Thank you for your interest in contributing to Cream City Review. We are devoted to publishing memorable and energetic fiction, nonfiction, poetry, hybrid texts, and artwork that represent a broad range of creators with diverse, unique backgrounds. General submissions are accepted for our print magazine and/or online feature from August 2 to November 2 and from January 2 to April 2nd. Submissions are considered for issues one year in advance. Contributors are given a one-year subscription to CCR beginning with the issue in which their work appears. Works from current UWM students(and Alumni from the past two years) are not eligible for submission.
Please only upload one submission per genre (up to five pieces per submission for poetry and visual art). Multiple submissions in a single genre will be ignored.
Reading Fee: $2.50
cream city review does not accept any work, under any conditions, that was generated using Language Learning Models (LLMs) or generative AI.
Note: Submissions from current UWM students and alumni who graduated in the past two years are not eligibl
One issue of cream city review is $14
A one-year subscription is $26
A two-year subscription $41
Back issues (any issues older than 2 years) are $7
Please note: issue orders are non-refundable. In summer months, we operate virtually, so please allot 2-4 months for your first issue to be mailed. We appreciate your patience!
CCR Summer Prize in Poetry – 2026
Submission period: 05/15/25-08/01/25
Submissions for the contest will be open from June 1st to August 1st, 2026, 11:59 PM CDT and judged by Heid Erdrich!
The winner will receive $500, publication in the Spring 2027 issue of cream city review, and an online feature on our website. One runner up will receive publication in an upcoming issue of cream city review.
Entry:
- Cost of submissions: $15 per entry.
One entry fee includes one free issue to our journal, which is normally $14. If you submit more than one entry, we’ll upgrade you to a one-year subscription, normally $26.
- You may submit multiple times if there is a payment for each entry. All submitted work must be previously unpublished.
- Four readers, including the editorial team, from cream city review will read through your submission, the 7-10 finalists will be forwarded to the judges for final decision.
Eligibility:
Any writer of any age, denomination or location is eligible to enter except:
- Current students, faculty, and staff of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin System are not eligible to enter the contest. If you have been affiliated with the university in the past, please wait three years after the affiliation to submit to the CCR Summer Prizes.
- Past CCR Contributors, please wait at least 2 years from date of publication before submitting to the contest.
- Previous winners and runner-ups may not submit to the prize.
Submission Guidelines:
- You may send up to four poems in a single document. (.doc, .docx, & .pdf are acceptable)
- Please do not include your name anywhere in the submission
- You may include a brief, 3rd person bio in the appropriate box in Submittable
- Each entrant will receive a one-year subscription to CCR, beginning with the issue featuring the contest winners
For more information please consult our website: https://uwm.edu/creamcityreview/summer-contest
CCR Summer Prize in Fiction – 2026
Submissions for the fiction contest will be open from June 1st to August 1st, 2026, 11:59 PM CDT and judged by Aimee Bender!
The winner will receive $500, publication in the Spring 2026 issue of cream city review, and an online feature on our website. One runner up will receive publication in an upcoming issue of cream city review.
Entry:
- Cost of submissions: $15 per entry.
One entry fee includes one free issue to our journal, which is normally $14. If you submit more than one entry, we’ll upgrade you to a one-year subscription, normally $26.
- You may submit multiple times if there is a payment for each entry. All submitted work must be previously unpublished.
- Four readers, including the editorial staff, from cream city review will read through your submission, the 7-10 finalists will be forwarded to the judges for final decision.
Eligibility:
Any writer of any age, denomination or location is eligible to enter except:
- Current students, faculty, and staff of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin System are not eligible to enter the contest. If you have been affiliated with the university in the past, please wait three years after the affiliation to submit to the CCR Summer Prizes.
- Past CCR Contributors, please wait at least 2 years from date of publication before submitting to the contest.
- Previous winners and runner-ups may not submit to the prize.
Submission Guidelines:
- Please send us one short story of up to 6,000 words in a single document (.doc, .docx, & .pdf are acceptable)
- Please do not include your name anywhere in the submission
- You may include a brief, 3rd person bio in the appropriate box in Submittable
- Each entrant will receive a one-year subscription to CCR, beginning with the issue featuring the contest winners
For more information please consult our website: https://uwm.edu/creamcityreview/summer-contest/