Since launching in January of 2019, Sunspot Literary Journal has amplified diverse multinational voices. New works have been published in their original language side-by-side with English translations.

Sunspots are areas of lower temperatures that appear on the sun's surface. Because of the sun's brilliance, sunspots are not visible to the naked eye. Compare that to the blinding static many publishers use when marketing celebrity rehab stories. The unique and creative get lost. 

Hearing Every Voice
Sunspot Literary Journal was founded to cut through the blinding flashes. The publications present writing that is meaningful. Writing created by individuals who might not have a large social media following, but who still have something important to say.

Writing a New World
Here at Sunspot, we believe in the power of the written word. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry and art can speak truth to power with the power inherent in all human beings. Our mission is to amplify every voice.

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

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

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

Most Competitive Literary Magazines of All Time

Sunspot Lit

We accept all types of artwork including, but not limited to, collage, multimedia, miniatures, digital images, and video stills. Using this form, submit between three to five images total. Please note that a single file with multiple images will be considered a single artwork and will be reviewed as such. So, a file with multiple photographs will be reviewed as if it is a single image where all the photos are to be taken as a whole rather than judged individually. 
Feel free to submit multiple times during the same open call period.

Art, 3 to 5 images

Need to hear back quickly? Use this form to receive a response in one week for prose or art, or two weeks or less for poetry. Submit any category or type of work here.The lowest fee allows you to submit artwork (a total of two images) or very short prose and poetry. Longer prose and poetry submissions, up to novella form, can also be submitted by selecting the appropriate fee from the dropdown menu.  Be sure to select the correct fee option based on length. Incorrect fee selection will result in rejection without consideration.

Fast Flux (1-2 week response) 2026

Need to hear back quickly? Use this form to receive a response in one week for prose or art, or two weeks or less for poetry. Submit any category or type of work here.The lowest fee allows you to submit artwork (a total of two images) or very short prose and poetry. Longer prose and poetry submissions, up to novella form, can also be submitted by selecting the appropriate fee from the dropdown menu.  

Be sure to select the correct fee option based on length. Incorrect fee selection will result in rejection without consideration.

Single works of fiction or nonfiction, including scripts and screenplays, from 7,501 words up to 17,500 words should be submitted using this form. 

Graphic novels should be 26 to 40 pages. 

A single poem between 11 and 15 pages is also accepted. 

Collections are not accepted for this open call. 

Submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be declined without review.

Very longform fiction, CNF, poetry

Single works of fiction or nonfiction, including scripts and screenplays, between 3,501 and 7,500 words can be submitted here. 
Graphic novels should run 11 to 25 pages. 
A single poem of 4 to 10 single-spaced pages (30 lines per page) is accepted here.
Please do not mix formats (for example, submitting a graphic novel and a poem in the same file). Also note that collections are not accepted in this open call. 
Submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be declined without review.

Longform Fiction, CNF, Poetry, Graphic Novel 2026

We accept all types of fiction and nonfiction including essays, memoir, travel, teleplays, film and stage scripts. Using this form, submit a single work of fiction or nonfiction up to 3,500 words. Graphic novels should run 5 to 10 pages. In your cover letter, please indicate length and whether the piece is fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. 
Note that submissions that do not meet the guidelines will be declined without review. 
Do feel free to submit in separate categories by using the same form any number of times.

Short Fiction, CNF, Graphic Novel 2026

We accept all types of prose including essays, memoir, travel, teleplays, film and stage scripts. Using this form, submit:
 One or two pieces of flash fiction or nonfiction; total length of submission not to exceed 1,000 words
 OR
 Up to three poems, each poem starting on a new single-spaced page; max 30 lines per page; total submission not to exceed three pages
 OR
 A graphic novel of 1 to 4 pages
 OR
 Artwork; total of two images
 In your cover letter, please indicate length and whether the piece is fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. 
 Please do not mix submission formats (for example, provide one poem and one flash piece as a single entry). Mixed submissions will be rejected without review. 
 Note that submissions that do not meet the guidelines will be declined without review. 
 Do feel free to submit in separate categories by using the same form any number of times.

