Open for submissions.
Closing March 21, 2025
CIRQUE
Published by Sandra Kleven and Michael Burwell
Cirque is a literary journal, based in Alaska, soliciting submissions from writers, poets and artists who live in the region loosely referred to as the North Pacific Rim.
Cirque invites emerging and established writers and artists living in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Yukon Territory, Alberta, British Columbia and the Russian Far East— to submit short stories, poems, creative nonfiction, translations, plays, and images. See further guidelines by scrolling down.
Cirque submissions are not restricted to a regional theme or setting. We are open to compelling work.
Cirque is published twice yearly, summer and winter.
Submissions are open.
Work received after a deadline will be held or the next issue. Cirque is always open to submissions.
SUPPORT THIS INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
Cirque is an independent journal staffed by volunteers. We need your support. Readers and contributors keep us in print through direct donations, subscriptions, purchases of single copies and by advertising with Cirque
Advertising: This "best deal ever" offers a full-page, full-color ad for $100. Contact us at 907 764 - 1945 for details.
Donate: On the submission site, there is an opportunity to donate $10 - $100 or to subscribe. Your support allows us to skip fundraising and to focus on publishing a journal described by many as beautiful and exceptional.
ONLINE AND IN PRINT
Cirque is a print journal but it is also published online. See the current issue and all past issues at www.cirquejournal.com.
When you publish in Cirque, your work can be found online, for many years into the future.
Anticipated publication of Cirque #28. Fall of 2024.
Eligibility: you were born in, or are currently residing in, or have previously lived for a period of not less than 5 years in the North Pacific Rim region, detailed above.
Poems: 4 poems MAX - Submitted as a single document.
Fiction, Nonfiction, Plays: 12 pages (double-spaced) MAX
Artwork and Photography: 10 images MAX, in the highest resolution possible; images will likely be between 2 and 10 mb each. If you do not submit full-size photo files at time of submission, we will respond with an email reminder. No undersized images or thumbnails will be eligible for publication.
Bio: 100 words MAX.
Replies average two to three months.
Correspondence email is: cirquejournal@gmail.com
CIRQUE PRESS
Michael Burwell, editor
Sandra Kleven, publisher
Cynthia Steele, associate editor
Signe Nichols, designer
Cirque Press
3157 Bettles Bay Loop
Anchorage, AK 99515
907 764 - 1945
About Cirque Press
Note: If you have a book manuscript for review, send a query to: cirquejournal@gmail.com.
Cirque Press grew out of Cirque, a literary journal established in 2009 by Michael Burwell, as a vehicle for the publication of writers and artists of a region defined as reaching north from Oregon to the Yukon Territory and south from there through Alaska to Hawaii. Sandra Kleven joined Cirque in 2012.
Most Cirque contributors have published in other literary journals. Their writing is significant. It is personal drawing on life in the regions listed in ways that add to the culture of place.
The body of work of individual writers could be lost if it remained scattered across the literary landscape. Cirque Pres50 (2017) seeks to gather the work of our contributors into book-form where it can be experienced coherently as statement, observation, and artistry. We published our first book in 2018 and now can claim about 50 books in print.
Check out our publications, here:
Please submit up to three poems (on a single doc) on the subject of
“Displacement, Placelessness, Homelessness.”
A $25 submission fee is requested.
Three top winners will be awarded:
- First ever Cirque Press "winner" pillow.
- Full page, full color ad in the next issue
- 1 year Cirque subscription.
- Winners will be featured in a Zoom contest reading.
- Contest winners and poems will be featured in Cirque #29 (15:1)
- Photo and bio in Cirque #29.
Twenty additional poems will be selected for publication in Cirque and will participate in the Zoom contest reading. All 23 will receive the Cirque Press "winner" emblem (sticker).
Judge - Carey Taylor, author of Some Aid to Navigation and The Lure of Impermanence from Cirque Press. Carey has lived her entire life in the Pacific Northwest and had the rare childhood experience of living at three lighthouse stations. Find her at https://careyleetaylor.com.
The $25 submission fee provides essential support to Cirque Press. This is our major fundraiser which will cover the costs of the next issue of CIRQUE. See Cirque here. http://cirquejournal.com
Please read submission guidelines before you submit.
