Incarcerated Writers Initiative
The Incarcerated Writers Initiative was started in 2016 by Heather Radke at the Columbia Journal as a way to open the student publishing platform to writers in prisons across the United States. This population has been traditionally overlooked, undervalued, and pushed to the margins. We believe the inclusion of their literary voices will enlarge and ultimately strengthen the artistic and scholarly community.
The submission period is now open. We accept submissions from current and formerly incarcerated writers in the following categories:
Fiction (up to 5,000 words)
Nonfiction (up to 5,000 words)
Poetry (up to 5 pages)
Visual Art (up to 5 pages)
All writing submissions may be considered for general print and online publication in the Columbia Journal, and may be entered into the Journal’s Winter Contest. All submitted works are also eligible for publication in Exchange, a literary magazine published through Columbia Artists/Teachers that features work exclusively by incarcerated artists.
We accept submissions all year round, but our reading period is from September until early December. All submissions received before early December will be considered for the Spring publications of Exchange and the Columbia Journal. Any submission received after this date will be considered for the following year, but each submission will receive a detailed feedback letter from a current Columbia writing student, regardless, which we mail out from November through May of each year.
Please submit artwork by email only. All work must be previously unpublished, and do note that only one submission per genre is accepted for review. Do not send original copies, as IWI cannot return manuscripts, and make sure to include this cover sheet with your work. If you do not have access to a printer, please just make sure all of this information is written out on a piece of paper along with your submission. This ensures we have all relevant contact information should you be chosen for publication, as well as for us to mail our written responses to your work.
Writers can send their digital submissions to ColumbiaIWI@gmail.com or physical copies of their work to:
Chyana Marie Sage – Incarcerated Writers Initiative, Columbia Artists/Teachers
415 Dodge Hall
Mail Code 1804
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
By submitting, you give Columbia Journal and Exchange permission to publish your work in print or online. Email Director Chyana Marie Sage (ColumbiaIWI@gmail.com) with any questions you may have, or you can send a letter to the address above.
We look forward to reading your work!