Iron Horse Literary Review 🐴
@ironhorselitrev.bsky.social
Literary journal based out of Texas Tech University. We publish fiction, poetry, and nonfiction in 3 print issues & 3 e-issues every year.
Email: [email protected]
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Email: [email protected]
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
"don’t we always cast ourselves—//or the ones we love most—as the victims,/ the ones most sinned against." by Jesse Breite
This poem really stuck with us. We hope y'all like it too! Read the rest in our Deception Issue! Order here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21485...
This poem really stuck with us. We hope y'all like it too! Read the rest in our Deception Issue! Order here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21485...
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"don’t we always cast ourselves—//or the ones we love most—as the victims,/ the ones most sinned against." by Jesse Breite
This poem really stuck with us. We hope y'all like it too! Read the rest in our Deception Issue! Order here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21485...
This poem really stuck with us. We hope y'all like it too! Read the rest in our Deception Issue! Order here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21485...
"Can you recall/ what you did after your biggest/ heartbreak? I ground my teeth" - "To the Bereaved and the Betrayed" by Rachel Morgan
Read the rest of this beautiful poem in our Deception Issue! Order your copy via ironhorse.submittable.com
#LitMag #PoetrySpotlight
Read the rest of this beautiful poem in our Deception Issue! Order your copy via ironhorse.submittable.com
#LitMag #PoetrySpotlight
November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"Can you recall/ what you did after your biggest/ heartbreak? I ground my teeth" - "To the Bereaved and the Betrayed" by Rachel Morgan
Read the rest of this beautiful poem in our Deception Issue! Order your copy via ironhorse.submittable.com
#LitMag #PoetrySpotlight
Read the rest of this beautiful poem in our Deception Issue! Order your copy via ironhorse.submittable.com
#LitMag #PoetrySpotlight
Sun's setting on our Toy's Submissions! Tomorrow's the last day to submit! Send us your best writing!
November 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Sun's setting on our Toy's Submissions! Tomorrow's the last day to submit! Send us your best writing!
One Week left to submit to our TOYS Issue! Get those submissions in by November 17!
Submit at: ironhorse.submittable.com
Submit at: ironhorse.submittable.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
One Week left to submit to our TOYS Issue! Get those submissions in by November 17!
Submit at: ironhorse.submittable.com
Submit at: ironhorse.submittable.com
We’re still accepting submissions for our TOYS Issue! Send us poems, stories, or essays that play with language, form, and memory.
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit via ironhorse.submittable.com
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit via ironhorse.submittable.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
We’re still accepting submissions for our TOYS Issue! Send us poems, stories, or essays that play with language, form, and memory.
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit via ironhorse.submittable.com
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit via ironhorse.submittable.com
Free Submit Day is here!! Will close automatically when our cap is met.
ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
November 1, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Free Submit Day is here!! Will close automatically when our cap is met.
ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
We're so excited to reveal the cover for our Deception issue! IHLR 27.2 will be sent out to our subscribers soon, and includes some incredible poetry, fiction, and nonfiction! Order your copy here: ironhorse.submittable.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
We're so excited to reveal the cover for our Deception issue! IHLR 27.2 will be sent out to our subscribers soon, and includes some incredible poetry, fiction, and nonfiction! Order your copy here: ironhorse.submittable.com
Free Submit Day for our TOYS Issue is November 1st!
The portal will open at 9 AM CST and will close automatically when we reach our cap. Link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
The portal will open at 9 AM CST and will close automatically when we reach our cap. Link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
October 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Free Submit Day for our TOYS Issue is November 1st!
The portal will open at 9 AM CST and will close automatically when we reach our cap. Link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
The portal will open at 9 AM CST and will close automatically when we reach our cap. Link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/8756a...
We’re excited to announce the results of our 2025 PhotoFinish Contest!
Winner: "A Dunk in the Bucket" by Travis Flatt! Congratulations!
We really enjoyed reading and discussing these pieces in the office. Thank y'all so much for sharing such great work with us!
Winner: "A Dunk in the Bucket" by Travis Flatt! Congratulations!
We really enjoyed reading and discussing these pieces in the office. Thank y'all so much for sharing such great work with us!
October 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We’re excited to announce the results of our 2025 PhotoFinish Contest!
Winner: "A Dunk in the Bucket" by Travis Flatt! Congratulations!
We really enjoyed reading and discussing these pieces in the office. Thank y'all so much for sharing such great work with us!
Winner: "A Dunk in the Bucket" by Travis Flatt! Congratulations!
We really enjoyed reading and discussing these pieces in the office. Thank y'all so much for sharing such great work with us!
Last call!
Today’s the final day to submit to our NaPoMo Contest Issue. Entries close at midnight!
Winner: $1,000 | Finalists: Cash prizes + publication
10 poems total selected!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Today’s the final day to submit to our NaPoMo Contest Issue. Entries close at midnight!
Winner: $1,000 | Finalists: Cash prizes + publication
10 poems total selected!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Last call!
