One of Canada's leading literary journals, featuring poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews.

The Malahat Review, established in 1967, is among Canada’s leading literary journals. Published quarterly, it features contemporary Canadian and international works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction as well as reviews of recently published Canadian poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction. On occasion, it also publishes interviews, essays, and issues on a single theme or author.

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

Publications based in Canada that primarily publish Canadian writers, though many accept international submissions as well.

Canadian Magazines

Journals that have published debut stories later selected for this award honoring exceptional first-time published short story writers.

Lit Mags That Have Published PEN/Robert J. Dau Award Winners

These lit mags are some of the titans and mainstays of the lit mag landscape. They've won tons of awards, published tons of people who have gone on to win tons of awards, etc.

Lit Mags with Excellent Reputations

The mags in this list are competitive and publish physical print editions, so you get the satisfaction of seeing your work in print: pocket-sized, book-like, tangible. Way cooler than you'd expect.

Reputable Lit Mags with Print Issues

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

Specialized publications that recognize exceptional brief fiction through Pushcart nominations.

The ultimate ranking of the world's liveliest indie literary magazines, curated by author and editor Charlie Fish. These are the passion projects; the kaleidoscopic cutting edge.

FISH List of Lively Indie Literary Magazines 2025

FISH List of Lively Indie Literary Magazines 2026

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

Lit Mags Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

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

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

Uncover the most competitive literary magazines this year. These are the publications where getting published is a significant achievement for any writer.

Most Competitive Literary Magazines This Year

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

The Malahat Review

short fiction: 1 story per entry, 2,500 words max, word count must be given at the top of the first page.

Malahat Review Open Season Awards

Each entry must be no longer than 4,000 words (please include a word count on the first page).

Constance Rooke Creative Nonfiction Prize

Flash Nonfiction - International Writers

Poetry - International Writers

Flash Fiction - International Writers

poetry: up to 3 poems per entry (must be submitted in a single document), no individual poem more than 100 lines long, line count must be given for each poem.

creative nonfiction: 1 piece per entry, 2,500 words max, word count must be given at the top of the first page.

Nonfiction - International Writers

Fiction - International Writers

Creative nonfiction submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration from January 1 to June 30 each year. Poetry submissions by international (including US) writers are accepted for consideration from February 14 to February 28 or until our submission cap is reached for the month. Writers may submit their work only once per calendar year in any given genre (contests excepted).   
The Malahat Review takes creative nonfiction to be literary writing based in fact; style matters no less than substance, whatever form the writing may take (e.g., the personal essay, memoir, biography, travel writing, historical  account). We are interested in work that offers something more than a straightforward expository essay typically does. We do not accept submissions whose primary purpose is to argue a case, review a literary or art work, or offer an opinion or commentary on someone or something.   

  Submissions of a single previously unpublished work of creative nonfiction may be up to 5,000 words in length.
  Or you may submit one to three pieces of up to 1,000 words each (short creative nonfiction).
  For translated creative nonfiction, translators should include a copy of the original(s) with the submission and supply (or be able to supply) evidence of permission to publish their translations.
  Please make your submission in a single .doc, .docx, or .pdf file (double-spaced and paginated).
  On the first page specify the number of words in each piece submitted.
  Please also include your name (or in the case of translation the author's and translator's names) on the first page of your submission.

In the Title field please insert the title of your story (e.g., Swimming in Sand) or, in the case of shorter submissions, the number of pieces followed by "flash cnf(s)": e.g., 1 flash cnf; 3 flash cnfs. For translations, please include "(in translation)" after the work's title or after the number of flash cnfs: e.g., On Unpacking My Library (in translation) OR 2 short cnfs (in translation).
In the Cover Letter field please include the following information: your name; the title(s) of the piece(s) submitted with a word count (for each), and a short biographical note. For translations, please also note whether you are supplying (or are able to supply) evidence of permission to publish your translations. For statistical purposes, please make sure to indicate your province/state and/or country of origin in your cover letter.
 Response times will vary from one to nine months after the date of submission.

Creative Nonfiction (Canadian Writers)

Poetry submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration from January 1 to June 30 each year. Poetry submissions by international (including US) writers are accepted for consideration from February 14 to February 28 or until our submission cap is reached for the month. Writers may submit their work only once per calendar year in any given genre (contests excepted).   

  Please submit three to five poems in a single .doc, .docx, or .pdf file (up to 10 pages max, single-spaced, with each new poem starting on a separate page).
  Please include your name on the first page of your submission.
  For translated poems, translators should include a copy of the original(s) with the submission and supply (or be able to supply) evidence of permission to publish their translations.
  In the Title field enter "# Poems" (where # is the number of poems being submitted: e.g., 4 Poems). For translations, enter "# Translated Poems" (e.g., 4 Translated Poems).
  In the Cover Letter field, please include your name; the title of each submitted poem with a line count in parentheses after the title (counting from the first line and including stanza or section breaks); and a short biographical note. For translations, please also note whether you are supplying (or are able to supply) evidence of permission to publish your translations. For statistical purposes, please make sure to indicate your province/state and/or country of origin.

 Response times will normally vary from one to six months after the date of submission.

Poetry (Canadian Writers)

Fiction submissions by Canadian writers are accepted for consideration from January 1 to June 30 each year. Poetry submissions by international (including US) writers are accepted for consideration from February 14 to February 28 or until our submission cap is reached for the month. Writers may submit their work only once per calendar year in any given genre (contests excepted).   

  Submissions of previously unpublished short fiction may be up to 8,000 words in length for Canadian writers and up to 4,000 words for international writers.
  No submission may consist of more than one story, unless you are submitting flash fiction.
  Up to three flash fictions (each no longer than 750 words) may be submitted in one submission, and they must be submitted in a single file.
  For translated stories, translators should include a copy of the original(s) with the submission and supply (or be able to supply) evidence of permission to publish their translations.
  Submit your story (stories) in a single .doc, .docx, or .pdf file (double-spaced and paginated).
  On the first page specify the number of words in the story, or stories, submitted.
  Please also include your contact information (name, email address, telephone number) on the first page of your submission.

In the Title field please insert the title of your story (e.g., Head to Toe) or, in the case of flash fiction, the number of stories followed by "flash fiction(s)": e.g., 1 flash fiction; 3 flash fictions. For translations, please include "(in translation)" after the story's title or after the number of flash fictions: e.g., The Nose (in translation) OR 2 flash fictions (in translation).
In the Cover Letter field please also include your name; the title(s) of the story or stories submitted and a word count (for each); and a short biographical note. For translations, please also note whether you are supplying (or are able to supply) evidence of permission to publish your translations. For statistical purposes, please make sure to indicate your province/state and/or country of origin in your cover letter.
 Response times will normally vary from one to nine months after the date of submission.

Fiction (Canadian Writers)

Flash Fiction (Canadian Writers)

Flash Creative Nonfiction (Canadian Writers)

The Malahat Review invites entries for its Far Horizons Award for Poetry.
The contest is open to Canadian and international writers anywhere in the world. Eligible writers have yet to publish their poetry in book form.
DEADLINE: 11:59pm (PDT) on May 1, 2026
One winner will receive a prize of CAD $1,250 and be published in the magazine's fall 2026 issue #236.
Judge:
Kevin Irie
(Please see the contest page on our website for full guidelines and payment info before submitting.)


CAD $25 for each entry from Canada *Early Bird discount until March 31: CAD $15
CAD $35 for each entry from elsewhere *Early Bird discount until March 31: CAD $25
CAD $15 for each additional entry (any writer, any country)

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