and screenplay
- Students in two grade divisions: 1-6, 7-12 (use separate submission form)
General Submission Guidelines
Submissions failing to meet all guidelines below will be disqualified.Text Formatting:
- Submissions are anonymous: Do not include name or contact information on your attachment. Any identifying information in a submission results in immediate disqualification.
- Font: Times New Roman
- Size: 12 pt.
- Spacing: 1.5 line spacing for prose; single space for poetry
- Margins: 1 inch left/right and top/bottom
- Headers/Footers: Not necessary. Please check that your name is not in the header or footer.
- Title of Work: Only at the top of the first page.
File Formatting: Documents must be in .doc, or .docx. Digital images must be in tif, gif, or jpeg, with a resolution of 300+ dpiFile Name: Only the title of the piece. (NOT your name and title)
Word and Page Limits:
- Fiction, Non-fiction: 3,500 words.
- Drama: Up to 10 pages
- Screenplay: Up to 10 pages
- Poetry: Up to 3 poems; maximum of 10 pages total.
Genre-Specific Guidelines
Follow genre-specific formatting anywhere the genre-specific formatting conflicts with the general text formatting.
- POETRY: All poems must be single spaced. If you have specific spacing within the poem, please explain in a note at the end of the poem.
- DRAMA: Screenplays or dramatic writing must follow standard text formats (though, please, no page numbers): Modern Play Format, or the screenwriting programs “Final Draft” or “Movie Magic Screenwriter.” Please save as a .doc or docx file.
Reprints & Simultaneous Submissions
We do not accept reprints. Previously produced or performed drama and performance poetry is welcome as long as it has not appeared in print elsewhere. Simultaneous submissions are always welcome, but if your work is accepted elsewhere, please make sure to inform us right away.
Prizes
Winning entries in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplay are awarded:
- First prize: $100 and one-day admission to the Willamette Writers Conference
- Second prize: $50 and one-day admission to the Willamette Writers Conference
- Third Prize: $25 and one-day admission to the Willamette Writers Conference
Winning entries in each of the two grade divisions of the student category are awarded:
- First prize: $50
- Second prize: $20
- Third Prize: $10
Winners of the Kay Snow Awards will be honored at the Willamette Writers Conference