New American Press releases a new volume of recently published work from the Midwest each year to bring more visibility to Midwestern writing that is innovative, engaging, finely crafted, and strong in voice.

Midwestern is a term diverse in meaning, and we will seize on these qualities as we gather the best work from the Midwest. We want stories and poems with heart. We also want to explode the generally accepted notions of what the Midwest is and what Midwestern writing is, while honoring its rich and long-standing traditions.

What counts as work from the Midwest? We welcome writers who currently live in, pursued an education in, or were born in one of the following twelve states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. We also welcome work by writers addressing any of these states, or the region as a whole. If you believe there’s something about you or your writing that resonates with the Midwest, we’re probably interested.