We seek to publish a variety of styles and diverse voices, and we are honored to present work by new writers

The Midway is a vibrant neighborhood located off I-94 that borders the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It’s also the home to the Minnesota state fairgrounds. Alive with a mix of energies and people, The Midway is a place of boundary crossing, reflecting our vision for this journal.

Our goal is that Midway Journal act as a bridge between aesthetics (and coasts), and, like any good fair, that it also creates an engaging sense of place for our readers. The work we publish aims to complicate and question the boundaries of genre, binary, and perspective. It offers surprises and ways of re-seeing, re-thinking, and re-feeling: a veritable banquet of literary fare.

Flash fiction meets speculative worlds. Science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, futuristic—anything that transcends reality in very short form.

Speculative Magazines Looking for Flash Fiction

Quality magazines publishing magical realism that also nominate for prizes, accept simultaneous submissions, and maintain under 20% acceptance rates.

Where to Publish Magical Realism

Finding homes for memoir excerpts and personal essays can be tricky. These magazines actively seek out personal narratives and life stories.

Where to Publish Memoir & Essays

Digital publications chosen for Best of the Net. These journals demonstrate consistent excellence in identifying digital fiction that deserves wider recognition and readership.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

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

Publications with ultra-short stories under 400 words selected for this anthology series. The definitive collection for the microfiction form.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Microfiction Anthologies

Digital publications with work selected for inclusion across genres. These journals consistently publish online work of exceptional quality that stands out in the digital literary landscape.

Lit Mags Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Publications with narratives under 1,000 words selected for this anthology series. These journals consistently identify short-short fiction, exemplifying the artistry possible in compact narratives.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Small Fictions 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

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

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

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 chosen for Best of the Net. These journals consistently publish digital essays and memoirs that exemplify the best of what's possible in online creative nonfiction.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

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

Digital publications with poems chosen for Best of the Net. These journals consistently identify exceptional verse that represents the highest quality of poetry published online.

Poetry Mags Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Midway Journal

Enter Midway Journal’s Action/Words Poetry Contest for a chance to win the $300 grand prize!
verb: “to face”

 
First Prize: $300 + publication in Midway Journal
Second Prize: $150 + publication in Midway Journal
Third Prize: $50 + publication in Midway Journal
Fee: $10 per entry (unlimited entries)
Judge: Leah Umansky
Contest Guidelines:
Action/Words Poetry Contest seeks submissions that call for, enact, or reflect upon connections between poetry and praxis. Each fall, the Midway team will select a verb to serve as the “action word” and theme for that year’s contest. This year, we have selected the verb “to face.” We welcome writers to submit poems that respond directly or indirectly to the various meanings of this term.
Paste the title of your submission and your bio and contact information (name, mailing address, email address, etc.) in the appropriate box. Your name and contact information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript you upload.
Previously published work will not be accepted. Simultaneous submissions are permitted but must be withdrawn from the contest if accepted elsewhere.
Poetry: up to 3 poems per entry. Any style (including prose poems, erasure, formal verse, experimental). No word limits. No more than one poem per page.
All submissions will be considered for publication.
You may submit an unlimited number of entries, but a new entry fee must be paid for each new submission.

Action/Words Poetry Contest: $300 1st prize

Entries and payments must be received through Midway Journal‘s online submission manager under “-1000 Below: Flash Prose and Poetry Contest.” You may submit an unlimited number of entries, but a new entry fee must be paid for each new submission. You may also submit to each genre. However, there is only one grand prize winner, one second prize winner and one third prize winner and not a winner in each genre.

Paste the title of your submission and your contact information (name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address) in the cover letter box. Your name and contact information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript you upload.

Previously published work will not be accepted. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but must be withdrawn from the contest if accepted elsewhere.

Poetry: up to 2 poems per entry, up to 50 words per poem. No more than one poem per page.

1000 Below: Flash Prose And Poetry Contest for Flash  2025

Entries and payments must be received through Midway Journal‘s online submission manager under “-1000 Below: Flash Prose and Poetry Contest.” You may submit an unlimited number of entries, but a new entry fee must be paid for each new submission. You may also submit to each genre. However, there is only one grand prize winner, one second prize winner and one third prize winner and not a winner in each genre.

