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Kaiju-adjacent
40 Magazines Publishing Literary Fiction
These magazines publish literary fiction; most also accept other genres, like nonfiction and poetry. Many, but not all, of them are open for submissions now, or have announced their upcoming reading periods. Some of them pay. They are listed in no particular order.
West Branch
They accept fiction (up to 30 pages), creative nonfiction, poetry, and translation. Payment is $100 per submission of poetry, and $.10/word for prose up to $200. The deadline is 1 April 2024. West Branch is affiliated with Bucknell University. Details here.
Southword
This well-regarded literary journal is published by the Munster Literature Centre. They will open for fiction (up to 5,000 words) submissions on 1st February until 31st March 2024. They are open for poetry until 29th February. They pay €50 per poem and €300 per short story. Their submission portal will open for short stories on 1st February. Details here and here.
Alternative Milk Magazine
They want “your most gorgeous, nostalgic, ruthless, relatable, sardonic, lush, and bruising work.” They accept fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and art. They pay, and are reading submissions for Issue 3 until 28th February 2024. Details here.
Hedge Apple
This is the literary magazine of Hagerstown Community College. They publish fiction (up to 2,000 words), poetry, and art. They are reading unthemed work, as well as themed submissions, on ‘Once Upon a Dream’. The deadline is 1 March 2024. Details here.
The Downtime Review
Part of their mission is to “Publish works of impressive creative expression from folks who don’t have the time to make creative work their day-to-day”, and “Subvert the ingrained belief that you must choose between creative work and a career by spotlighting the work done by those making both happen.” They also say, “If our system necessitates that we become more like our machines while our machines become more like us, could we find some camaraderie in the fact that we both need rest, we both need downtime?” You can read more about them here. They accept flash and short fiction (500-7,000 words) and creative nonfiction. They’re accepting submissions for the Spring issue until 15 February 2024. Details here.
The Ampersand Review
This magazine is affiliated with Sheridan College, and they may prioritize work by Canadian writers (see guidelines). They accept fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and pitches for reviews. Pay is $100 for prose, and $50 per poem/page up to $100. They are reading submissions for issue 6 until 31st January 2024; see the announcement here. Details here.
Blink-Ink
This is a print journal of microfiction. They usually have themed issues; they are now reading submissions on the ‘Money’ theme. “Money. Is it the root of all evil or a reward for solving problems? If you build a better mousetrap will money beat a path to your door? Joan Rivers said, “ Money isn’t the key to happiness but I always figured that with enough money, you could have a key made.” Their general guidelines say, “Send your best stories of approximately 50 words in the body of an email … What we love most is writing that has found that preternatural detail of thought or thing that cracks the story open and allows it to matter or to reveal a truth.” They’re reading fiction on the Money theme until 30 January 2024. They are always open for visual art. Their general guidelines are here and theme details are here.
Miracle Monocle
This journal “is university-affiliated, so our publication cycles are determined by the academic calendar. We begin reading for our Fall issue in August and publish in December; we begin reading for our Spring issue in January and publish in May. We will never hold submissions for more than one semester.” They are affiliated with the University of Louisville; you can read about them here. “We pride ourselves on serving as a home for flash and micro fictions of all varieties, as well as works with genre indeterminacies, fresh collaborations, and re-invigorations of more traditional forms.” They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, hybrid/experimental works, and art. For fiction, “We accommodate traditional realism and experiment alike. Please do not submit excerpts of novels unless the piece can stand alone.” Send fiction of 1,000-10,000 words. The deadline for this cycle is 31 January 2024. Details here and here.
Bennington Review
They publish fiction (up to 30 pages), creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, cross-genre work, and translations. They are affiliated with Bennington College. All work will be considered for the print journal; some work will additionally feature on the website. “We aim to stake out a distinctive space for innovative, intelligent, and moving fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. In the spirit of poet Dean Young’s dictum that poets should be “making birds, not birdcages,” we are particularly taken with writing that is simultaneously graceful and reckless.” Pay is $120 for prose of six typeset pages and under, $250 for prose of over six typeset pages, and $25 per poem. The deadline is 8th March 2024. Details here and here.
