Submissions The next issue will be published in April 2008. Submissions for the creative section: If you are interested in submitting poetry, prose, creative nonfiction or photography for the creative section, you should send it in to em2328@columbia.edu as an attached Microsoft Word document. The piece should be in some way related to Russia or another Slavic country (the relationship does not have to be extremely direct, but it should include at least one Slavic thematic element). If you have not yet written the piece, feel free to e-mail one of the editors to make sure you are writing about a topic that is fit for inclusion in the journal. Submissions to the creative section may not exceed 1800 words, and can be written in English or in Russian. Keep in mind that if you choose to submit in Russian, your writing will not be translated into English. Deadline: March 19, 2008 . Submissions for the criticism section: If you would like to write an essay or book review for the criticism section, you should send it in to em2328@columbia.edu as an attached Microsoft Word document. If you have an essay you would like to submit, which has already been written, the pitch should detail how you plan to tailor the essay to fit the journal (it will most likely need to be shortened). Also, you must receive permission from the teacher who graded the essay. If you have not yet written the essay, or if you are interested in reviewing a book, please e-mail one of the editors to make sure you are writing about a topic that is fit for inclusion in the journal. Essays and reviews should be no longer than 1500 words. Deadline: March 19, 2008. Submissions for the culture or politics section: If you would like to write an article for the culture and politics section, please submit a pitch, no longer than 250 words, that explains three main things: (1) the basic topic of your article including a small amount of background information, (2) whom you plan to contact for research and quotes, (3) why you think the readership would be interested in the topic. When writing your pitch, keep in mind that the final article will be no longer than 1500 words. The editorial board will then evaluate the pitch, and contact you to make sure you are on the right track. We do this in order to prevent writers from slaving away at an article that is not something the journal wants to publish in the end. The pitch system is also a way for the editorial board to provide help and assistance during the writing process. All pitches should be e-mailed to em2328@columbia.edu. Articles for these sections should follow The Economist style guide, located here. Deadline: March 19, 2008. Click here for the Library of Congress transliteration style guide. If you would like to know what pieces you can submit in English and what you can submit in Russian, please read over The Birch's language policy. Thanks! We look forward to reading your work.