We accept electronic submissions only through Submittable. Please observe our submission calendar; we will automatically reject manuscripts that do not fit the theme or genre of any submission period. We do not publish previously published work. Prose writers should send one manuscript (5,000 words or less) or flash work (1,200 words or less); poets should send 3-5 poems. Iron Horse accepts simultaneous submissions but please inform us immediately if a submission has been taken elsewhere. We pay $100 per essay or story, and $50 per poem or flash piece for our themed and open issues.
the iron horse first book prize: In conjunction with Texas Tech University Press, IHLR hosts an annual first book prize for prose. We prefer manuscripts between 150-250 pages in length--either a collection of stories or essays, which may include linked essays, story cycles, flash nonfiction or fiction, or one novella and other stories. Winner receives $1,000 and publication with TTU Press. Submit every summer.
the photofinish: Submit flash prose (less than 500 words) & short poems (up to 15 lines) in response to our photo prompt, posted online every May. Winner receives $250; and nine other finalists, $50 each. All eleven are published in the e-edition, released at midnight on Dec 31. $5 fee. Submit every July 1 through August 15.
the ihlr long story: Send us your marathon-long stories and essays every fall. We consider prose longer than 17 pages only for The IHLR Long Story, which is published electronically as a full-color e-single. Entry fee: $18, which includes a year's subscription. The winning manuscript receives $1,000. Submit every fall.
napomo: We publish one winning poem and ten finalists every April. The winner receives $1,000; two runners-up receive $150 and $100 each; the other finalists, $50 each. Reading fee: $18, which includes a subscription. Submit every fall.
themed issue: Each year, one issue celebrates a particular theme. For 2025, we've chosen TOYS. Send us your poems, stories, and essays that center Yahtzee, dolls, Legos, toy cars, Easy Bake ovens, etc.
single author issue/chapbook: Each year, we publish one chapbook. The genre rotates: prose collections in even years; poetry collections in odd. Prose chapbooks should be 40-56 pages, double-spaced; poetry collections should be 28-36 pages, one poem per page. Submissions accepted every January through March. Entry fee: $18, which includes a year's subscription. Winner receives $1,000 and 15 copies.
open issue: Any topic, all genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry).
If you want to know what poems, stories, and essays appeal to us, purchase a sample issue.
Aug 15 - Oct 15 NaPoMo Issue
Aug 15 - Oct 15 IHLR Long Story
Oct 15 - Nov 15 Themed Issue (2025: JOY))
Jan 15 - Mar 15 The Chapbook Issue (2026: Prose)
Feb 1 - Mar 15 Open Issue
June 15 - Aug 15 IHLR Book Prize
July 1 - Aug 15 The PhotoFinish
Submit using our SUBMISSION GATES.
