Soundings East

Soundings East is the annual literary journal of Salem State University, published with support from the Center for Creative and Performing Arts. Founded in 1973, the journal is edited by graduate and upper-level undergraduate creative writing students under the aegis of an advisory editor from the writing faculty. Soundings East is dedicated to publishing high-quality poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. The magazine is distributed nationally, with recent press runs of 750 copies.

Editorial Staff

Fiction Editor -  Nick Paolini

Non Fiction Editor/Managing Editor - James Rego

Poetry Editor/Assistant Managing Editor - Dawn Stahura

Social Media Editor - Delia Cullity

Faculty Advisors - Kevin Carey and Cathy Fahey

 

Submission Guidelines 

We accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors label them as such, and contact us immediately if they are accepted elsewhere. Our reading period is September 1, 2024 to February 1, 2025; we'll do our best to respond within three months. Contributors will receive two copies of Soundings East, volume 47. Upon publication, all rights revert to authors.

For all categories, please only submit once per reading period.

Submit your work electronically using submittable.
 

If you wish to submit hard-copy please send your work and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Soundings East
English Department - MH 249
Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970

Categories of Submissions Considered

Creative Nonfiction: Previously unpublished creative nonfiction works of up to 3,500 words.
Fiction: Previously unpublished fiction works of up to 3,500 words.
Poetry: Please submit up to three previously unpublished poems in a single file. Poetry submissions are reviewed blindly.

Purchasing Soundings East, volume 46, spring 2024

$10 per copy. Please forward a check made out to Salem State University to:
Center for Creative and Performing Arts
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970

Back issues of Soundings East are also available for purchase. Please contact kgahagan@salemstate.edu to inquire about availability. 

Claire Keyes Poetry Award

Guidelines for the 2025 Claire Keyes  Poetry Award 

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Soundings East will be given for a group of previously unpublished poems. Submit 8 to 10 pages of poetry (no more than one poem per page) with a $10/$15/$20 entry fee from Dec 1, 2024 to February 1, 2025.  

$10 - entry fee only

$15 - entry fee and copy of the magazine for US addresses

$20 - entry fee and copy of the magazine for international addresses

Online entries only via Submittable.

 

Past Winners and Judges for the Claire Keyes Award

2024
Laura Read, Spokane, WA
Judge, Maria Mazziotti Gillan

2023
Robin Messing, Brooklyn, NY
Judge, January Gill O'Neil

2022
Brendan Walsh, Hollywood, FL
Judge, Richard Hoffman

2021

Chivas Sandage, Easthampton, MA
Judge, Afaa Michael Weaver

2020

Arielle Hebert, Durham, NC
Judge, Erika Meitner

2019

Threa Almontaser, Raleigh, NC
Judge, Sean Thomas Dougherty

2018

Jenny Molberg, Central Missouri
Judge, Oliver de la Paz

2017

Faith Shearin, West Virginia
Judge, Andrea Cohen

2016

Mark Wagenaar, Denton, TX 
Judge, Ross Gay

2015

William J Snyder Jr., Moorhead, MN
Judge, Brian Brodeur

2014

Amy Pence, Carrollton, Georgia
Judge, Joan Houlihan