Issues

Ploughshares publishes issues four times a year. Two of these issues are guest-edited by different, prominent authors. The other two issues are edited by our staff editors, one a mix of poetry and prose and the other long-form prose.

  • Image of a journal cover showing a green background with red, orange, and dark purple colors on top
    Issue # 145

    Fall 2020

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Ladette Randolph

    The Fall 2020 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and now provides readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares “the Triton among minnows.” The Fall 2020…

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  • Summer 2020 Vol. 4.62
    Issue # 144
    Poetry

    Summer 2020

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Celeste Ng

    The Summer 2020 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and remains prescient in the digital age by providing readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares…

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  • Spring 2020 Vol. 4.61
    Issue # 143

    Spring 2020

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Tracy K. Smith

    The Spring 2020 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and remains prescient in the digital age by providing readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares “the…

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  • Journal cover image of painted flowers with a hand.
    Issue # 142
    Fiction

    Winter 2019-20

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editors
    Ladette Randolph
    John Skoyles

    The Winter 2019-20 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and remains prescient in the digital age by providing readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares “the…

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  • Image of a journal cover showing a red, blue, and black abstract art piece.
    Issue # 141

    Fall 2019

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Ladette Randolph

    The Fall 2019 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and now provides readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares “the Triton among minnows.” The Fall…

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  • Image of a journal cover showing a knotted green scarf with many legs wearing red-striped socks and red-striped gloves sticking out of it.
    Issue # 140

    Summer 2019

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Viet Thanh Nguyen

    The Summer 2019 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and remains prescient in the digital age by providing readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares…

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  • Image of a journal cover with a woman wearing a swan mask and roses in her hair.
    Issue # 139

    Spring 2019

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Rigoberto González

    The Spring 2019 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and remains prescient in the digital age by providing readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares…

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  • Journal cover image of silhouette woman with a scarf sitting on curved steps
    Issue # 138

    Winter 2018-19

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editors
    Ladette Randolph
    John Skoyles

    Accompany Ellen Bass, Tom Jenks, Becky Hagenston, Tony Hoagland and others as they wrestle with the vulnerability of contemporary life, navigating party allegiance and confronting the contrast between hope and hopelessness. Grapple with gun violence, child abduction, and the employment of high school boys in slaughterhouses. Witness the extinction of Galápagos turtles and visit Florida,…

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  • Cover for Fall 2018
    Issue # 137

    Fall 2018

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Ladette Randolph

    Accompany Jill McCorkle, Allen Gee, Georgi Markov, Owen King, and others as they grapple with the disappearance of body, culture, and neighbors. Visit Guatemala to witness the evolution of a past life. Meet a Bulgarian radio voice killed for telling ordinary stories. Face boisterous sideline characters and sullen internet personalities. Grapple with dinner party discussions…

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  • Cover for Summer 2018
    Issue # 136
    Fiction

    Summer 2018

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Jill McCorkle

    The Summer 2018 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s four issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles; the Fall and Winter issues are staff-edited. As guest-editor Jill McCorkle writes in her introduction, “Some of the most satisfying moments in…

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  • Cover for Spring 2018
    Issue # 135

    Spring 2018

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Lan Samantha Chang

    The Spring 2018 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s four issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles; the Fall and Winter issues are staff-edited. As guest-editor Lan Samantha Chang writes in her introduction, “It is essential to…

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  • Cover for Winter 2017-18 Vol. 43.4
    Issue # 134

    Winter 2017-18

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editors
    Ladette Randolph
    John Skoyles

    The Winter 2017-18 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles; the Winter issue is staff-edited. This staff-edited issue of Ploughshares features new work by Alice Hoffman, Paige Lewis, Carl Dennis,…

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  • Cover for Summer 2017 Vol. 43.2
    Issue # 133

    Summer 2017

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Stewart O’Nan

    The Summer 2017 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles; the Winter issue is staff-edited. Distinguished writer Stewart O’Nan guest-edits this issue. As O’Nan writes in his introduction, “I want to feel moral confusion, because nothing in…

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  • Cover for Spring 2017 Vol. 43.1
    Issue # 132

    Spring 2017

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editor
    Jennifer Haigh

    The Spring 2017 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles; the Winter issue is staff-edited. Acclaimed writer Jennifer Haigh guest-edits this poetry and prose issue of Ploughshares. As Haigh writes…

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  • A journal cover with a patterned woman outline with origami birds around her
    Issue # 131
    Poetry

    Winter 2016-17

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editors
    Ladette Randolph
    John Skoyles

    The Winter 2016-17 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles; the Winter issue is staff-edited. This staff edited issue of Ploughshares features a vibrant collection of essays, poems, and short…

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  • A journal cover with abstract art of a blue woman with many arms and vibrant colors
    Issue # 130

    Summer 2016

    $6.99 – $14.00
    Guest Editors
    Claire Messud
    James Wood

    The Summer 2016 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. This 45th anniversary issue, guest edited by novelist Claire Messud and literary critic James Wood,…

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