Paper Brigade, the annual literary journal of Jewish Book Council, is pleased to announce its third open call for short story submissions. *The submission period will end February 1, 2022.*
Stories should be between 1,500 and 7,000 words. We encourage authors to familiarize themselves with Paper Brigade before submitting.
Submissions must be previously unpublished. Please send only one story, along with a $3 reading fee. Stories will be considered for both print and Paper Brigade's digital arm, PB Daily. All authors will be paid for published work.
We read all submissions carefully, which means it can take three months or sometimes more for us to respond. We understand and accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify us immediately if a story is accepted for publication elsewhere.
About Paper Brigade
Paper Brigade, the annual print journal of Jewish Book Council, provides a snapshot of the previous year’s Jewish literary landscape while also exploring the history of Jewish literature in America and abroad. The publication is comprised of articles, interviews, personal essays, fiction, poetry, photography, and illustrations that, together, highlight the breadth and diversity of Jewish books today.
We are committed to giving voice to Jewish-interest authors of all backgrounds, including those from marginalized communities and writers in translation whose work may not otherwise be available in English. Paper Brigade also seeks to expand the commonly held idea of what constitutes the “Jewish experience.” We are committed to helping authors connect with as broad a readership as possible by striking a balance between scholarship and content that will be accessible to readers, Jewish and non-Jewish, lay and academic.
Paper Brigade considers original, unpublished nonfiction between 1,500 and 2,500 words.
Please submit a complete manuscript, not a pitch.
Pieces should involve at least one 2022 book, and we encourage authors to be creative about the ways in which they accomplish this. (We’re not looking for straightforward book reviews.) The majority of our articles feature more than one book, and they often discuss trends in current literature or explore books in the context of older traditions.
Authors are also reminded that their pieces will be published several months after they are submitted, so references to specific current events may not be fitting.
In terms of style, please note that Paper Brigade is a literary, not academic, publication.
The submission period for nonfiction closes March 1, 2022.
Paper Brigade considers English translations of fiction (up to 2,500 words) and of poetry. Please submit the original version along with the translation. The English translation must be previously unpublished. The translator is responsible for securing permissions. The submission period for translation closes March 1, 2022.
Paper Brigade considers original, unpublished poetry. Please submit a maximum of two poems, along with a $3 submission fee. Poems will be considered for both Paper Brigade and JBC’s online poetry series, Berru. The submission period for poetry closes February 15, 2022.
Paper Brigade, the annual print literary journal of Jewish Book Council, is named in honor of the group of writers and intellectuals in the Vilna Ghetto who rescued thousands of Jewish books and documents from destruction by the Nazis. Comprised of articles, interviews, fiction, poetry, and artwork, the journal celebrates the breadth and diversity of today’s Jewish literary landscape in America and abroad.
Paper Brigade’s editors are committed to amplifying the voices of Jewish-interest authors of all backgrounds, including those from marginalized communities and writers in translation whose work may not otherwise be available in English. We seek to expand commonly held ideas of what constitutes the Jewish experience, and to emphasize ties between Jewish books and the wider literary world.
Stories should be between 1,500 and 7,000 words. We encourage authors to familiarize themselves with Paper Brigade before submitting.
Submissions must be previously unpublished. Please send only one story, together with a $3 reading fee. Additional submissions will not be read. Stories will be considered for both print and Paper Brigade's digital arm, PB Daily. All authors will be paid for published work.
We read all submissions carefully, which means it can take three months or more for us to respond. We understand and accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify us immediately if a story is accepted for publication elsewhere.
Purchase one of the first five issues of Paper Brigade. Please specify which issue you would like to receive.