Volume XI · Spring 2026

Paper
Dragon

A journal of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art — published twice yearly by Drexel University's Creative Writing MFA.

Vol. XI · Spring 2026
Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Art

Featured Work

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Volume XI
Spring 2026
Spring · 2026
Volume XI

"In this twelfth volume, our contributors map the distances between what is spoken and what remains — between the world as it is and as it was imagined to be."

Contents

  • Fiction
  • Nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Art

About the journal

A home for literary work that lingers.

Paper Dragon is the literary journal of Drexel University’s MFA in Creative Writing program. It is managed and edited by MFA students and published with generous help from the Drexel Publishing Group.

Through civic engagement, its mission is to provide a platform for the amplification of communities that have historically been underrepresented in literature. Paper Dragon will achieve this goal by showcasing high-quality creative work from authors and other artists in these communities.

XI
Issues published
Per year
4
Genres
Creative Writing MFA
Drexel University
Browse full archive →

Submissions

Submissions closed

Fiction & Nonfiction

We read prose year-round during our open windows. We're drawn to work that takes formal risks while remaining grounded in precise, careful observation of the world.

  • Fiction up to 2,000 words
  • Simultaneous submissions with prompt notice
  • Response within 6–8 weeks
  • No submission fee
Submit prose →
Submissions closed

Poetry

We welcome 1-2 poems per submission, in any form, including traditional, experimental, and hybrid work.

  • 1-2 poems per submission
  • 2,000 words max length
  • Simultaneous submissions welcome with prompt notice
  • Response within 6–8 weeks
  • No submission fee
Submit poetry →
Submissions closed

Visual Art

We seek art that functions as its own kind of argument — work that doesn't merely illustrate, but thinks. All media welcome: photography, painting, drawing, collage, and digital.

  • 1-5 images per portfolio
  • JPG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and a minimum of 1,024 pixels on the longest side
  • We do not accept AI art submissions
  • Response within 6-8 weeks
Submit art →

Guidelines

Before you submit

Paper Dragon is committed to publishing poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, and artwork that resonates with contemporary readers. We are committed to showcasing exciting and inclusive work across genres. Paper Dragon seeks work that challenges us to see the human experience in new and honest ways through both established and emerging voices.

  • Cover letter with brief bio
  • Word document (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) file.
Read full guidelines →

Masthead

Editorial

  • Editor in ChiefRon Harris
  • Fiction EditorPinki Mishra
  • Nonfiction EditorEmily Duvall
  • Poetry EditorChristopher Passante
  • Art EditorEdwina Joe-Kamara
  • Newsletter DirectorEmily Duvall

Staff

  • PublisherDrexel Publishing Group
  • Faculty AdvisorsNomi Eve and Scott Stein
  • Co-OpsIsabelle Morrison and Micah Allen

Readers/Assistant Editors

  • Sigrid DaVeiga
  • Sierra Elmore
  • Marie Hansen
  • Nastassia Idahosa
  • Sanna Levine
  • Becca Malachowski
  • Katie Morris
  • Laura Reutter

Stay in the pages

New issue announcements, submission windows, and occasional notes from the editors — twice a year, like the journal itself.