Today’s the final day to submit to our NaPoMo Contest Issue. Entries close at midnight!
Winner: $1,000 | Finalists: Cash prizes + publication
10 poems total selected!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Today’s the final day to submit to our NaPoMo Contest Issue. Entries close at midnight!
Winner: $1,000 | Finalists: Cash prizes + publication
10 poems total selected!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Gates are open!
Accepting submissions for our TOYS Issue. Send us your poems, stories, and essays about toys, or that play with form, plot, characters, or the reader.
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit here: ironhorse.submittable.com
Accepting submissions for our TOYS Issue. Send us your poems, stories, and essays about toys, or that play with form, plot, characters, or the reader.
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit here: ironhorse.submittable.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Gates are open!
Accepting submissions for our TOYS Issue. Send us your poems, stories, and essays about toys, or that play with form, plot, characters, or the reader.
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit here: ironhorse.submittable.com
Accepting submissions for our TOYS Issue. Send us your poems, stories, and essays about toys, or that play with form, plot, characters, or the reader.
Deadline: Nov 15
Submit here: ironhorse.submittable.com
Deadline extended! Submissions for our NaPoMo Contest are open for one more week. Send up to 5 poems by Oct 22 for a chance to win $1,000 + publication. Submit here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/33521...
October 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Deadline extended! Submissions for our NaPoMo Contest are open for one more week. Send up to 5 poems by Oct 22 for a chance to win $1,000 + publication. Submit here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/33521...
Today’s the day!
Submissions for our Long Story Contest close at midnight. Don’t miss your chance to send us your best long-fiction or nonfiction.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Submissions for our Long Story Contest close at midnight. Don’t miss your chance to send us your best long-fiction or nonfiction.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Today’s the day!
Submissions for our Long Story Contest close at midnight. Don’t miss your chance to send us your best long-fiction or nonfiction.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Submissions for our Long Story Contest close at midnight. Don’t miss your chance to send us your best long-fiction or nonfiction.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
We’re excited to announce the results of the 2025 IHLR Chapbook Prize!
Winner: Love in the Key of Cobra by Katie Kemple
This year’s submissions pool was extraordinary. Please join us in celebrating Katie and all the writers whose incredible work rose to the top.
Winner: Love in the Key of Cobra by Katie Kemple
This year’s submissions pool was extraordinary. Please join us in celebrating Katie and all the writers whose incredible work rose to the top.
October 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
We’re excited to announce the results of the 2025 IHLR Chapbook Prize!
Winner: Love in the Key of Cobra by Katie Kemple
This year’s submissions pool was extraordinary. Please join us in celebrating Katie and all the writers whose incredible work rose to the top.
Winner: Love in the Key of Cobra by Katie Kemple
This year’s submissions pool was extraordinary. Please join us in celebrating Katie and all the writers whose incredible work rose to the top.
One week to go!
Our Long Story Contest closes October 15th. This is your chance to share your longest, boldest, most ambitious work.
Fiction and nonfiction projects of up to 40 pages welcome!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Our Long Story Contest closes October 15th. This is your chance to share your longest, boldest, most ambitious work.
Fiction and nonfiction projects of up to 40 pages welcome!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
One week to go!
Our Long Story Contest closes October 15th. This is your chance to share your longest, boldest, most ambitious work.
Fiction and nonfiction projects of up to 40 pages welcome!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Our Long Story Contest closes October 15th. This is your chance to share your longest, boldest, most ambitious work.
Fiction and nonfiction projects of up to 40 pages welcome!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
One week left!
Our NaPoMo Contest Issue closes October 15. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible collection of poems!
Send us your strongest work today: ironhorse.submittable.com
Our NaPoMo Contest Issue closes October 15. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible collection of poems!
Send us your strongest work today: ironhorse.submittable.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
One week left!
Our NaPoMo Contest Issue closes October 15. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible collection of poems!
Send us your strongest work today: ironhorse.submittable.com
Our NaPoMo Contest Issue closes October 15. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible collection of poems!
Send us your strongest work today: ironhorse.submittable.com
Last Day to submit to our PhotoFinish Contest!
See ironhorse.submittable.com for more details!
See ironhorse.submittable.com for more details!
October 1, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Last Day to submit to our PhotoFinish Contest!
See ironhorse.submittable.com for more details!
See ironhorse.submittable.com for more details!
We’re still open for your best long stories!
Send us your fiction or nonfiction (up to 40 pages).
The gates are open until October 15th. Don’t wait until the last moment!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Send us your fiction or nonfiction (up to 40 pages).
The gates are open until October 15th. Don’t wait until the last moment!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
September 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
We’re still open for your best long stories!
Send us your fiction or nonfiction (up to 40 pages).
The gates are open until October 15th. Don’t wait until the last moment!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Send us your fiction or nonfiction (up to 40 pages).
The gates are open until October 15th. Don’t wait until the last moment!