Cirque is a literary journal, based in Alaska, publishing the work of writers, poets, photographers and other artists who live in the North Pacific Rim. We liberally define this region as Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Five years residence in these regions meets our criteria. Cirque was founded to support the writers of this wide region. Cirque publishes twice yearly, summer and winter. We are always open to new submissions. No deadlines. Submissions between 9/21/2020 and 3/21/2120 will be considered for Issue # 23, which may publish in June 2021.
Cirque is an independent journal, staffed by volunteers, entirely supported by readers and contributors. Your donations help us to thrive and expand as we reach the milestone of 10 years. Cirque is a print journal but it can also be read on line. Check it out here.
In 2018, the journal expanded to become CIRQUE PRESS. Scroll down for info about the press and its publishing criteria.
Please submit no more than four poems consolidated on a single text. You may give a generic title to the group such as "Four poems for Cirque" or use abbreviated titles. "Black Bird, God's Raven, Eagle Summit, Punchy Plaster," for example.
Bio - 3rd Person, 100 words or less.
Thanks so much!
Sandra Kleven and Michael Burwell, editors
About Cirque Press
Cirque Press grew out of Cirque, a literary journal established in 2009 by Michael Burwell, as a vehicle for the publication of writers and artists of a region broadly defined as reaching north from Oregon to the Yukon Territory and south from there through Alaska to Hawaii. Sandra Kleven joined Cirque in 2012.
Cirque contributors are widely published in an array of journals. Their writing is significant. It is personal. It is strong. It draws on these regions in ways that add to the culture of places.
The body of work of individual writers could be lost if it remained scattered across the literary landscape. Cirque Press (2017) seeks to gather the work of our contributors into book-form where it can be experienced coherently as statement, observation, and artistry.
Check out our publications, here:
https://cirquejournal.com/cirque-press/
Cirque is a literary journal, based in Alaska, publishing the work of writers, poets, photographers and other artists who live in the North Pacific Rim. We liberally define this region as Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and across the water to the Russian Far East - at least the coastal area. Five years residence in these regions meets our criteria.
Cirque was founded to support the writers of this wide region. Cirque publishes twice yearly, summer and winter. We are always open to new submissions. No deadlines. Submissions between 9/21/2020 and 3/21/2120 will be considered for Issue # 23, which we expect to publish in June 2021.
Cirque is an independent journal, staffed by volunteers, entirely supported by readers and contributors. Your donations help us to thrive and expand as we reach the milestone of 10 years. Cirque is a print journal but it can also be read on line. Check it out here.
In 2018, the journal expanded to become CIRQUE PRESS. Scroll down for info about the press and its publishing criteria.
Fiction submissions should be double spaced and no longer than 12 pages in a 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.
Bio: 100 words MAX.
Thanks so much!
Sandra Kleven and Michael Burwell, editors
About Cirque Press
Cirque Press grew out of Cirque, a literary journal established in 2009 by Michael Burwell, as a vehicle for the publication of writers and artists of a region broadly defined as reaching north from Oregon to the Yukon Territory and south from there through Alaska to Hawaii. Sandra Kleven joined Cirque in 2012 working as a partner with Burwell.
Cirque contributors are widely published in an array of journals. Their writing is significant. It is personal. It is strong. It draws on these regions in ways that add to the culture of places.
The body of work of individual writers could be lost if it remained scattered across the literary landscape. Cirque Press (2017) seeks to gather the work of our contributors into book-form where it can be experienced coherently as statement, observation, and artistry.
Check out our publications, here:
Cirque is a literary journal, based in Alaska, publishing the work of writers, poets, photographers and other artists who live in the North Pacific Rim.
We liberally define this region as Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and across the water to the Russian Far East - at least the coastal area. Five years residence in these regions meets our criteria. Cirque was founded to support the writers of this wide region. Cirque publishes twice yearly, summer and winter. We are always open to new submissions. No deadlines.
Submissions between 9/21/2020 and 3/21/2120 will be considered for Issue # 23, which we expect to publish by June 2021.
Cirque is an independent journal, staffed by volunteers, entirely supported by readers and contributors. Your donations help us to thrive and expand as we reach the milestone of 10 years. Cirque is a print journal but it can also be read on line. Check it out here.
