Subjects

Nimrod publishes high-quality poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction. There are two issues annually. The spring issue is thematic, with the theme announced the previous summer. Previous themes have included Writers of Age, Range of Light: The Americas, Australia, China Today, Who We Are, Islands and Crossing Borders. The spring issue also contains work by the winners and finalists of the Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers. The fall issue is our Awards issue and contains the winners and finalists of the Nimrod Literary Awards. Most issues also contain general submissions.

General Submissions

Accepted from January 1-October 1 each year. Nimrod is closed to general submissions in December. Turn-around time for general submissions is one to five months.  Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as they are noted and withdrawn immediately if accepted elsewhere.

Fiction and Creative Nonfiction: Work must be previously unpublished. 7,500 words maximum. We seek vigorous, fresh writing, with well-developed and believable characters.  Dialogue should be realistic without being banal.

Poetry

Work must be previously unpublished. Up to 7 pages, no more than one poem per page. Poetry is open to all styles and subjects. We seek poems that go beyond one word or image, honor the impulse to reveal a truth about, or a persuasive version of, the inner and outer worlds.

Thematic Submissions

In the summer of each year, Nimrod announces a theme for the following spring issue. The guidelines for thematic submissions are the same as for general submissions, except that thematic submissions are sometimes accepted in December. (Very occasionally we may choose a theme from previously accepted manuscripts and then will not announce one for that year.) Check our website’s “Call for Manuscripts” section for upcoming themes.

Contests

The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction and The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry
Each year Nimrod hosts the Nimrod Literary Awards, with entries accepted beginning January 1 and ending April 1. First prizes of $2,000 and second prizes of $1,000 and publication are awarded. The fee for each entry is $20. For the complete rules, visit the Literary Awards page.

The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers
Each year Nimrod hosts the Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers, which honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers. Prizes of $500 and publication are awarded in the fiction and poetry categories. Fee for each entry is $12. For the complete rules, visit the Francine Ringold Awards page.

Manuscript Format

Fiction: double-spaced, 1” margins on all sides, word-processed, one side of plain white paper only.  Poetry: word-processed, no more than one poem per page, one side of plain white paper only.

Statement on AI Writing Tools (such as ChatGPT)

We will not consider any submissions written, developed, or assisted by these tools. Attempting to submit these works may result in being banned from submitting works in the future.

How to Submit

You may submit by mail or through our online submission manager system.

Postal submissions: General and thematic postal submissions are free. Send SASE for notification and/or return of manuscript.  Postal submissions should be sent to the main Nimrod address:

Nimrod International Journal
University of Tulsa
800 S. Tucker Dr.
Tulsa, OK  74104

Online submissions: You may submit online using our online submission manager system. General and thematic online submissions entail a $3 fee associated with them to cover the administrative costs associated with the online submission system.

Email Submissions

Nimrod does not accept email transmissions unless the writer lives overseas and is unable to submit using our online submission manager system. For those sending email submissions, please paste work into the body of an email.

All work submitted to Nimrod must be previously unpublished. We take First North American rights for work published in Nimrod.

Reading a sample issue before submitting a manuscript is recommended.

Issue Format

Each issue is approximately 200 pages, perfect bound with a four-color cover.

Payment

We pay $10 per page, with a $200 maximum. Winners of the Nimrod Literary Awards receive $2,000 for first prize, $1,000 for second prize and publication. Winners of the Francine Ringold Awards receive $500 and publication. All contributors receive two print contributors’ copies and one digital contributor copy.

Subscriptions

One year domestic print: $19.50

Two years domestic print: $34.00

One year digital: $10.00

Two years digital: $16.00

You may subscribe on our website, on our Submittable page or by mail via check or money order.

Sample Issues

$12 each. Sample issues can be purchased on our website, on our Submittable page or by mail via check or money order.

Questions

nimrod@utulsa.edu
(918) 631-3080
artsandsciences.utulsa.edu/nimrod

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