Water~Stone Review

About Us

Water~Stone Review is a literary annual published by the The Creative Writing Programs at Hamline University. The review publishes work in all genres as well as essay/reviews and writers' interviews. Features include three contests and visual art by students at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.                                                                       
Why "Water~Stone?"
Water~Stone, known in alchemy as the Philosopher's Stone, was composed of the four elements of earth, fire, air and water. The stone was supposed by alchemists to possess the property of changing base metals into gold, the most perfect of all metals. It was thought to combine within itself matter and spirit, or body and soul: a union of opposites in perfect harmony. Water~Stone connotes the dynamic, transformative power of literature, as well as the search for beauty and perfection at work in the hearts of aspiring writers. The logo type for Water~Stone is based on a hybrid of two ancient alchemic symbols: one for the amalgam of all elements, and the second for the element of water as a pure and dynamic force. The amalgam is a reference to the multi-genre, interdisciplinary nature of the creative writing programs at Hamline University.

Rates

U.S. Subscription rates for individuals are $18 for one year, $32 for two years, plus shipping and handling. Subscription rates for institutions are $19 for one year, $64 for two years, plus S+H. Single copies of the issue: $18. Visit the Water~Stone Review Shop page for subscription information.

Advertisement Rates:
Please contact our office at (651) 523-2479 for information on advertising within Water~Stone Review or how to support the review. Or send an e-mail to water-stone@hamline.edu.


Water~Stone in the Classroom

The Water~Stone Review Editorial Board is comprised of students in The Creative Writing Programs at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN who enroll in the courses titled:

  • Creative Nonfiction Today: Navigating the Craft as Editor and Writer, taught by Barrie Jean Borich
  • Currents in Poetry: Riding the Waves as Editor and Poet, taught by Patricia Kirkpatrick
  • The Successful Story: Fiction through the Lens of Editor and Writer, taught by Sheila O’Connor

The class is a collaborative effort among the executive editor, editors and the student editorial board. The class provides an invaluable hands-on experience of the publishing process including screening, acquisition, lay-out and publication considerations. Students, led by the faculty and assistant editors, read manuscripts each week and are expected to critically discuss and analyze pieces considered for the journal.


Find out more about the MFA in Creative Writing, the MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing programs at Hamline University.
Find out more information




  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Do I have to be a published writer to submit to Water~Stone Review?
No. Water~Stone Review publishes emerging as well as well-known writers.


What happens if I send my submission before or after the reading dates?
If you send your submission before October 1, Water~Stone Review will  most likely return your submission. If you send your submission after December 1, we cannot accept it and will have to recycle it.


If I submit to a Prose or Poetry Prize, does my work automatically get considered for general Water~Stone Review submissions?

Yes. In making their final decisions on content, the editors and editorial board select from among the finalists in both Prize and general submissions.


When will I be notified of a decision about my general submission to Water~Stone Review?

What about my entry to a Prose or Poetry Prize?
The editors begin their selection process in January. General submissions are notified from January through May, when the last part of the process is completed. Prize submissions are notified in April or May, as soon as the final judge has made his/her final decision.

What does my entry fee of $15 for the poetry or prose prize pay for?

The $15 entry fee pays for the prize money that is awarded to the contest winners, the judge's fee, and a copy of the next Water~Stone Review issue. Any proceeds over that contribute to the cost of printing and distributing the review.

Who gets a complimentary copy of Water~Stone Review?
Everyone who enters the Prose or Poetry Prize contest receives a complimentary copy of Water~Stone Review. All contributors receive two complimentary copies of that issue of Water~Stone Review.

Will my manuscript be returned to me?
No.  All “rejected” manuscripts are recycled and SASE are used to inform the writer of the editorial board’s decision.