Incarcerated Writers Initiative

The Incarcerated Writers Initiative at Columbia University serves as a resource for incarcerated writers to submit their work for detailed critique. Each submitter receives feedback from a Writing Program student, offering a constructive response to their work and ideas on how to improve its effectiveness.

All submitted works are considered for publication in Exchange, IWI’s literary magazine published through Columbia Artists/Teachers that features work exclusively by incarcerated artists. All writing submissions may also be considered for general print and online publication in the Columbia Journal. 

IWI was started in 2016 as a way to open a publishing platform to writers in prisons across the United States. This population has been traditionally overlooked and undervalued. We believe the inclusion of their literary voices enlarges and ultimately strengthens the artistic and scholarly communities.

The submission period is now open. We accept submissions from current and formerly incarcerated writers and artists 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)

We accept submissions year-round, but our reading period runs from September through March. All submissions received before early December are 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, which are mailed out between November and May.

All work must be previously unpublished. Do not send original copies, as IWI cannot return manuscripts. Submit artwork by email only. Please include a cover sheet (Word Doc of Cover Sheet, PDF of Cover Sheet) with your work. If you do not have access to a printer, please include this information (your name, the genre of the piece, mailing address, email address, and a brief introduction) along with your submission.

Writers can send digital submissions to ColumbiaIWI@gmail.com or physical copies of their work to:

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. Contact us via mail or email (ColumbiaIWI@gmail.com) with any questions you may have.

We look forward to reading your work!