The Masters Review is an American literary magazine and book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2011 by founding editor, Kim Winternheimer, the publication serves a platform for publishing and discovering new and emerging writers. Since its inception, The Masters Review has been honored by the Independent Publisher Book Awards for Best Short Story Collection by the American Library Association and Foreword Reviews, a fellowship from Oregon Literary Arts for the work it does for new writers, and has stories recognized in The Best of the Net, The Best Small Fictions, and The Million Writers Award, among others. It is distinguished from many other notable literary magazines by actively seeking work from previously unpublished writers. Working with authors Lauren Groff, A. M. Homes, Lev Grossman, Kevin Brockmeier, Amy Hempel, and Roxane Gay, The Masters Review produces a printed volume of ten stories annually, which showcases and promotes emerging writers. It also publishes fiction and narrative nonfiction by new writers online, as well as stories and essays from guest writers including: Kate Bernheimer, Ben Loory, Manuel Gonzales, Julia Elliot, and Ottessa Moshfegh, to name a few. The publication hosts several contests year round, including its notable , which is held twice yearly and awards cash prizes, publication, and connects writers with literary agencies looking for new talent.
The Masters Review (Online)
The Masters Review publishes a great deal of its content online. Fiction, essays, interviews with important literary figures, craft essays, submission opportunities to other literary magazines and publications, book reviews by debut authors, and literary and cultural criticism are consistent features.
A Platform For Emerging Writers
The Masters Review focuses exclusively on emerging writers, which the publication defines as any writer who has not published a novel at the time of submission. They are open to writers with published story collections and writers with novels that were self-published or saw a circulation below 3000 copies, as showcased in Portland Monthly. The Masters Review accepts submissions and essays from writers around the world as long as stories are written and submitted in English.
Annual Anthology
The Masters Review printed anthology serves as a major endorsement for new writers. Printed annually, a guest judge contributes an introduction and selects ten writers from a shortlist to be published in the collection. Aside from national distribution and high visibility in the printed work, the anthology is also part of an exclusive mailing to agents, with the aim of connecting new writers with representation. The Masters Review Volume III with stories selected by Lev Grossman received an INDIEFAB medal for .
Writers who selected work for ''The Masters Review Annual Anthology''
New Voices appear online throughout the year. This category invites emerging writers to submit fiction and narrative nonfiction, selected by The Masters Review staff. New Voices stories include winners and finalists in The Best Small Fictions, The Best of The Net, and Million Writers Award, to name a few.
Writers whose work has appeared in ''The Masters Review New Voices''
The Masters Review provides Featured Fiction, or stories written by established guest writers to appear online throughout the year. In this way, the publication aligns their new writers with established talent while offering free access to quality fiction and narrative nonfiction to its readership.
Writers who contributed work for ''The Masters Review Featured Fiction''
Manuel Gonzales, What Happened to Eloise,
Ben Hoffman, Other Dangers,
Kate Bernheimer, The Punk's Bride
Ben Loory, The Candelabra
JM Tyree and Michael McGriff, Our Secret Life in The Movies
Kelly Luce, Lookout
Adrian Van Young, The Lady Winchester Deciphers Her Labyrinth
