Meridian is a semiannual literary journal produced at the University of Virginia in conjunction with the university’s M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing, whose students serve as the magazine’s editors.
Founded in 1998, Meridian has featured the works of numerous Pulitzer Prize Winners, National Book Award Winners, and established writers including Charles Wright, Rita Dove, Yusef Komunyakaa, Seamus Heaney, Ann Beattie, John Casey, George Garrett, Heather McHugh, Richard Bausch, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Cathy Song, and Eric Pankey.
However, as a magazine edited by young writers, we value nothing more than showcasing tomorrow’s talent, often publishing a new author’s first story or poem. So don’t let the big names fool you. We welcome–and carefully read–every submission we receive.
The magazine also features a regular Lost Classic where we locate and print an unpublished (or “under” published) work by a renowned author of the past. Lost Classics have included Walt Whitman’s Civil War diaries, work by Zora Neale Hurston, nonfiction by Washington Irving, fragments of never-before-seen poetry by Robert Frost, and the first chapters of an unpublished novel by John Dos Passos.
Though a relatively young publication, Meridian poetry and prose has appeared in Best American Poetry, Best American Short Stories, Best American Essays, the Pushcart Prize anthology, and New Stories from the South. Our stories have also been short-listed for the O. Henry Prize, and our fine authors and poets have gone on to win many awards.
Meridian also features regular author interviews, book reviews, photography, and artwork. The magazine’s current print run is 900 to 1,200 issues, depending on subscriber levels.
Meridian Staff
- Editor: Juliana Daugherty
- Fiction and Nonfiction Editor: Alexis Schaitkin
- Poetry Editor: Jocelyn Sears
Please understand that Meridian staff work only on a part-time basis. We make every effort to respond to inquiries in a timely manner, but there is sometimes a lag due to other academic and teaching responsibilities. Our office is generally closed May 5 through August 15 of each year.