Flash, Poetry, Graphic Novel or Art 2026

Sunspot Lit's Angel Leya is now offering feedback on genre fiction, with a particular emphasis on novel excerpts. She specializes in fantasy and paranormal, with experience in light sci-fi, contemporary romance, and YA.
For works up to 5,000 words, you will receive a few paragraphs (about half a single-spaced page) of comments intended to strengthen your work. For works up to 12,500 words, you'll receive around a full single-spaced page of comments. NOTE: Please do not request advice on where or how to submit work for publication, as this type of guidance is beyond the scope of the feedback on offer.
Submissions are capped each month, and the form will shut off once the cap is reached. 
Angel Leya is the coauthor of the USA Today bestselling book, Shifted (Siren Prophecy series), with over 12 additional novels, novellas, and short stories to her name. She’s been published in  several anthologies, including Fiddlehead Press and The Alliance of YA Authors.
She reads avidly (and writes) in the fantasy and paranormal genres, but she also has a soft spot for a good light sci fi or contemporary romance. Angel specializes in giving practical advice, with a bent toward characterization and dialog, as well as word flow, breaks in logic, and hooks.
Using this form, submit one story or excerpt. Submit as many times as you like using a new submission form for each story or excerpt.

Fiction Feedback 2026

Authors & Artists Eligible

 
Rigel is the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Sunspot Lit is looking for the single short story, novel, novella, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that outshines all the rest. Literary or genre works accepted; the only requirement is quality. 
Rigel offers $100 plus publication to the winner, and offers publication to select finalists. No restrictions on theme or category. The length for prose is restricted to a maximum of 1,500 words for short stories, 14 lines for poetry, and 6 pages for graphic novels/comics/scripts/screenplays. 
Excerpts from longer works are eligible. An excerpt selected as the winner or as a finalist will be offered publication only for the submitted sample.
Titles do not count toward the limit for any prose piece. Epigraphs are included in the word count. Artwork should consist of a single piece. 
Open: February 1
Close: February 28
Entry fee: $5
Prize: $100 cash and publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists. 
Sunspot asks for first rights only; all rights revert to the contributor after publication. Works, along with the creators’ bylines, are published in the next quarterly digital edition an average of two months after contest completion, as well as in the annual print edition. 
Works should be unpublished except on a personal blog or website. Artists offered publication may display their pieces in galleries, festivals or shows throughout the publication contract period.  
Enter as many times as you like, but only one piece per submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please withdraw your piece if it is published elsewhere before the winner is selected.

Rigel 2026: $100 for fiction, CNF, poem, art - Fiction

Rigel 2026: $100 for fiction, CNF, poem, art - Nonfiction

Rigel 2026: $100 for fiction, CNF, poem, art - Poetry

Rigel 2026: $100 for fiction, CNF, poem, art - Multimedia

Authors & Artists Eligible
Beginnings have the power to spark passion or curiosity. They might immediately connect a specific place and time with an emotional tone. The best openings offer a feeling, atmosphere, action, or image that is gripping, and hints at more to come. A poem handles this differently than a flash piece, which handles an opening differently than a novel. The first photo, painting or frame presented in a gallery, series, or graphic novel strives for the same intent. Openings contain a spark that promises to burn.
For Sunspot Lit’s current Inception contest, send your best opening. There are no restrictions on theme, category, or the length of the piece or collection from which the excerpt comes. Word limit is 250 for prose, 25 words for poetry.
Graphic novel and comic book entries should be the first page (unlimited number of panels on that page) with a maximum of 250 words (cut the number of panels in order to meet the word count, if needed).
Art entries should be the first in a series, the first in a gallery lineup, the first in a themed collection, etc. Entries are limited to one image of a painting, sculpture, mixed media form, collage, or other artwork.
Open: March 1
Close: April 30
Entry fee: $5
Prize: $100 cash plus publication for the winner. Publication will be offered to runners-up and finalists.
All fees are final and nonrefundable. Revised entries can be made by withdrawing the original entry and resubmitting, paying a new fee for the new submission.
Sunspot asks for first rights only; all rights revert to the contributor after publication. Works, along with the creators’ bylines, are published in the next digital edition.
Works should be unpublished except on a personal blog or website. Artists offered publication may display their pieces in galleries, festivals or shows throughout the publication contract period.
Enter as many times as you like, but only one piece per submission. Submission files that contain multiple pieces will be disqualified without review. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please withdraw your piece if it is published elsewhere before the winner is selected.

Inception

Single works of fiction or nonfiction, including scripts and screenplays, from 29,001 to 49,000 words should be submitted using this form.
Graphic novels should run between 51 and 100 pages.
A single poem between 86 and 105 pages is also accepted.
Story, essay, and poetry collections are not accepted in this category.
Submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be declined without review.

Novella-length Fiction

Novella-length CNF

Single works of fiction or nonfiction, including scripts and screenplays, from 17,501 to 29,000 words should be submitted using this form.
Graphic novels should run 41 to 85 pages.
A single poem between 16 and 20 pages is also accepted.
Story, essay, and poetry collections are not accepted in this category.
Submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be declined without review.

Sunspot Lit

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Featured Call

Short Fiction, CNF, Graphic Novel 2026

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