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
🌸 We’re still accepting submissions for our NaPoMo Contest Issue! 🌸
Send us your best work—up to 5 poems—for a chance to win:
$1,000 for the winner
$150 & $100 for runners-up
$50 for finalists
Deadline October 15th.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Send us your best work—up to 5 poems—for a chance to win:
$1,000 for the winner
$150 & $100 for runners-up
$50 for finalists
Deadline October 15th.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
September 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🌸 We’re still accepting submissions for our NaPoMo Contest Issue! 🌸
Send us your best work—up to 5 poems—for a chance to win:
$1,000 for the winner
$150 & $100 for runners-up
$50 for finalists
Deadline October 15th.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Send us your best work—up to 5 poems—for a chance to win:
$1,000 for the winner
$150 & $100 for runners-up
$50 for finalists
Deadline October 15th.
Submit: ironhorse.submittable.com
Found a free minute in the office to return to this wonderful book by Dough Emory. I genuinely love the work that's been selected for the IHLR First Book Contest.
If you haven't gotten your copy, get yours here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21471...
If you haven't gotten your copy, get yours here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21471...
September 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Found a free minute in the office to return to this wonderful book by Dough Emory. I genuinely love the work that's been selected for the IHLR First Book Contest.
If you haven't gotten your copy, get yours here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21471...
If you haven't gotten your copy, get yours here: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/21471...
🌸 Submissions for NaPoMo Contest are Open 🌸
Each year, we celebrate NaPoMo by curating an issue of ten unforgettable poems. Winner receives $1000. Nine finalists will also receive prize and publication.
Submit up to 5 Poems. Deadline is Oct 15th.
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/napomo
Each year, we celebrate NaPoMo by curating an issue of ten unforgettable poems. Winner receives $1000. Nine finalists will also receive prize and publication.
Submit up to 5 Poems. Deadline is Oct 15th.
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/napomo
September 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
🌸 Submissions for NaPoMo Contest are Open 🌸
Each year, we celebrate NaPoMo by curating an issue of ten unforgettable poems. Winner receives $1000. Nine finalists will also receive prize and publication.
Submit up to 5 Poems. Deadline is Oct 15th.
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/napomo
Each year, we celebrate NaPoMo by curating an issue of ten unforgettable poems. Winner receives $1000. Nine finalists will also receive prize and publication.
Submit up to 5 Poems. Deadline is Oct 15th.
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/napomo
Gates are open for our Long Story Contest!
Send us your long prose: manuscripts between 20 and 40 pages. Winner gets $1000 & publication in an an e-single issue!
Deadline is October 15th
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/longstory
Send us your long prose: manuscripts between 20 and 40 pages. Winner gets $1000 & publication in an an e-single issue!
Deadline is October 15th
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/longstory
September 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Gates are open for our Long Story Contest!
Send us your long prose: manuscripts between 20 and 40 pages. Winner gets $1000 & publication in an an e-single issue!
Deadline is October 15th
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/longstory
Send us your long prose: manuscripts between 20 and 40 pages. Winner gets $1000 & publication in an an e-single issue!
Deadline is October 15th
For details: www.ironhorsereview.com/longstory
We're extending our Photo Finish Contest. New deadline is October 1st! Image for the contest reshared below. We're seeking ekphrastic work that pushes beyond a literal read of the photo
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/32636...
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/32636...
September 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
We're extending our Photo Finish Contest. New deadline is October 1st! Image for the contest reshared below. We're seeking ekphrastic work that pushes beyond a literal read of the photo
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/32636...
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/32636...
Just now seeing questions about our Photo Finish Contest. Apologies, we're still out of the office so things can slip by.
Yes, the contest is open. Image for the contest reshared below
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/326362/2025-ihlr-photofinish
Yes, the contest is open. Image for the contest reshared below
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/326362/2025-ihlr-photofinish
July 28, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Just now seeing questions about our Photo Finish Contest. Apologies, we're still out of the office so things can slip by.
Yes, the contest is open. Image for the contest reshared below
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/326362/2025-ihlr-photofinish
Yes, the contest is open. Image for the contest reshared below
Please submit via this link: ironhorse.submittable.com/submit/326362/2025-ihlr-photofinish
"For $150 plus tip every 6 to 8 weeks, I could age the way all American women are taught. Very slowly." #gogrombre
Read the 2025 IHLR Long Story, "Last Dye: An Essay," by @amymonticello.bsky.social!
It's free! tinyurl.com/568cvsw9
Read the 2025 IHLR Long Story, "Last Dye: An Essay," by @amymonticello.bsky.social!
It's free! tinyurl.com/568cvsw9
June 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
"For $150 plus tip every 6 to 8 weeks, I could age the way all American women are taught. Very slowly." #gogrombre
Read the 2025 IHLR Long Story, "Last Dye: An Essay," by @amymonticello.bsky.social!
It's free! tinyurl.com/568cvsw9
Read the 2025 IHLR Long Story, "Last Dye: An Essay," by @amymonticello.bsky.social!
It's free! tinyurl.com/568cvsw9