Tough Poets Review

Tough Poets Review is a 501(c)(3) biannual print journal featuring critically engaged writers and artists. We publish irreverent work to generate conversations that go beyond exposition and instruction. We believe this approach can be applied to our collective experience to confront the world with defiant optimism. We are committed to never charging submission fees, and always paying our contributors. We prioritize print-only publications as a deliberate act of resistance in a digital age, believing in the tactile, enduring power of the physical book.

Tough Poets Review champions both emerging and established writers and artists, creating a space where new voices appear alongside seasoned ones in a vibrant intergenerational conversation. We seek work from creators at every stage of their careers and from all parts of the world, believing that literature and art are enriched by diverse experiences, perspectives, and traditions. By bringing together writers across generations, cultures, and disciplines, we foster the kind of meaningful dialogue that challenges, inspires, and connects readers across boundaries.