Submitting to Paper Brigade
Paper Brigade, the annual print journal of Jewish Book Council, provides a snapshot of the previous year’s Jewish literary landscape while also exploring the history of Jewish literature in America and abroad. The publication is comprised of articles, interviews, personal essays, fiction, poetry, photography, and illustrations that, together, highlight the breadth and diversity of Jewish books today.
We are committed to giving voice to Jewish-interest authors of all backgrounds, including those from marginalized communities and writers in translation whose work may not otherwise be available in English. Paper Brigade also seeks to expand the commonly held idea of what constitutes the “Jewish experience.” We are committed to helping authors connect with as broad a readership as possible by striking a balance between scholarship and content that will be accessible to readers, Jewish and non-Jewish, lay and academic.
The 2022 issue will be published in winter 2021, and will primarily be focused on 2021 books. All authors are paid for original work.
Nonfiction
Paper Brigade accepts original, unpublished nonfiction between 1,500 and 2,500 words.
Please submit a complete manuscript, not a pitch.
Pieces should involve a 2021 book, and we encourage authors to be creative about the ways in which they accomplish this. (We’re not looking for straightforward book reviews.) The majority of our articles feature more than one book, and they often discuss trends in current literature or explore books in the context of older traditions.
Authors are also reminded that their pieces will be published several months after they are submitted, so references to specific current events may not be appropriate.
In terms of style, please note that Paper Brigade is a literary, not academic, publication.
Fiction
Paper Brigade is pleased to announce its second open call for short story submissions.
Stories should be between 1,500 and 7,000 words, and we encourage authors to familiarize themselves with Paper Brigade before submitting. Submissions must be previously unpublished, online or in print. Please send only one story, along with a $3 reading fee. Stories will be considered for both print and online publication on Paper Brigade’s digital arm, PB Daily. The fiction submission period closes on February 15, 2021.
Submit through Submittable here.
Translation
Paper Brigade accepts English translations of fiction (up to 2,500 words) and poetry. Please submit the original version along with the translation. The English translation must be previously unpublished. The translator is responsible for securing permission.
Submission Process for Nonfiction, Poetry, and Translations
Please email your submission to publications@jewishbooks.org, including your name and email address on the first page. We only accept submissions electronically.
Submissions are due by June 1, and accepted on a rolling basis. We encourage you to submit as early as possible. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable as long as you immediately notify us if your piece has been accepted elsewhere.
Poetry submissions will be considered for JBC’s online poetry series, Berru, as well as Paper Brigade. Please submit no more than three poems per year.
If your piece is published in Paper Brigade, you may not publish it elsewhere without permission from Jewish Book Council and an approved credit line.