The Common

See writers who are published in this journal
Genres Published: 
Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
Representative Authors: 
Lauren Groff, Don Share, Major Jackson, Mary Jo Salter, Phillip Lopate, Terese Svoboda, Claire Messud, Ted Conover, David Lehman, Suketu Mehta, Teju Cole, Ilan Stavans, Sara London, Valerie Duff, Hisham Bustani
Formats: 
Online, Digital, Print, Audio, Video
Reading Periods: 
Mar 1 to Jun 1
Sep 1 to Dec 1
Response Time: 
3 to 6 months
Charges Reading Fee: 
Yes
Accepts Unsolicited Submissions: 
Yes
Accepts Simultaneous Submissions: 
Yes
Number of Debut Authors per Issue: 
1
Payment: 
Cash
Issues per Year: 
2
Issue Price: 
$14
Subscription Price: 
$24 for print, $12 for digital
Circulation: 
1,000 to 2,500

Editorial Focus

The Common is a print and digital literary journal published biannually, in the fall and spring. Inspired by the role of the town common, a public gathering place for the display and exchange of ideas, The Common seeks to deepen an individual and collective sense of place through bold, engaging literature and art. Issues of The Common include short stories, essays, poems, and images that embody a strong sense of place.

Tips From the Editor

Please do: read issues of The Common before submitting. Send us your very best work. Make sure that place/location is significant in your piece before submitting it.

Please do not: submit conventional travel logs that simply recount travel experiences. We are looking for more thoughtful, reflective pieces in which place greatly informs the character(s)’/narrator(s)’ thoughts, decisions, perspective, etc.

Contact Information

Emily Everett, Managing Editor
Frost Library
Amherst College
Amherst
MA
01002-5000
Please note: The information provided in this database is provided by the publishers listed in it.
Last updated: Jan 24, 2024