Chicago Review publishes a variety of nonfiction, primarily book reviews and longer critical essays. We look for writing with a focused analytical approach and polished, engaging prose. In general, we are more interested in scholarly-adjacent literary and cultural criticism than in standard trade book reviews.
Pieces may vary in length from reviews (roughly 1,000–2,500 words) to more expansive essays for our commentary section (roughly 2,500 words and up). Prospective writers should read our review guide before pitching, and consult our website and back issues for examples. We maintain an active list of books we’re hoping to cover, but we’re certainly open to things that are not on our radar.
We only accept nonfiction via emailed pitches. To pitch us, write to editors[at]chicagoreview[dot]org with the word “PITCH” in the subject line and a brief summary of your proposal in the body of the email. Pitches should be 200–400 words and should give a precise outline of the topic, argument, aims, and stakes of the piece, as well as why you think it could be a good fit for Chicago Review. Please also include a short bio. If we’re interested in your piece, we can usually request a review copy on your behalf.
If you would like to submit a completed draft, please follow the same steps outlined above. That is, write to us with “PITCH” in the subject line, give a brief summary of your piece and a short bio in the body of the email, and include your draft as an attachment.
Our editorial process for nonfiction is thorough and tends to take at least a few months from acceptance to publication. We strive for timeliness, but our priority is producing rigorous criticism of lasting value. Accordingly, all nonfiction published by Chicago Review goes through two or more rounds of intensive editing. You may be asked to do a full or partial rewrite.
Please note that we do not tend to publish memoir or personal essays.
Click here for detailed reviewer guidelines.
Click here for our list of books for review.