Best Poetry Lit Mags of 2024

We publish social change. We mobilize today’s artists and writers to do good.


An award-winning literary journal that generates interactive conversations around poetry through art and accessible programs. 

Lucky Jefferson is proud to feature writers who have never been published, routinely excluded perspectives, and those who sought to pursue writing later in life.

Community Favorites: Our 2024 Best Lit Mag Awards winners for poetry, selected entirely by community vote. Over 500 magazines nominated with thousands of votes cast.

Quality magazines that compensate writers and don't charge submission fees. Supporting writers financially from both ends of the transaction? Hell yeah.

Lit Mags That Pay & Don't Charge Fees

Main characters publish in them, read them, and run them! Please note this list is far from exhaustive. All poets have main character energy, honestly.

Poetry Magazines with Main Character Energy

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

Online publications putting forward exceptional short stories for Best of the Net.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

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

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Specialized publications that recognize exceptional brief fiction through Pushcart nominations.

Digital publications advancing very short fiction for Best of the Net consideration.

Flash Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Looking for balance between prestige and accessibility? These magazines are competitive but attainable for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writers.

Literary Magazines in the Sweet Spot

Best Microfiction, edited by Meg Pokrass and Gary Fincke, celebrates the art of the extremely brief narrative. These publications have editorial teams with particular sensitivity to the craft.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Microfiction

A curated selection of publications that regularly submit work to this prestigious annual anthology showcasing 50 poems from emerging writers.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best New Poets

Identifies publications that put forward outstanding online work for this respected digital anthology established in 2006.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications that nominate work for this respected anthology series founded in 2015 by Tara Masih to celebrate fiction under 1,000 words.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Small Fictions

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

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

These magazines have the fastest response times, so you won't be left hanging for months. No more endless waiting. Just, you know, regular waiting.

Literary Magazines with the Fastest Response Times

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

Digital publications nominating outstanding essays and creative nonfiction for Best of the Net.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

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

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Online journals that specifically champion poetry for Best of the Net consideration.

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

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

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Lucky Jefferson

Little Jefferson
 
 
Calling all kiddos and teens aspiring to become writers or pursue the arts when they grow up! 
Little Jefferson is Lucky Jefferson's way of creating spaces and opportunities for youth ages 9-13 to explore and deepen their joy of writing and grow as young artists. 
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website.
 
 
 When submitting:
 
• Send no more than three poems or one story in a submission.  Use titles or page breaks to separate poems.
• Include a short cover page highlighting the young poet’s name, email address (if applicable), bio, and mailing address. Biographical statements should be 2-3 sentences or 50-75 words—have fun with this and tell us something we'd never know!

 
Parents/Guardians/Teachers/Youth Organizations are allowed to submit on their child's behalf.

 
**We do not accept translations or work that has been previously published in print or online.**

 
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 ​
     We encourage you to donate with your submission to help us keep this ship sailing. Your contribution fuels the publication of Lucky Jefferson as we are a budding independent journal with an all-volunteer staff.​
 
 To keep things fair, previously accepted poets may only submit once each calendar year.

Little Jefferson (For Youth Ages 9-13)

Lucky Jefferson happily accepts unso­licited sub­mis­sions of poetry year-round (or until 600 submissions are received that year) into its 365 Collection, a 100% digital collection of poetry and other literature. 

Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website and social media account(s).

Writers looking to be published in upcoming print issues should plan to submit their work to the appropriate form during open calls.


365 Collection [Flash Fiction]

You know what’s happening. You know about the injustices in the world, the abuse of power, and the suffering it causes. But you also know about the people resisting—those putting themselves on the line to confront the problem. You know those who gather, fight, and push for a better life.

Estallido is about social outbreaks: what leads to them, the people in the front and the back of them, those who can only join in spirit, the fighting spirit that sustains them, and most importantly, the change they can bring.

We want to see pieces that show your fighting spirit—moments when that spirit faltered but rose again, your support for others fighting the fight, and your voice in these times of outbreaks.

We have never been quiet, but together, we can be louder.

(Prose Poetry)

Estallido

Calling all kiddos and teens aspiring to become writers or pursue the arts when they grow up! 

Little Jefferson is Lucky Jefferson's way of creating spaces and opportunities for youth ages 9-13 to explore and deepen their joy of writing and grow as young artists. 

Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website.

