Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal (formerly Mud City Journal) is an online literary journal promoting the ideals and vision of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program. We publish new work on a biannual basis. 

While Chapter House is rooted in an Indigenous-centered program, we look to publish writers from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, styles, and aesthetics. We strongly encourage submissions from Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, neurodivergent individuals, individuals with disabilities, and all members of historically marginalized communities. We welcome submissions from both emerging and published writers.

We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and (sometimes) screenwriting and visual art. All submissions, including solicitations, are read by a dedicated staff of IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. The staff also manages submissions, solicitations, publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

We aspire to be one of the primary literary outlets for Indigenous and marginalized communities in the world. We therefore warmly invite all creators with aligned interests and passions to come and contribute to this lively, dynamic and ever-changing landscape of art and literature.

Submission Guidelines 

Open for submissions from November 1-December 31 and from May 1-June 30!

Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please withdraw your submission promptly using our online system should your work be accepted elsewhere.

We do not accept previously published material. This includes personal blogs and websites.

New Indigenous Poetry Prize - 2025

Submission period: November 1-December 31, 2024. Submit 3-5 poems not to exceed 5 pages total.

To submit for this annual prize, please go through the general Winter 2025 Poetry submission portal below. All poetry submissions from November 1-December 31 2024 written by indigenous writers will be eligible for the Chapter House New Indigenous Poetry Prize, as long as tribal affiliation is specified on the cover letter.

This year's poetry prize will be judged by m.s. RedCherries, 2024 National Book Award Finalist and author of "mother". Cash prize of $250 will be awarded to the winner, and the winner and two runners up will be published in Chapter House.

POETRY 

Submit 3-5 poems, not to exceed 5 pages total. Begin each poem on a separate page. If you are an indigenous writer, please indicate your tribal affiliation on your cover letter to be eligible for the New Indigenous Poetry Prize, judged this year by m.s. RedCherries.

FICTION

Submit one piece, or up to 3 shorter pieces, of up to 5000 words.

NONFICTION

Submit one piece, or up to 3 shorter pieces, of up to 5000 words.

VISUAL ART

Submit up to 5 images. Images of your 2-D or 3-D work only. 

RIGHTS

We ask for first North American serial rights and non-exclusive electronic rights for our website. Chapter House Journal does not accept work that has been previously published in print or online. Rights revert to the author upon publication. We ask that Chapter House Journal, be attributed as the first publisher of your work should it reappear in print or digitally in another journal, anthology or collection.