Custom Lists

Summary

Brink Literary Journal is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2021 that publishes poetry, nonfiction, hybrid, fiction. Brink is an in-print literary journal publishing hybrid, cross-genre work of creatives residing outside traditional artistic communities and disciplines. Fee: No. Pay: Yes.

Reasoning

A welcoming home for writers from outside of 'traditional' creative practices, Brink loves work about the idea of being 'on the brink.' (Of course.) Open Jan 1-31 for a special call: RENEWAL.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #one week response time #very competitive

Submission Details

Brink Literary Journal accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Their last known acceptance rate is 7.14%.

Summary

The Coachella Review is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2009 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry. The Coachella Review is the literary arts journal of the University of California Riverside–Palm Desert Graduate Center and the MFA program in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts. Fee: No. Pay: No.

Reasoning

Handsome and quality, The Coachella Review is currently open for a special call: GOOD TROUBLE. December 6 to April 4, 2025

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #university affiliated #brecht top 1000 #very competitive #10+ years old #extra popular

Submission Details

The Coachella Review accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 90 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 5.18%.

Summary

Indiana Review is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 1976 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Founded in 1976, Indiana Review is a non-profit literary magazine dedicated to showcasing the talents of emerging and established writers. Our mission is to offer the highest quality writing within a wide aesthetic. Fee: $3. Pay: Yes.

Reasoning

Highly reputable and long standing publication, considered to be among the top tier of university affiliated journals. Open from February 1–March 31 and from September 1–October 31. A little bit of an early heads-up but definitely keep them on your radar.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #university affiliated #brecht top 1000 #clmp member #extremely competitive #fiction prize winner #krouse top 500 #30+ years old #poetry prize winner #mega super popular. woah.

Submission Details

Indiana Review accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 90 days. Their last known acceptance rate is <1%.

Summary

Shenandoah is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 1950 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, multimedia. The editors believe that reading through the perspective of another person, persona, or character is one of the ways we practice empathy, expand our understanding of the world, and experience new levels of awareness. Fee: No. Pay: Yes.

Reasoning

A highly selective university-affiliated journal, Shenandoah typically takes prose up to 8000 words and they like stuff that makes them laugh or feel uncomfortable, that cares about the world and surprises them.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #university affiliated #brecht top 1000 #clmp member #highly competitive #fiction prize winner #krouse top 500 #50+ years old #nonfiction prize winner #poetry prize winner #extra popular

Submission Details

Shenandoah accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 180 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 1.14%.

Summary

NELLE is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2001 that publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, hybrid. NELLE literary journal features fiction, poetry and nonfiction by writers from across the feminine spectrum. Fee: $3. Pay: No.

Reasoning

A hidden gem of a university-affiliated journal, NELLE has a unique focus on work by women of all kinds. Stated love of language and imagery in subs. Welcoming to emerging writers. Opens Jan 1. through April 1 for special call: She Persisted.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #one week response time #20+ years old

Submission Details

NELLE accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Their last known acceptance rate is 15.79%.

Summary

CALYX Journal is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 1976 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, multimedia, poetry. CALYX exists to nurture women’s creativity by publishing fine literature and art by women. Fee: $5. Pay: No.

Reasoning

Publishing art & literature by women since 1976, Calyx takes up to 5000 words of prose. October 1 – December 31. Strong history, good contributors, still quality.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #nonprofit #somewhat competitive #30+ years old

Submission Details

CALYX Journal accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 240 days. Their last known acceptance rate is <1%.

Summary

Pacifica Literary Review is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2012 that publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction. We want unique voices and risky writing; send your predictable stuff to those hoary old journals who’ve been printing the same thing since 1970. Professors and baristas will receive equal consideration. Sonnets and memes will receive equal consideration. If it is excellent and gives us the feels, we’ll print it. Fee: $3. Pay: Yes.

Reasoning

A tri-annual journal that is small, sharp, and loud. They resonate with risk, rebellion, and want something that "gives us the feels." Anti-pretension and puts on no airs. Egalitarian about contributors.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #very competitive #10+ years old

Submission Details

Pacifica Literary Review accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 120 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 4.88%.

