Grain, the journal of eclectic writing, is a literary quarterly that publishes engaging, eclectic, and challenging writing and art by Canadian and international writers and artists.

Who doesn't love getting paid? Who doesn't love Canadians? The literary magazines listed below were founded in Canada and pay for published work.

Canadian Lit Mags That Pay Writers

Not just words. These magazines publish paintings, comics, illustrations, and other visual art alongside or instead of traditional text-based work.

Magazines That Publish Comics, Art, or Other Visual Works

The top nonfiction lit mags in our database, ranked by how many users have bookmarked them.

The Ultimate List of Places to Submit Your Nonfiction

Story-focused publications with works chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Less than 5% of nominated fiction typically makes the anthology.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

A targeted resource for short story placements with potential for Pushcart recognition.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Publications with pieces chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Recognition of exceptional quality across poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

Lit Mags Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

A comprehensive guide to journals that regularly nominate work for the Pushcart Prize.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

All-time most competitive literary magazines. Getting published in these is a significant achievement for any writer.

Most Competitive Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the most popular literary magazines of all time. These long-established publications are a staple in the literary world for writers of all genres.

Most Popular Literary Magazines of All Time

Essay-focused publications with works selected for Pushcart Prize anthologies. These journals have repeatedly identified nonfiction that resonates with Pushcart editors and readers.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Highlights publications that regularly put forward essays, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction for Pushcart consideration.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Verse-centered publications with poems chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. These journals have consistently identified poems that stand out in this intensely competitive field.

Poetry Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Focuses specifically on poetry journals with established histories of Pushcart nominations.

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Grain

Fiction: To a maximum of 3500 words.

For fiction submissions, please provide a word count.
- You may submit ONE work (of no more than 3500 words), OR up to THREE works (i.e., micro-fiction, flash fiction) that together total a maximum of 3500 words.
- If your work exceeds the word limit, consider sending an excerpt.

Fiction

Poetry: Individual poems, sequences, or suites up to a maximum of 6 pages. If submitting multiple poems, please upload them all in one file. Do not submit them as separate submissions.

Poetry

Literary Nonfiction:
 To a maximum of 3500 words. 
For literary nonfiction submissions, please provide a word count.
- If your work exceeds the word limit, consider sending an excerpt.

Literary Nonfiction

Surprise Us!

To support writers of diverse communities and identities, Grain is keeping its summer submission period open to writers of historically under-represented and/or marginalized groups from June 16 to September 14, 2026.
We encourage applicants to self-declare in their cover letter if they identify as a writer who is a member of a group or groups experiencing marginalization and/or underrepresentation, (i.e., Black, Indigenous, or Person of Colour, 2SLGBTQA+, or Disability).
On the submission form, in the TITLE space, please list the GENRE of your submission.
Please follow all our regular submission guidelines. https://grainmagazine.ca/submit

Under-represented and/or Marginalized Writers - Fiction

Under-represented and/or Marginalized Writers - Nonfiction

Under-represented and/or Marginalized Writers

Grain is seeking pitches for short book reviews, interviews, and essays on craft.<div><br></div><div>Word Limits</div><div>Book Reviews: 450 words </div><div>Interviews: 900 words </div><div>Essays on Craft: 900 words </div><div><br></div><div>Contributors will paid at our standard page rate of $50 per printed page.</div>

Grain

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Fiction

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