Include a short cover page highlighting the young poet’s name, email address (if applicable), bio, and mailing address. 

Biographical statements should be 2-3 sentences or 50-75 words—have fun with this and tell us something we'd never know!

*Parents/Guardians/Teachers/Youth Organizations are allowed to submit on their child's behalf.*

(Children, Young Adult, Hybrid)

Little Jefferson

365 Collection [Creative NonFiction]

Lucky Jefferson is excited to announce its second Poetry and Prose Summer contest! 

Why are we doing this? We believe writers deserve opportunities like this (and so much more), and one core part of our mission includes being the difference. 

Many contests charge fees to enter or make writers and artists jump through hoops with no real return. We want to change that. 
 
- For starters, it's free to enter or submit.
- You'll have 2 months to submit any original and unpublished poetry and prose you want. 
- Up to 20 finalists will receive publication in Lucky Jefferson's digital 365 Collection. 
- Two of those finalists (one poetry and one prose) will each receive $100, publication, and a swag box. 
 
**Ahmad Almallah is the judge for this contest. Learn more about him and our contest here: https://luckyjefferson.com/poetry-prose-contest/

(Prose Poetry)

2025 Poetry & Prose Contest

Lucky Jefferson is excited to announce its second Poetry and Prose Summer contest! 

Why are we doing this? We believe writers deserve opportunities like this (and so much more), and one core part of our mission includes being the difference. 

Many contests charge fees to enter or make writers and artists jump through hoops with no real return. We want to change that. 
 
- For starters, it's free to enter or submit.
- You'll have 2 months to submit any original and unpublished poetry and prose you want. 
- Up to 20 finalists will receive publication in Lucky Jefferson's digital 365 Collection. 
- Two of those finalists (one poetry and one prose) will each receive $100, publication, and a swag box. 
 
**Ahmad Almallah is the judge for this contest. Learn more about him and our contest here: https://luckyjefferson.com/poetry-prose-contest/

2025 Poetry & Prose Contest (copy)

In collaboration with currently incarcerated artist Juan Hernandez, Bond invites currently and previously incarcerated individuals, as well as those connected to them, to share creative works that explore the unconventional relationships shaped by incarceration. 

This could include connections to objects, communal ties, or bonds formed within the carceral system.

Participants—including friends, family, and pen pals—are encouraged to submit poetry, essays, comics, graphic art, and more to share stories that reveal the human need for connection.

Bond

Upcoming Issue, Bond
 
In collaboration with currently incarcerated artist Juan Hernandez, Bond invites currently and previously incarcerated individuals, as well as those connected to them, to share creative works that explore the unconventional relationships shaped by incarceration. 
This could include connections to objects, communal ties, or bonds formed within the carceral system.
Participants—including friends, family, and pen pals—are encouraged to submit poetry, essays, comics, graphic art, and more to share stories that reveal the human need for connection.

 ________

 PAYMENT (UPON ACCEPTANCE):
Selected works that align with the theme will receive a $30 honorarium. The deadline is rolling, or until we gather enough pieces to create a printable publication.
 
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our website, in print, and will be eligible to be publicized on social media.  Accepted writers and artists will receive a payout of $30, for each accepted submission. 
 
________


We encourage you to donate with your submission. Your contribution fuels the publication of Lucky Jefferson as we are a growing independent publication with an all-volunteer staff.​    
 
 ________
 
 
 *Please visit https://luckyjefferson.com/submit for important info should your work be accepted*

Issue 17: "Bond" [for currently/previously incarcerated individuals]

The 365 Collection Lucky Jefferson happily accepts unso­licited sub­mis­sions of poetry year-round (or until 600 submissions are received that year) into it

