Logo of Arkana literary magazine
"Arkana is the online lit mag of the Arkansas Writers MFA Program. We publish writing and art that makes visible the marginalized, overlooked, and silent."
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Open for submissions

Introduction
Vibe

Send us your best but less intimidating

Response Time
435 days
Average acceptance rate
10%

Need to know for submitting

Read carefully, it will save from dead rats in the mailbox

    • Checkmark icon

      Simultaneous submissions

      Yes

    • Crossed circle icon

      Previously published

      No

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      Payment

      No

    • Crossed circle icon

      Fee

      No

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      Expedited response

      No

    • Crossed circle icon

      Available in print

      No

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      Provide contributor copies

      No

    • Checkmark icon

      Examples online

      Yes

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      Active on social media

      Yes

  • 01

    Important stuff

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  • 02

    How to submit 🏗️

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  • 03

    Cover Letter and Bio 🏗️

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  • 04

    Awards

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  • 05

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    Demographics & Eligibility

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  • 06

    Formatting requirements 🏗️

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  • 07

    Rights for published work 🏗️

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Types of Submissions Accepted

8 genres

A general comment from the editor [coming soon]

fiction genre icon

Fiction

Max words: 4000

Max pieces: 1

REGULAR SUBMISSION. We love stories that share a new perspective, keep us awake at night, or otherwise pluck at our heartstrings. Micro Issue Submission: We're looking for polished fiction of up to 500 words.

literary

experimental

lgbtq

nonfiction genre icon

Nonfiction

Max words: 4000

Max pieces: 1

REGULAR SUBMISSION. Submit your personal essays, investigations, and counternarratives. We want to hear a strong voice full of local color. Ultimately, we want nonfiction that moves from an individual’s unique experience to greater universal resonance. Micro Issue Submission: Send us your essays, your memoirs, and your investigations of up to 500 words.

poetry genre icon

Poetry

Max pieces: 3

REGULAR SUBMISSION. We are moved more by an aesthetic than by any particular trend or fashion in the world of contemporary poetry. We like beauty, music, and a personal interpretation of poetic forms. Micro Issue Submission: Submit up to five poems of ten lines or less.

art genre icon

Art

Max pieces: 5

REGULAR SUBMISSION. Our art is published alongside literary work, and as such, we want images that speak to Arkana’s mission and aesthetic. Painting, sculpture, photography, needlepoint, or any type of visual art is welcome. Micro Issue Submission: Photographs or images to be published alongside literary work. Photographs and images should speak to Arkana's mission and aesthetic.

photography genre icon

Photography

Max pieces: 5

See "Art".

translations genre icon

Translations

Max words: 4000

Max pieces: 1

Required: Original publication information Confirm publication rights are available If the piece is in the public domain, please let us know

comics genre icon

Comics

REGULAR SUBMISSION. Illustrated Narrative: We consider anything that combines words with visuals in a way that pushes the boundaries of form and storytelling. This includes works of fiction, nonfiction, comic strips, poetry comics, or otherwise. Micro Issue Submission: please submit four panels or less of an illustrated narrative.

play genre icon

Play

Max pieces: 1

REGULAR SUBMISSION. Scripts: We’re committed to publishing genres not often featured in literary journals. Whether it’s a 10-minute play or a scene from a screenplay, we’re looking for polished scripts with compelling character motivation and innovative use of dialogue. No more than 20 pages per submission. Micro Issue Submission: Please submit scripts for the stage or screen that would last, if performed, five minutes or less.

fiction genre icon

Fiction

Max words: 4000

Max pieces: 1

REGULAR SUBMISSION. We love stories that share a new perspective, keep us awake at night, or otherwise pluck at our heartstrings. Micro Issue Submission: We're looking for polished fiction of up to 500 words.

literary

experimental

lgbtq

nonfiction genre icon

Nonfiction

Max words: 4000

Max pieces: 1

REGULAR SUBMISSION. Submit your personal essays, investigations, and counternarratives. We want to hear a strong voice full of local color. Ultimately, we want nonfiction that moves from an individual’s unique experience to greater universal resonance. Micro Issue Submission: Send us your essays, your memoirs, and your investigations of up to 500 words.

poetry genre icon

Poetry

Max pieces: 3

REGULAR SUBMISSION. We are moved more by an aesthetic than by any particular trend or fashion in the world of contemporary poetry. We like beauty, music, and a personal interpretation of poetic forms. Micro Issue Submission: Submit up to five poems of ten lines or less.

art genre icon

Art

Max pieces: 5

REGULAR SUBMISSION. Our art is published alongside literary work, and as such, we want images that speak to Arkana’s mission and aesthetic. Painting, sculpture, photography, needlepoint, or any type of visual art is welcome. Micro Issue Submission: Photographs or images to be published alongside literary work. Photographs and images should speak to Arkana's mission and aesthetic.

Magazine

Founded in 2016 | United States

Masthead

We currently list only main editors, more will be added later! If you are an editor, you can edit your masthead in our admin panel :)

Kathy M. Bates
Editor-in-Chief
Carrie Lee South
Fiction Editor
Janet Holmes Uchendu
Poetry Editor
Melanie A. Wilson
Creative Nonfiction Editor
Thomas E. Moran
Script Editor
Sydney Austin
Illustrated Narrative Editor
Chill Stats (note: this is not exactly accurate...)

Total tracked

17

Average acceptance rate

10%

Average response time

435 days

Average acceptance/rejection time

1288/9 days

Fastest response time

3 days

Slowest response time

1288 days