No database exists for nonfiction agents' reading habits, so we asked every agent, editor, and writing-adjacent human we could until we got enough answers.

Nonfiction Magazines That Will Make Agents Notice You

Explore the all-time most popular nonfiction literary magazines. These outlets have been influential for writers of essays, memoirs, and nonfiction.

Most Popular Nonfiction-Only Literary Magazines of All Time

Find out the all-time most submitted-to nonfiction literary magazines. These publications are the go-to for writers of creative nonfiction.

Most Submitted-To Nonfiction-Only Literary Mags of All Time

Chicago Review of Books

Features

We love book lists that bring attention to significant and underappreciated books around themes that help readers learn about our world in different ways. Instead of straightforward “best of’s,” we’re interested in lists that are curated around a specific genre, literary craft area, or experience. Here are some good examples:



Book Lists

We’re interested in exploring the ways books respond to and shape culture. We’re looking for essays that put books in conversation with other elements of our modern cultures—including other works of literature, film, television, music and more. Additionally, we’d love to see reinterpretations of older works of literature explored through a modern lens. 



Books & Culture

While we cover authors from every genre and country, we’re a proud Chicago organization with a mission to promote the arts in our community. We’re looking for work that explores the intersections between Chicago, its history, and its vibrant communities and the arts—including literature, spoken word, music, architecture and more. From reinterpreting old Chicago classics to reportage and interviews that highlight the wealth of creativity in our city, we want to honor Chicago’s artistic past, present, and future. We’re open to considering this topic in many ways, but if it’s about our city and creative pursuits, we want to hear about it!




All Things Chicago

Along with our parent organization Stories Matter Foundation, our mission is to build communities of storytellers trained to question, explore, celebrate, and change their worlds using the power of story. In this spirit, we’re looking for essays that demystify the writing and publishing process, share advice around craft, and tell stories that turn a solitary practice into a communal act. We’re open to craft and personal essays, interviews, and more that focus on the writing and publishing process. For inspiration, we’re big fans of Catapult Magazine’s now defunct “Don’t Write Alone” series and want to publish pieces that carry on that legacy. 





Stories Matter: Essays on Writing & Publishing

We want to give authors with upcoming book releases a chance to write directly to our readers about their work and what inspired it. For this feature section, we’re looking for personal and craft essays, book lists, and excerpts written directly by authors. Here are some good examples:






Chicago Review of Books

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