Summary

Archetype: A Literary Journal is a Canada-based literary magazine founded in 2021 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, multimedia. A Toronto-based literary journal that strives to publish creative work—essays, poetry, fiction, interviews, and reviews—that reminds us of what it’s like to be made of flesh. Fee: No. Pay: No.

Reasoning

A newer publication, Archetype is a selective but approachable paying market. A focus on the physicality of living, the feeling of inhabiting flesh. Print issues. Open for subs November 1 to January 7 and from June 1 to August 6.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #very competitive #popular

Submission Details

Archetype: A Literary Journal accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 42 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 8.00%.

Summary

Oyster River Pages is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2017 that publishes poetry, multimedia, fiction, nonfiction. ORP is interested in publishing voices that speak to what it means to be alive in this world. We look for language and stories and images that move us out of ourselves and into other spaces. We are a literary journal and we embrace the reality that the personal has become the political. Fee: No. Pay: No.

Reasoning

A tidy publication that treats the work of contributors respectfully, lovingly, Oyster River Pages is a welcoming publication for work that transports us out of ourselves. They love stuff about what it means to be alive, "writing that speaks to our souls and moves us to think, to do, to be."

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #one week response time #nominates for industry awards #brecht top 1000 #clmp member #krouse top 500

Submission Details

Oyster River Pages accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Their last known acceptance rate is 19.83%.

Summary

Fatal Flaw is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2020 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, hybrid, poetry, multimedia. We seek work that finds poignancy in unexpected places, confronts the status quo and, most importantly, prompts discussion about the human condition in these uncertain times. Give us fractured inner monologues, messy reckonings, imperfect catharses. Show us the fatal flaw and the beauty inherent within it. Fee: $3. Pay: No.

Reasoning

I'm thinking of Fatal Flaw's fondness for messy imperfections, the unexpected, and fractures as I recommend them. (Plus they love stuff that's about what it means to be human.)

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #nonprofit # fosters inclusivity #engaged editors #popular

Submission Details

Fatal Flaw accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 60 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 19.35%.

Summary

Barrelhouse is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2004 that publishes nonfiction, fiction, poetry. Barrelhouse bridges the gap between serious art and pop culture. It's an annual print journal featuring fiction, poetry, interviews, and essays. Barrelhouse Books publishes 2 books (1 poetry, 1 NF) per year. Fee: No. Pay: Yes.

Reasoning

A selective and popular lit mag with great community reach, Barrelhouse likes work that feels plugged into (pop) culture. They never seem to open for long though so I'm tacking them on as an 11th but wanted to put them on your radar for this piece. They'd dig it, I think.

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #extremely competitive #fiction prize winner #krouse top 500 #nonfiction prize winner #mega super popular. woah.

Submission Details

Barrelhouse accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 180 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 1.00%.

Summary

Quarter After Eight is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 1994 that publishes fiction, nonfiction, multimedia, poetry. QAE is the Ohio University English Department's graduate-student run journal of innovative writing and art. Contributors include Diane Seuss, Negesti Kaudo, Mary Ruefle, Dani Putney, Ander Monson, Lia Purpura, Paul Crenshaw, Peter Ho Davies, Elisa Gabbert. Fee: No. Pay: No.

Reasoning

A lovely university-affiliated journal that doesn't mind thumbing their nose at convention (but not too snotty). Great past contributors. Selective but accessible. Open for subs October 15 until April 15. Up to 8500 words

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #university affiliated #brecht top 1000 #clmp member #very competitive #krouse top 500 #20+ years old

Submission Details

Quarter After Eight accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 90 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 8.00%.

Summary

Raleigh Review is a United States-based literary magazine founded in 2010 that publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction. A nonprofit magazine of poetry, short fiction, and art, offering accessible works of experience that are emotionally and intellectually complex. Fee: $3. Pay: Yes.

Reasoning

Raleigh Review is a smaller, quality publication looking for work that inspires empathy, or "seeing through the eyes of our neighbors" as they say. Open January 1 - March 31 and July 1 - October 31. Full color print issues. 7500 words

Notable Tags

#read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #nonprofit #brecht top 1000 #clmp member #extremely competitive #10+ years old #poetry prize winner

Submission Details

Raleigh Review accepts simultaneous submissions and some reprints. They respond within 90 days. Their last known acceptance rate is 1.00%.