Bold and Weird - Best Lit Mags of 2025

A quarterly art and literary magazine celebrating all things fantastic and fantastically strange.

Founded in 2023, Moonday Mag is a quarterly, speculative art and literary magazine dedicated to celebrating all things fantastic and fantastically strange. Born in the place that rests between here and the uncanny valley, Moonday Mag wonders what else might be out there, beyond the veil. From sci-fi to fantasy, to the horrors only a quiet mind can imagine, to the witching hour caught on camera in 35mm, Moonday Mag wants it all and welcomes all.

Out of 3,264 votes, these lit mags came out on top in 2025 as the best lit mags for experimental work.

Basically what it says in the title. Our top most bookmarked fee-free lit mags that nominate for the Pushcart Prize.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize (and Don’t Charge Fees)

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

Speculative Magazines Looking for Flash Fiction

Forgot about National Poetry Month? Don't miss these reading periods before April ends. Here are all our favorite lit mags closing on April 30th / May 1st for that sweet, sweet last-minute sub rush.

Where to Submit for National Poetry Month (at the Eleventh Hour)

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

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

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

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Explore the all-time most competitive speculative fiction literary magazines. These magazines are revered in the fiction world for their editorial rigor.

Most Competitive Speculative Fiction Magazines of All Time

Explore the most competitive speculative fiction literary magazines this year. These magazines are revered in the fiction world for their editorial rigor.

Most Competitive Speculative Fiction 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

Check out the all-time most popular speculative fiction literary magazines. These publications have a long-standing reputation for quality speculative fiction.

Most Popular Speculative Fiction 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

Moonday Mag

Moonday Mag is a speculative magazine that welcomes all writers and artists, both established and emerging, and especially seeks to uplift marginalized voices.<div><br></div><div>We're interested in work that is surreal, wondrous, macabre, fantastic, curious, strange, otherworldly, moody, chilling, and smart.&nbsp;Please send along anything&nbsp;that feels like a dream—something that will keep us up at night, in the best way possible. We want to fall into your world and never find our way back out.&nbsp;We want to feel grounded in your radical magic.</div><div><br></div><div>Please submit (1) piece of non-fiction, under 4,000 words, in standard manuscript formatting.</div><div><br></div><div>For complete guidelines and guidance in what we hope to receive: moondaymag.com/submissions</div>

CNF — Personal Essays, Dreams, Journal Entries, Alien Abductions & MORE!

Moonday Mag is a speculative magazine that welcomes all writers and artists, both established and emerging, and especially seeks to uplift marginalized voices.<div><br></div><div>We're interested in work that is surreal, wondrous, macabre, fantastic, curious, strange, otherworldly, moody, chilling, and smart.&nbsp;Please send along anything&nbsp;that feels like a dream—something that will keep us up at night, in the best way possible. We want to fall into your world and never find our way back out.&nbsp;We want to feel grounded in your radical magic.</div><div><br></div><div>Please submit up to 3 poems not exceeding 5 pages collectively.</div>

Speculative Poetry

Moonday Mag is a speculative magazine that welcomes all writers and artists, both established and emerging, and especially seeks to uplift marginalized voices.<div><br></div><div>We're interested in work that is surreal, wondrous, macabre, fantastic, curious, strange, otherworldly, moody, chilling, and smart.&nbsp;Please send along anything&nbsp;that feels like a dream—something that will keep us up at night, in the best way possible. We want to fall into your world and never find our way back out.&nbsp;We want to feel grounded in your radical magic.</div><div><br></div><div>Please submit up to 10 images, preferably in 300 DPI or the highest quality available.</div>

Haunting, Surreal, & Strange Visual Art & Photography

Moonday Mag is a speculative magazine that welcomes all writers and artists, both established and emerging, and especially seeks to uplift marginalized voices.<div><br></div><div>We're interested in work that is surreal, wondrous, macabre, fantastic, curious, strange, otherworldly, moody, chilling, and smart. Please send along anything that feels like a dream—something that will keep us up at night, in the best way possible. We want to fall into your world and never find our way back out. We want to feel grounded in your radical magic.</div><div><br></div><div>Please submit (1) piece of fiction, under 4,000 words, in standard manuscript formatting.</div><div><br></div><div>For complete guidelines and guidance in what we hope to receive: moondaymag.com/submissions</div>

Speculative Literary Fiction — Magical Realism, Surrealism, Horror, Fantasy, Scifi & MORE!

Moonday Mag is a speculative magazine that welcomes all writers and artists, both established and emerging, and especially seeks to uplift marginalized voices.<div><br></div><div>We're interested in work that is surreal, wondrous, macabre, fantastic, curious, strange, otherworldly, moody, chilling, and smart.&nbsp;Please send along anything&nbsp;that feels like a dream—something that will keep us up at night, in the best way possible. We want to fall into your world and never find our way back out.&nbsp;We want to feel grounded in your radical magic.</div><div><br></div><div>Please submit (1) book review, under 1,000 words, in standard manuscript formatting. If you've read something very strange lately (new or old), we want to hear about it!</div>

Book Reviews — Horror, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Magical Realism, Weird Lit & MORE

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Moonday Mag! We truly could not do this without the hard work of our small army of volunteer fabulists.<div><br><div>Our ideal candidates are spooky, weird, English Lit students or professors (but not required!) with mature tastes and voice, who are passionate about finding the best new speculative writing. They love horror, but also mermaids. They are self-motivated. If this sounds like you, please review our current openings below, and details on how to apply.</div><div><br></div><div>Reader applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; if you don't hear back right away, we may still reach out to you in the future when our needs have changed. Please note that we don't formally offer an internship, but we're happy to fulfill that requirement with a volunteer role (if your institution allows).</div></div>

Fiction/non-fiction reader for speculative magazine

Poetry reader for speculative magazine

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Moonday Mag! We truly could not do this without the hard work of our small army of volunteer fabulists.<div><br></div><div>We are seeking a book reviewer to keep us up to date on what we should be adding to our TBRs! No assignments, just reviews on what you would already otherwise be reading. At least 1 review per month, as in-depth as you'd like.</div><div><div><br><div>Our ideal candidates are spooky, weird, English Lit students or professors (but not required!) with mature tastes and voice, who are passionate about finding the best new speculative writing. They love horror, but also mermaids. They are self-motivated.</div></div></div>

Book reviewer/contributing editor for speculative magazine (online)

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Moonday Mag! We truly could not do this without the hard work of our small army of volunteer fabulists.<div><br></div><div><div><div>We are seeking an outreach coordinator to help take Moonday Mag off the page and into the real world! We want someone who community organizes in their sleep. Someone whose resume says "fosters inclusivity" and really means it.</div></div></div>

Moonday Mag

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Book Reviews — Horror, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Magical Realism, Weird Lit & MORE

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