Origins
Red River Review was founded in 1999 by Bob McCranie as an online poetry journal committed to publishing meaningful, resonant work. At a time when digital literary publishing was still emerging, the journal helped create space for poets and readers to connect beyond the boundaries of print.
Under Bob’s direction, and later with Michelle Hartman as editor from 2010 to 2018, Red River Review became a trusted home for poetic voices and a touchstone for readers seeking thoughtful, memorable writing.
Where We’re Headed
Red River Review is entering a new chapter under the direction of Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Heather Robinson Hernandez.
This relaunch honors the journal’s poetic foundation while expanding its scope to include short fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid work, photography, and visual art. Poetry remains at the heart of Red River Review, but the journal now welcomes a broader range of literary and artistic expression.
We are drawn to work that takes creative and imaginative risks — work that creates a sense of encounter with voice, image, question, landscape, body, tension, or a way of seeing that feels particular.
As Red River Review grows, it is becoming more than a literary journal. Through issue publication, workshops and classes, craft conversations, conversations with editors, book reviews, educational resources, and archive stewardship, we support writers, artists, contributors, and readers while building a trusted literary arts platform for creative practice, storytelling, learning, and community.
Our archive of past issues represents more than 27 years of literary history. Preserving that record is part of how we honor the writers, artists, editors, and readers who have shaped Red River Review since 1999.
As we look ahead, we are developing Red River Review as a legacy literary arts publisher: one committed not only to publishing distinctive contemporary work, but also to preserving literary history, sustaining creative practice, and carrying meaningful work forward across generations.
Our Mission
Red River Review is an independent online literary arts publication dedicated to publishing distinctive literary and visual work, supporting creative practice, and stewarding the literary record we have built since 1999.
Through carefully curated issues, workshops, classes, craft conversations, educational programming, and archive stewardship, we connect writers, artists, contributors, and readers while creating space for meaningful literary and artistic exchange.
Our Vision
To grow Red River Review into a trusted legacy literary arts publisher — an enduring home for contemporary literature and art, creative learning, literary community, and the preservation of literary history.
We envision a publication that continues to discover and champion distinctive new work while responsibly carrying forward the creative work, editorial history, and communities that have shaped Red River Review over time.
Core Values
Our values guide how we publish, teach, gather, preserve, and support the creative lives of writers and artists.
Creative Integrity
We champion intentional, high-quality literary and artistic work that reflects distinct voices, perspectives, forms, and creative approaches.
Access & Opportunity
We seek to make publication, learning, and creative engagement meaningful and accessible while expanding opportunities for writers and artists across backgrounds, experiences, and stages of practice.
Exploration & Expression
We support creative experimentation, hybrid work, and artistic approaches shaped by curiosity, discovery, complexity, and imaginative risk.
Creative Practice & Development
We believe creativity is a lifelong practice. Through workshops, classes, craft conversations, editorial engagement, educational resources, and other programming, we support writers and artists in deepening their craft and sustaining their creative lives.
Literary Stewardship & Continuity
We recognize publishing as both a contemporary practice and a responsibility to the literary record. We are committed to preserving Red River Review’s archive, honoring the writers, artists, editors, and communities who have shaped its history, and supporting the long-term accessibility and discoverability of literary and artistic work.
Community & Collaboration
We build meaningful connections among writers, artists, editors, educators, readers, and cultural partners in ways that strengthen creative practice and literary community.
Editorial Philosophy
At Red River Review, we believe writing and art can create connection, recognition, and transformation. Poetry remains at the heart of our editorial identity, reflecting the journal’s origins and literary history, while we also publish short fiction, creative nonfiction, flash, hybrid work, photography, and visual art.
We are interested in work that feels intentional, alive, and particular to the writer or artist. A piece does not need to follow a conventional model or arrive at a tidy resolution, but it should be held together by something carefully developed. We look for attention to language, image, form, movement, tension, consequence, discovery, or visual resonance — some reason the work takes the shape it does.
We value work that invites reflection without overexplaining itself, demonstrates developed craft and purposeful creative choices, and takes imaginative or formal risks when those choices serve the work. Above all, we look for work that creates a lasting encounter with voice, image, question, landscape, body, tension, story, or a way of seeing.
Join Our Team
Red River Review is growing, and we’re inviting thoughtful collaborators to help shape its next chapter.
We are building an editorial team and a wider creative ecosystem of readers, artists, educators, and creative professionals who care about literary art, visual storytelling, creative practice, and community connection. Whether you’re interested in supporting submissions, editorial work, events, workshops, outreach, or behind-the-scenes operations, there may be a place for you at Red River Review.