Paste the title of your submission and your contact information (name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address) in the cover letter box. Your name and contact information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript you upload.

Previously published work will not be accepted. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but must be withdrawn from the contest if accepted elsewhere.

Prose (Fiction and Nonfiction): 1 piece per entry, up to 1,000 words per piece.

1000 Below: Flash Prose And Poetry Contest

For today, Saturday, January 10th 2026, you can use this link for half off the original contest fee. 
All other contest guidelines and awards apply. 
Enter Midway Journal’s Action/Words Poetry Contest for a chance to win the $300 grand prize!
verb: “to face” 
First Prize: $300 + publication in Midway Journal
Second Prize: $150 + publication in Midway Journal
Third Prize: $50 + publication in Midway Journal
Fee: $5 per entry (unlimited entries while offer lasts)
Judge: Leah Umansky
Contest Guidelines:
Action/Words Poetry Contest seeks submissions that call for, enact, or reflect upon connections between poetry and praxis. Each fall, the Midway team will select a verb to serve as the “action word” and theme for that year’s contest. This year, we have selected the verb “to face.” We welcome writers to submit poems that respond directly or indirectly to the various meanings of this term.
Paste the title of your submission and your bio and contact information (name, mailing address, email address, etc.) in the appropriate box. Your name and contact information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript you upload.
Previously published work will not be accepted. Simultaneous submissions are permitted but must be withdrawn from the contest if accepted elsewhere.
Poetry: up to 3 poems per entry. Any style (including prose poems, erasure, formal verse, experimental). No word limits. No more than one poem per page.
All submissions will be considered for publication.
You may submit an unlimited number of entries, but a new entry fee must be paid for each new submission.

Action/Words Poetry Contest—Half Off Contest Fee.

Please send 1 piece of fiction, or 2 pieces of flash or micro fiction, during open submission period. 
There are no page limits or word counts set for individual submissions (however, that being said, since we are an online publication, we tend to select shorter works—under 7000 words—because of the medium). 
Simultaneous submissions permitted, just let us know if the work is accepted elsewhere. 
Previously published work is not accepted. 
Manuscripts should be 12 point font and double-spaced.

Fiction (general submissions)

Essay, Creative Nonfiction
Please send one essay or up to two flash nonfiction pieces at a time.

Nonfiction (general submissions)

Artists: Please submit up to 6 images. We want to get sense of the range or you work. Plus, we normally publish 4-6 images by an artist in any given issue. We publish painting, print making, 3-D art, photography, music, graphic art.
Interviews: Our best advice, read an issue or two to get a sense of which authors and which books our readers might be interested in learning more about (up to 6000 words).
Ephemera: Surprise us. Have you written something that doesn’t fit or openly defies genre style? Have an old stack of grocery lists where purchasing patterns started to look like a new genre of writing? Send it our way. 
Multi-media/multi-genre: Murals, collabs, book art, performance art, photo essays, graphic novels, anything that distorts or bends boundaries.

Art/Ephemera/Multi Genre/Interview

- Please send 3-5 poems / no more than 10 pages in a single document.

 - No previously published work.

 - Simultaneous submissions are welcome, if you notify us immediately if poems are accepted elsewhere.  Poetry has a fairly fast turnaround, so please be respectful of this request.  If you need to withdraw a single poem from a group, please send us a message via the Submittable system, rather than send an email, as these can get lost in the shuffle.

  	- Please submit no more than once per reading period, unless invited to do so otherwise.

  	- We appreciate a cover letter that includes a brief bio.

Poetry (general submissions)

Enter Midway Journal’s -1000 Below: Flash Prose and Poetry Contest, for a chance to win the $500 grand prize, $250 second prize, or $50 third prize! See contest guidelines below.
Paste the title of your submission and your contact information (name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and genre of submission) in the cover letter box. Your name and contact information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript you upload.
You may submit unlimited entries, but a new entry fee must be paid for each new submission. Previously published work will not be accepted. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but must be withdrawn from the contest if accepted elsewhere.
Poetry: up to 2 poems per entry. Not more than one poem per page. Maximum of 55 words per poem. (Any style/format--we even accept erasure)
Prose (Fiction, Nonfiction, Prose Poetry): 1 piece per entry, up to 1,000 words.

Midway Journal

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Fiction (general submissions)

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