What we like:
nature
cultures
beauty
lyrical writing & "the old made new"
What we don't like:
political themes
overtly sexual themes
unnecessarily coarse language
prosaic writing and mundane events devoid of mystery, surprise, and beauty
Issue 21 is unthemed. Reading period is December 15, 2025 through March 15, 2026.
Creative nonfiction up to 1000 words. One piece at a time until you hear back from us.
Lyric essays, no word limit, but a lyric essay must be "lyrical," musical, lovely language, not mere prose.
Fiction, up to 500 words. One piece at a time until you hear back from us.
Prose poetry. One prose poem until you hear back from us.
Artwork: up to 3 pieces. No photography.
We will ask for an author bio if your work is selected.
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No reprints, no AI. We check.
Response time will vary from 1 day to 1 month, rarely longer.
Send only one piece of writing in a genre in this reading period until you hear back from us. Feel free to send one piece in each genre at the same time. If we receive our quota for the month, please wait until the next month to submit.
We publish on no specific schedule. Be patient. And it really doesn't help to ask us "when will this be published," because often we just don't know.
Please send! We can't wait to read your beautiful work.
PROSE POETRY: According to our definition, it is in paragraph form only, no line breaks, no slashes, no block text, tight wording (like poetry but in prose form). We are seeking prose poetry that fits this definition. The prose poem should sing.
Miscellaneous Facts Accepted contributors will be required to sign an author's agreement. Any writer from any country in the world is welcome to submit work in English. This will be an online-only issue. Select work may be included in a future print anthology. Submissions may be nominated for various literary acknowledgments. Author bios may be edited at the discretion of EIR. No payment for accepted work.
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Paintings only. Up to 3
No line limits on lyric essays, but please make sure the piece sings: "lyric."
Short fiction to 500 words.
Truth and beauty is what we seek. Lyric language is best.
PROSE poetry, not generic lined poetry. No line breaks or slashes. Up to about 300 words.
Response time will be anywhere from one day to one month or so, but probably shorter rather than longer.
Truth and beauty is what we seek. Always. In lovely language.
Up to 1000 words.
Be sure to leave your address in the Cover Letter block!
US addresses only, unless you're willing to pay shipping. Email us first if that's the case - contact@portyonderpress.com.
Do you want to know the kind of lyricism we especially love? Then please buy, study, and learn from (but mostly, enjoy!) this gorgeous anthology of sixty-one of the most lyrical nonfiction and prose poetry works from seven issues of Eastern Iowa Review. This also includes several pieces of fiction from the noted writer of stunning prose, Stephanie Dickinson. You'll recognize some of the authors included in this book such as Laura Bernstein-Machlay, Andrea Bianchi, Sarina Bosco, Suzanne Cody, Eanlai Cronin, Debra M. Fox, Alisa Golden, Ashley Hajimirsadeghi, Jane Harrington, Kathleen Hellen, Jesse Holth, Claire T. Jennings, Amy Karon, Kevin J. Kelley, Amaris Feland Ketcham, J A Knight, Joseph Labriola, Cindy Lamothe, Mercedes Lawry, Katharyn Howd Machan, Andrea Marcusa, Lora Rivera, Jackie Sizemore, A.M. Thompson, and more.
One reader said this: "I love the format, the layout, and just the feel of it. It's a beautiful book. But more than that, I've loved the content! It's really full of great writing. I find the landscapes, the people, and the words of the different pieces to be so powerful. I can't think of another anthology that I liked this much. I consistently enjoyed all of the pieces, which, considering how varied they are, is really something."
This anthology of the very best of our previous selections is a perfect primer on what we love at EIR. It's an incomparable anthology of lyrical writing.