"365 Collection" Submission

            'Awake' (A Zine for Black Writers & Artists): Issue 8, LOUD
                Ends on
         PLEASE REVIEW IN FULL BEFORE SUBMITTING
Writing allows us to imagine a world where oppression and trauma don’t exist. And there is a reality where we are not defined by our trauma(s), but through our power. And you’re invited to be a part of that.
 Awake is a digital zine and collection of work by Black writers and artists that explores the power we each hold. Awake, [Issue 8], will be in print!
Use the prompt below to complete your submission:
 LOUD is a forthcoming issue celebrating the full range of Black voices. Our slang, our codes, our humor, our tenderness, our rhythm, and the everyday language that carries our history. Across the diaspora, the way we speak is a place of belonging. It is a record of who we come from and who we are becoming.
This issue invites Black writers and artists to honor the words, phrases, sounds, and speech patterns that shaped you. Maybe it is the way your cousins talk on the porch, the wisdom in your grandmother’s stories, the neighborhood jokes that only make sense if you grew up there, or the musicality of your friends' conversations. Whatever form it takes, we welcome work that celebrates the sound of us in all its brilliance.
All creative expressions are welcome (poetry, creative nonfiction, photography, audio transcripts, visual art, hybrid forms, and more).
PAYMENT (UPON ACCEPTANCE):
$25 — Haiku, Short Poems (<14 lines), Micro Fiction (under 100-300 words)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
$35 — Prose, Short Story, Flash fiction, Creative-Nonfiction, Hybrid/Experimental (under 1000 words)
SUBMIT NO MORE THAN 1 PIECE PER UPLOAD
$50 — All Artwork (includes photography, comics, paintings, etc.)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
Upon acceptance, submissions will be included on our websiteand in print and will be eligible for publicization on social media.
Accepted authors will receive a payout of $25, $35, or $50, each accepted submission.
——————————————
We do not accept work that has been previously published in print or online.
—————————————— ​    *
*We encourage you to donate with your submission. Your contribution fuels the publication of Lucky Jefferson, as we are a growing independent publication with a mostly volunteer staff.​
 **Previously accepted poets/writers should wait 2 quarters, or two issues, from the time of acceptance, before submitting new work to any open call.**

'Awake' (A Zine for Black Writers & Artists): Issue 8, LOUD 

 Upcoming Print Issue, Paradox 
What happens when you look closely at the strangeness of daily life? Paradox is an exploration of the everyday. It is a place where curiosities, absurdities, social tensions, and impossible what‑ifs sit side by side. It is a way of looking closely at the bizarre logic of our all‑encompassing reality and translating that attention into writing or art. 
Inspired by the work of our Summer 2022 Literary Illustrators, this issue invites you to examine the contradictions that shape daily life and respond with work that questions, unsettles, delights, or reveals something true.
Concepts your work may explore:
∙ Information overload and uncertainty
∙ Digital intimacy and digital distance
∙ Climate anxiety and everyday joy
∙ Economic precarity and creative resilience
∙ Community care in a time of institutional failure
∙ Identity in flux
∙ The surreal nature of the news cycle
∙ Hope as contradiction
∙ The politics of the everyday
∙ Memory versus documentation      
 
Need INSPO: Use our student zine (that inspired this issue) to spark new ideas!
 
 ________

 

PAYMENT (UPON ACCEPTANCE):
 

$25 — Haiku, Short Poems (<14 lines), Micro Fiction (under 100-300 words)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD
 
$35 — Prose, Short Story, Flash fiction, Creative-Nonfiction, Hybrid/Experimental (under 1000 words)
SUBMIT NO MORE THAN 1 PIECE PER UPLOAD
 
$50 — All Artwork (includes photography, comics, paintings, etc.)
SUBMIT UP TO 3 PIECES PER UPLOAD

Paradox

Poetry & Prose Summer Contest 
Lucky Jefferson is excited to announce its annual literary contest! 
Why are we doing this? We believe writers and artists deserve opportunities like this (and so much more), and one core part of our mission includes being the difference. Many contests charge fees to enter or make writers and artists jump through hoops with no real return. We want to change that.       
For starters, it's free to enter or submit.
You'll have 1 month to submit any original and unpublished poetry and prose you want. 
10 finalists will receive publication in Lucky Jefferson's digital 365 Collection. 
Two finalists from that group (one poetry and one prose) will each receive $200 and publication.    
4 Community Judges. Learn more about them and our contest here.
 ________ 
When submitting: 
- Send no more than 1 poem or 1 prose piece in a submission. Poems should be < than 14 lines and prose < than 1,000 words. 
 - Keep it short and sweet. Share your name, email address, mailing address, and bio (third-person, 50 words max).             
- No work that has been previously published in print or online. Please no AI-generated work.         
*We will not tolerate any work that promotes harmful stereotypes and perspectives including: racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, ableism.
 ________ 
*Please visit https://luckyjefferson.com/poetry-prose-contest/ for important info should your work be accepted*

Lucky Jefferson

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