Witness seeks original fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and photography that is innovative in its approach, broad-ranging in its concerns, and unapologetic in its perspective. The magazine blends the features of a literary and an issue-oriented magazine to highlight the role of the modern writer as witness to their times.

Our mission is to amplify extraordinary voices, feature writers from every part of the globe, and highlight pieces that speak to the present moment in an enduring and distinctive way. The magazine seeks to open up conversations surrounding oppression and transcendence, prejudice and compassion, fear and raw honesty. The editorial team is also proud to feature the work of emerging voices alongside that of established writers.

Areej Quraishi

Benjamin Stallings

Lindsay Olson

Witness

Active on social media

Pays! $50 per published piece, whether in the print or online issue

Available in print. All contributors also receive one (1) copy of the issue.

Submission fee (though they have free reading periods)

September: Submissions open for our Spring themed issue (print.) We also open our call for the Witness Literary Awards during this reading period.
January: General submissions open for our Fall/Winter issue (online.) Unthemed.
TBA: Special capsule issues (Summer or Winter Issues). 
We are open in September and January but dates may vary. Check our website and Submittable for details. 
Submission windows are subject to early closure if submissions exceed the maximum number we can consider per issue. Editors may also consider submissions for either issue, depending on the volume and quality of work submitted in a single reading period.

General call

Love in the Time of Racial Reckoning

Devi Maa

This is the End

Witness

Highlights

Publication

How to submit

Tracker statistics

The Submissions Grinder Statistics

About

Masthead