Gordon Square Review, a publication of Literary Cleveland, holds two open reading periods each year:
- February 1 to March 31. Publication drops May 15.
- August 1 to September 30. Publication drops November 15.
Gordon Square Review pays writers $25 after publication.
Gordon Square Review considers works that have been previously published but are no longer available online or in-print. If work has been published on a personal blog or website, we request that it be taken down prior to publishing it.
Gordon Square Review welcomes works of translation; simultaneous submissions; and writing from writers from diverse backgrounds, voices, and experiences.
Gordon Square Review encourages writers to submit poetry, fiction, or brief nonfiction. For genre specific guidelines, please see below.
- Poetry Submission. Only include one poem in your submission.
- Fiction Submission. Only include one story in your submission. The word limit is 5,000 words (if fewer than 5,000 words, that is okay).
- Brief Nonfiction Submission. Only include one story or essay in your submission. The word limit is 1,000 words (if fewer than 1,000 words, that is okay).
Gordon Square Review (GSR) is open for volunteer reader applications for our Spring 2026 issue!
If selected as a GSR volunteer reader, you will have the opportunity to:
- uplift other writers who are submitting their work to literary journals
- read, comment, and vote on GSR submissions from February to March
- help decide which pieces are published in the Spring 2026 issue of GSR
- learn the behind-the-scenes process of selecting work for a literary journal
- collaborate with GSR's editorial staff
- help with our Issue 17 launch party (date TBD)
Each genre will select up to two volunteer readers to assist with issue 17.
GSR requests that volunteer readers live in Northeast Ohio. To avoid conflicts of interest, volunteer readers may not submit their own writing to Gordon Square Review’s general issue or contest(s) during their time reading for the journal.
To apply, simply fill out the form below.
Application Due Date: February 2, 2026