OPEN READING BEGINS JAN. 1 and CLOSES MARCH 31st There is NO FEE for the Open Reading Period. 

The Comstock Review is proud of its long-established reputation of publishing the finest known and unknown poets anywhere. We choose our poems solely on the basis of what we consider their artistic merits. We are not swayed by long publishing histories. We are not afraid of the avant garde but shy from the overly obscure, the patently religious, and needlessly graphic language. 

Our editors appreciate: well-crafted verse, traditional or nontraditional, consistency of metaphor, refreshing distinctive imagery and diction, effective use of poetic devices and sonic qualities, a theme or approach that casts new light on the world and the human condition, and a poem that tickles your brain long after the page has turned. 

The Comstock Review Contributor’s Guidelines 

We do not publish poems under 10 lines or over 60 lines including stanza breaks, epigraphs etc. 

The maximum line length cannot exceed 70 characters including spaces and punctuation etc. If your poem 

Poems must be your original work (you, the submitter), previously unpublished in ANY medium, print or electronic. 

Do NOT submit AI-generated poetry.

Simultaneous submissions: Notify us immediately of withdrawals if a poem is accepted elsewhere. If you want to withdraw only one poem, send us a message.  

Once The Comstock Review accepts a poem, you are obligated to withdraw the poem from other simultaneous submissions. We assume the right to its first U.S. publication and to use your name and the poem title in announcements and advertisements (we call this "the right of first refusal"). After publication, all rights revert to you. 

Submit your poems as a Word document. Editors' eyes appreciate the use of standard fonts and size such as Times New Roman 12 or Calibri 12, but we will use our journals style guide font and size when we print your work. The line and poem length limits listed above are related to the journal's page size, and can't be modified. 

Limit each online submission to 5 poems. You may submit more than one time per reading period.

Do not put your name on the poem submission document(s) in the text or in the file name, so judging can be impartial.

Replies will be sent approximately 2 months after the close of the reading period.

Acceptances are published in either Issue 1 or Issue 2 of the current year (Issue 2 is scheduled for release in February of the following year). We will notify you if an issue is delayed. 

If accepted, we will print a bio (50 words maximum), which you can include in the cover letter part of the submission form. 

Candidates for Pushcart nominations are selected from the current year's accepted poems. 

Subscribe and support The Comstock Review.  You will receive two issues in the current volume (year).  Enjoy a year of intriguing poetry while supporting the printed word! 

Subscriptions are critical to our mission of continuing to support poets and poetry readers. In fact 

We have no broad institutional support and don't sell any advertising in our journal.  We cover the costs of publishing The Comstock Review through contest fees, sales of the journal and winning chapbooks, small donations 

- and subscriptions from supporters like you.

Poets and readers supporting poets together.  What could be better?

Of course, the cost of printing, binding and shipping the issue rises every year, and it has finally caught up with us. We had to increase the cost of each issue from $12.50 to $15.00 on April 1, 2025. 

A one-year subscription is now $30, and a two-year subscription is now $60. 

Thank you, on behalf of our contributing poets, volunteer editors and the poetry community for your support!. 

Help us fulfill our mission to support the poetry community by encouraging poets to publish their work and increasing readership by providing a home in our publications for good poetry.

 Winner of the most recent Comstock Writers' Group Chapbook Contest
    Enter your name and current mailing address in the form below.
   If you want to order multiple copies, consider sending a check or money order to Chapbook c/o P.O. Box 205, LaFayette NY 13084 to avoid extra Submittable fees. 

Be sure we have your correct mailing address.
The issue will be mailed within 2 weeks

Note: if you don't select a back issue, you will receive the Winter 2024-2025 issue. 

If you select other issues, you will receive them AND the Winter 2024-2025 issue. 

If you want back issues only, 

please send a check or email for the cost of the issue to 

The Comstock Review, c/o P.O. Box 205, LaFayette, NY 13084.

Winner of the 2016 Comstock Writers' Group Chapbook Contest


Own your own copy of Ted Kooser's latest chapbook, AT HOME,  while supporting the Comstock Review as well.  $14 plus online fees.


If you need to order several copies, do it by mail.  You will save on internet costs!