Current & Recent Opportunities

Buckman Journal : Trance

Buckman Journal is an independent, award-winning publication anthologizing Portland writers and artists of all genres and mediums, published twice a year. We are opening submissions to all Portland and Pacific Northwest creatives for our 14th installment. As always, there is no entry fee.

The theme for this issue is TRANCE. Consider the trance and lay your own one on us. The word and the state it references is mysterious, with many possible meanings and applications, show us how you take it. Think of trance not just in content, but form—how can your language or characters weave one? How can your visuals spellbind us?

WRITING

Writing of all genres, styles, and lengths (up to 5,000 words) is welcome. Poets, please send no more than five poems, with each poem starting on a new page. Prose writers, please adhere to the 5,000-word limit. This total can include multiple interconnected or serial pieces. 

Please submit .docx or .pdf files only, use a readable font, and keep your cover letter brief—please just let us know where you live and include a short author's bio. When it comes to bios, we'd rather hear who you are than read a long list of prior publications, maybe tell us what your favorite condiment is (we're partial to Vegemite.) 

We really look forward to reading your words! Entrance us! 

ARTWORK 

We are seeking artists showcasing 2D and 3D works in any medium (so long as it's documented suitably for print). Artists can submit up to four images, formatted as .tif or .jpg files, CMYK color profile, and at least 300 DPI at a 6" x 9" size. Please label files as: LAST NAME_TITLE OF WORK. Work can be new or pre-existing, or a combo! Please keep your cover letter brief—just let us know where you live and include a short artist's bio or statement about your work. You can also tell us your thoughts on condiments, if you desire.

We’re excited to see your art! Mesmerize us!

FAQs

*Past contributors to Buckman Journal are welcome to submit again here. 

*If you live somewhere else in the Western States that is not listed above, you may still submit, PNW-centric stories and settings won't hurt your case. We are not accepting international submissions at this time. 

*Multi or hybrid genre pieces are more than welcome (keep in mind this is in print, therefore we can’t publish audio, video, 4D, etc—unless work can be sufficiently captured / communicated through still documentation). If they involve writing and art, make your best judgment of submitting it to the writing or art window.

*You may submit in both the writing and art windows with separate works for each. 

*For writing, Buckman reserves First North American Serial Rights, with the copyright reverting back to the author after the initial publication date.

*For artwork, Buckman uses non-exclusive licensing, meaning we will not procure or own the original artwork.

*Accepted submissions receive payment and a contributor's copy of the journal their work appears in. 

*Submitted works may be considered for publication beyond just Issue 014, such as future issues and / or web content.

Ibby Rivers Poetry Prize (closed)

A 2024 Poetry Prize winner was chosen and will be announced and featured in the forthcoming issue of Buckman Journal. Selections from three additional poets will also be printed. 

Buckman Journal : Gorge (closed) 

To celebrate our dozenth installment, we opened submissions to all Portland and Pacific Northwest creatives. From those submissions, we compiled Issue 012, Buckman Journal: Gorge, which was released in July 2024.