X-R-A-Y Literary Magazine’s vision is to publish uncomfortable, entertaining, and unforgettable prose that shines brighter than the skeleton in your body, prose that sees through the skin and reveals something deeper

We work hard to give our readers the best authors on the planet. 

We publish two new stories per week. Special and Quarterly Issues are published throughout the year.

Prestigious publications that strengthen your literary credentials, signaling serious accomplishment and catching attention from editors and agents.

Impressive Bylines for Your Literary Bio

Your life flashing before your eyes in brief glimpses. These magazines want short-short memoir—snapshots, fragments, and compressed life stories.

Lit Mags That Want Short & Sweet Memoir

For those of us whose minds work in layers, footnotes, and beautiful tangents. Thoughtful publications for thoughtful writers.

Lit Mags for Beautiful Overthinkers

Publications with stories in this respected annual flash fiction showcase. Perhaps the most prestigious flash-specific recognition.

Lit Mags in Wigleaf's Top 50

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

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

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

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

These magazines have the fastest response times, so you won't be left hanging for months. No more endless waiting. Just, you know, regular waiting.

Literary Magazines with the Fastest Response Times

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

X-R-A-Y

GENERAL GUIDELINES
We want prose only. No poetry, please.
Wait until you hear from us before you submit again.
You may submit your work elsewhere, no problem.
We shoot for a response time of 4-8 weeks.
We'd love for you to look around before submitting. Have at it.
GRITTY BITS 'N' BOBS
By submitting to us, if accepted, you grant us first electronic rights and non-exclusive archival rights.
All submissions remain the intellectual property of the artist. Rights revert to author upon publication.
We'd love if you'd credit us if your work first appeared here.
Work previously published in print only welcome if in no violation of original rights.
You'll feel really good if you check out these kick-ass authors.
Exposure to the website carries a small risk of radiation poisoning. We suggest wearing a lead apron while submitting.
MICRO FICTION
Your editors: Chris Dankland
Submit one to three pieces—each no more than 300 words—in one document, please.
Micros can be fiction, nonfiction, and beyond. ("I don't know what that means.")
Wait until you hear from us before you submit again.
You may simultaneously submit your work elsewhere, no problem.
We shoot for a response time of ~4 weeks.
We'd love for you to look around before submitting. Have at it.

X-R-A-Y Micro - up to 300 words - Fiction

X-R-A-Y Micro - up to 300 words - Nonfiction

GENERAL GUIDELINES 

  We want prose only. No poetry, please.  
  Wait until you hear from us before you submit again.
  You may submit your work elsewhere, no problem.
  We shoot for a response time of 1-8 weeks.
  We're kind about it, but genre fiction might find a better home elsewhere.
  We'd love for you to look around before submitting. Have at it.

 
GRITTY BITS 'N' BOBS 

  By submitting to us, if accepted, you grant us first electronic rights and non-exclusive archival rights.
  All submissions remain the intellectual property of the artist. Rights revert to author upon publication.
  We'd love if you'd credit us if your work first appeared here.
  Work previously published in print only welcome if in no violation of original rights.
  You'll feel really good if you check out these kick-ass authors.
  Exposure to the website carries a small risk of radiation poisoning. We suggest wearing a lead apron while submitting. 

 
CREATIVE NONFICTION
Your editors: Jo Varnish and Michael Todd Cohen
While we will look at any CNF submissions up to 7500 words, our sweet spot for this category is 750-1200 words and 4000-6000 words. If you poke at our sweet spot, we will love your bones forever.
 
ONCE YOU FIND THE SWEET SPOT:

  Submit one piece of up to 7500 words please.
  One piece per submission, please.
  Please ensure your submissions are creative nonfiction, and check the box to confirm this.
  Jo and Michael are looking for writing that moves, surprises, and engages. Tell them your secrets, expose your inner self, break their hearts!
  Wait until you hear from us before you submit again.
  You may simultaneously submit your work elsewhere, no problem.
  Jo and Michael shoot for a response time of 4-6 weeks.
  We’d love for you to look around before submitting. Enjoy.

X-R-A-Y

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