The Awakenings Project
Begun in cooperation with the University of Chicago Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in 2000, The Awakenings Review has been acclaimed internationally and draws writers from all over the United States and from several other countries including Israel, South Africa, Australia, Finland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The Awakenings Review publishes original poetry, short stories, dramatic scenes, essays, photographs, excerpts from larger works, and black-and-white cover art—all created by persons who have had a personal experience with mental illness.
Archive
Fall 2019 (Vol. 8, No. 1)
Fall 2018 (Vol. 7, No. 2)
Fall 2017 (Vol. 7, No. 1)
Fall 2015 (Vol. 6, No. 2)
Fall 2012 (Vol. 6, No. 1)
Spring 2011 (Vol. 5, No. 2)
Winter 2009/2010 (Vol. 5, No. 1)
Fall 2008 (Vol. 4, No. 2)
Summer 2007 (Vol. 4, No. 1)
Fall 2005 (Vol. 3, No. 2)
Summer 2004 (Vol. 3, No. 1)
Summer 2003 (Vol. 2, No. 2)
Fall 2002 (Vol. 2, No. 1)
Winter 2001 (Vol. 1, No. 2)
Summer 2000 (Vol. 1, No. 1)
Editorial Policy
A writer for The Awakenings Review (The AR) need not have a mental illness—we are open to submissions from family members and friends of people with mental illnesses. We do prefer that a writer have a mental illness of some type, and be willing to write about it, but that does not have to be the focus of the writings. The AR occasionally publishes special issues dedicated to specific topics, or featuring authors who live with a particular illness.
In most cases, at least two members of The AR editorial board review each submission.
Contributors selected for publication are not paid for their work. However, they will receive a complimentary copy of the journal in which their work is published when it becomes available, and additional copies at a discount.
Submissions
Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Email submissions should be in a .doc or .docx format attached to an email sent to AR@AwakeningsProject.org and include the word "submission" in the subject line.
If you are submitting more than one poem by email, they should all be grouped together into one Word file, and not sent as individual files.
All manuscripts sent to us should be accompanied by a cover letter which in part describes the writer's relationship to mental illness, either self, family member, or friend.
Manuscripts can be mailed to:
The Awakenings Review
P.O. Box 177
Wheaton, IL 60187
If mailed, you will be notified when we receive your submission.
Editorial Correspondence
Please address all editorial correspondence to:
Robert Lundin, Editor
The Awakenings Review
P.O. Box 177
Wheaton, IL 60187
Editorial Board
Robert Lundin, Editor
Audrey Sher-Walton, Associate Editor
Hope Andersen, Assistant Editor
Sandra Jo Mazurek, Art Editor
Irene O'Neill
Virginia Goldrick
Bruce Clements
Tess Hall
John Dooley
Subscriptions
If you are interested in ordering past issues or subscribing, please click to go to the Orders and Subscriptions page.