Submissions for Spring 2010
Deadline: February 24, 2010

Submissions for the Creative Section

If you are interested in submitting poetry, prose, or creative nonfiction for the creative section, you should send it in to thebirchjournal@gmail.com as an attached Microsoft Word document. The piece should be in some way related to Russia or another post-Soviet country (the relationship does not have to be extremely direct, but it should include at least one thematic element relevant to the region). If you have not yet written the piece, feel free to e-mail one of the editors to make sure you are writing about a topic that is fit for inclusion in the journal. Submissions to the creative section may not exceed 2000 words and can be written in English or in Russian. Keep in mind that if you choose to submit in Russian, your writing will not be translated into English. We also gladly accept original photography. When submitting photographs, please attach them as JPEG files.

Submissions for the Criticism Section

If you would like to write an essay or book review for the criticism section, you should send it in to thebirchjournal@gmail.com as an attached Microsoft Word document. If you are submitting work you did for a course, you must receive permission from the teacher who graded the essay. If you have not yet written the essay, or if you are interested in reviewing a book, please e-mail one of the editors to make sure you are writing about a topic that is fit for inclusion in the journal. Essays and reviews should be no longer than 2500 words.

Submissions for the Culture and Politics Section

If you would like to write an article for the culture and politics section, you can do one of two things: submit a complete paper no longer than 2500 words by Feb. 24, or submit a pitch by Feb. 15. If you submit a pitch, it should be no longer than 300 words and explain three main things: (1) the basic topic of your article including a small amount of background information, (2) whom you plan to contact for research and quotations, (3) why you think the readership would be interested in the topic. When writing your pitch, keep in mind that the final article will be no longer than 2500 words. The editorial board will then evaluate the pitch, and contact you to make sure you are on the right track. We do this in order to prevent writers from slaving away at an article that is not something the journal wants to publish in the end. The pitch system is also a way for the editorial board to provide help and assistance during the writing process. All pitches should be e-mailed to thebirchjournal@gmail.com.