In 2018, the journal expanded to become CIRQUE PRESS. Scroll down for info about the press and its publishing criteria.
Plays/drama submissions should be double spaced and no longer than 12 pages in a 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.
Bio: 100 words MAX.
About Cirque Press
Cirque Press grew out of Cirque, a literary journal established in 2009 by Michael Burwell, as a vehicle for the publication of writers and artists of a region broadly defined as reaching north from Oregon to the Yukon Territory and south from there through Alaska to Hawaii. Sandra Kleven joined Cirque in 2012 working as a partner with Burwell.
Cirque contributors are widely published in an array of journals. Their writing is significant. It is personal. It is strong. It draws on these regions in ways that add to the culture of places.
The body of work of individual writers could be lost if it remained scattered across the literary landscape. Cirque Press (2017) seeks to gather the work of our contributors into book-form where it can be experienced coherently as statement, observation, and artistry.
Check out our publications, here:
Cirque is a literary journal publishing twice yearly, summer and winter. Submission deadlines fall on March 21 and September 21, respectively.
Contributors need to live in or have at least a five year association with the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, the provinces of British Columbia or the Yukon Territory. Hawaii and the Russian far eastern coast are welcome, too, as part of the loosely defined North Pacific Rim. Cirque was founded to support writers in this broad region.
Nonfiction submissions should be double spaced and no longer than 12 pages in a 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. Submissions between 9/21/2020 and 3/21/2120 will be considered for Issue # 23, which we expect to publish in June 2021.
About Cirque Press
Cirque Press grew out of Cirque, a literary journal established in 2009 by Michael Burwell, as a vehicle for the publication of writers and artists of a region broadly defined as reaching north from Oregon to the Yukon Territory and south from there through Alaska to Hawaii. Sandra Kleven joined Cirque in 2012 working as a partner with Burwell.
Cirque contributors are widely published in an array of journals. Their writing is significant. It is personal. It is strong. It draws on these regions in ways that add to the culture of places.
The body of work of individual writers could be lost if it remained scattered across the literary landscape. Cirque Press (2017) seeks to gather the work of our contributors into book-form where it can be experienced coherently as statement, observation, and artistry.
Check out our publications, here:
Cirque is a literary journal, based in Alaska, publishing the work of writers, poets, photographers and other artists who live in the North Pacific Rim. We liberally define this region as Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and across the water to the Russian Far East - at least the coastal area. Five years residence in these regions meets our criteria. Cirque was founded to support the writers of this wide region. Cirque publishes twice yearly, summer and winter. We are always open to new submissions. No deadlines.
Submissions between 9/21/2020 and 3/21/2120 will be considered for Issue # 23, which we expect to publish by June 2021.
Cirque is an independent journal, staffed by volunteers, entirely supported by readers and contributors. Your donations help us to thrive and expand as we reach the milestone of 10 years. Cirque is a print journal but it can also be read on line. Check it out here.
In 2018, the journal expanded to become CIRQUE PRESS. Scroll down for info about the press and its publishing criteria.
Please adhere to the guidelines, below. Artwork and Photography: 10 images MAX, in the highest resolution possible; images will likely be between 2 and 10mb each. If you do not submit full-size photo files at time of submission, we will respond with an email reminder. No undersize images or thumbnails will be eligible for publication. More than 40 images are used in each issue.
Bio: 100 words MAX.
About Cirque Press
Cirque Press grew out of Cirque, a literary journal established in 2009 by Michael Burwell, as a vehicle for the publication of writers and artists of a region broadly defined as reaching north from Oregon to the Yukon Territory and south from there through Alaska to Hawaii. Sandra Kleven joined Cirque in 2012 working as a partner with Burwell.
Cirque contributors are widely published in an array of journals. Their writing is significant. It is personal. It is strong. It draws on these regions in ways that add to the culture of places.
The body of work of individual writers could be lost if it remained scattered across the literary landscape. Cirque Press (2017) seeks to gather the work of our contributors into book-form where it can be experienced coherently as statement, observation, and artistry.
Check out our publications, here:
https://cirquejournal.com/cirque-press/