We accept submissions all year round. We strive to respond quickly to all submissions but due to our production schedule and the university’s winter break, responses to manuscripts submitted from late November through December are often delayed.
To learn more about The Pinch, visit us at www.pinchjournal.com.
*Please note:
Regular submissions are eligible for either journal or website publication.
Online submissions are only eligible for website publication.
About the Journal
The Pinch was founded in 1980 as the Memphis State Review by William Page. In its first few years, the journal published such well-known writers as Robert Bly, Phillip Levine, Mary Oliver, Robert Penn Warren, and Margaret Atwood.
In 1988, the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program was formed at the University of Memphis, and Page handed his Editor in Chief position to Sharon Bryan. Under Bryan’s leadership, the Memphis State Review became River City and published notable issues such as “Where We Stand: Women Poets on Literary Tradition,” which was later published as a book by W. W. Norton & Contemporary Culture.
From 1998 to 2001, Editor in Chief Thomas Russell returned River City to its focus on creative and literary works. He also published a special issue for the 20th Anniversary of The River City Writers Series featuring the works of famous authors such as Donald Justice, Marvin Bell, Adrienne Rich, Lucille Clifton, Mary Gaitskill, John Updike, and Margaret Skinner, as well as the photography of William Eggleston. In 2002, Editor in Chief Mary Leader refocused the journal to an emphasis on poetry.
Kristen Iversen took over as Editor in Chief in 2005. During her tenure, the journal transitioned into The Pinch and expanded its focus on creative nonfiction. In recent years, our contributors have included Linda Gregerson, Bobbie Ann Mason, Lee Gutkind, Scott Russell Sanders, George Singleton, Lee Sharkey, Ron Rash, Bob Cowser, Jr., Steven Church, Robert Root, Dinty W. Moore, Floyd Skloot, and many others. During this time, The Pinch also became notable for its logo and award-winning covers, which were designed by Gary Golightly, the Graphic Design Program Coordinator at the University of Memphis Art Department.
The Pinch is a bi-annual literary journal produced entirely by the students of the University of Memphis MFA Program and English Department. As always, all submissions’ fees and other support go toward funding our annual contest, our contributors, and our production costs.