The Wild Word
They want fiction (up to 1,000 words) and poetry submissions on the ‘Love’ theme. You can read about them here. They’re reading submissions until 31 January 2024. Submission is via a form. Details here and here.
Slippery Elm Literary Journal
This print journal publishes fiction (up to 5,000 words), poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art. It is affiliated with The University of Findlay. General submissions are fee-free, and contests have a fee attached. The deadline is 1 February 2024. Details here.
The Forge
They accept a limited number of fee-free submissions of fiction and nonfiction during most months. They re-open on the 1st of next month once they hit a submission cap (see guidelines). They prefer works up to 3,000 words, but accept up to 5,000 words, and pay $100. Details here.
Salt Hill
They publish fiction (up to 30 pages), poetry, nonfiction, translations, interviews, and art. This is a print journal, and they are affiliated with Syracuse University. Their website says, they publish work “by people at various stages in their literary and artistic careers. We publish new and emerging writers alongside those with long, illustrious careers in the literary arts.” They have two submission periods for fiction and poetry: December through January, and July through August. They accept nonfiction and art submissions year-round. Details here and here.
10 By 10 Flash Fiction
They publish flash fiction stories, of 100-500 words. They accept all genres of stories, including literary. Each issue has 10 stories. Details here.
Split Lip Magazine
Split Lip Magazine is a voice-driven literary journal with a pop culture twist. They publish online monthly and in print annually – flash fiction, short stories (up to 3,000 words), memoir, poetry, and art, as well as interviews and reviews (for interviews and reviews, query first via webform – see guidelines). Fee-free submissions for all writers are open during certain months, including January; these can close earlier by category, if their Submittable cap is reached. Fee-free submissions for Black writers are open till mid-June. Pay is $75 for web contributions, $5/page for print, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews for their web issues. Details here and here.
Literary Heist
Their tagline is, ‘Taking Back the Arts’. They publish online quarterly, and as an electronic book yearly. They publish fiction (300-2,000 words) – “any topics will considered (as long as there is character dialogue”. They also accept poetry, interviews, articles, book reviews, and art. Details here. Submission is via a form, and they close when their quota is reached.
Berkley Fiction Review
Their website says, “The Berkeley Fiction Review is a UC Berkeley undergraduate, student-run publication. We look for innovative short fiction that plays with form and content, as well as traditionally constructed stories with fresh voices and original ideas.” They accept short fiction, as well as art and comics. They pay $25 for fiction, and a copy of the print issue; they accept stories year-round. Details here and here.
The Ana
Their website says, “The Ana is a quarterly arts magazine. We are a collection and celebration of humanity.” They publish fiction (up to 5,000 words), as well as nonfiction, cross-genre work, poetry, poetry in translation, and art. The deadline for Issue 15 is 30th March 2024. Details here and here.
Toronto Journal
This journal publishes in print and sound. You can read about them here. They accept short stories (up to 7,500 words) from anywhere in the world, and nonfiction pieces about local history (Toronto, the GTA, or surrounding areas – see guidelines). They are reading now for their Summer issue. They pay $50, and the deadline is 1 April 2024. Details here.
The Amphibian
Their website says, “We welcome writers, poets and artists of all genders from all different backgrounds, we have a special love for the marginalised, the refugees, immigrants and the lost.
Our main inspirations are the thoughts and impressions of people who write in English and live in two cultures at once. There is no limit on how you experience two cultures, it can be countries, gender, language, ancestors, neuro-divergence, any way that you experience your difference and explore it using the themes of the issues.” They accept flash (up to 300 words) and short (up to 2,000 words) fiction, as well as poetry. The theme for their next issue is ‘Healing’, and the deadline is 1 February 2024. They also publish in print. Details here.
The Threepenny Review
This quarterly journal accepts fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and submissions for their ‘Table Talk’ column. Pay is $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. The deadline is 15 April 2024. Details here and here.
Valparaiso Fiction Review
Their website says, “Founded in summer of 2011 as a sister publication to Valparaiso Poetry Review (VPR), Valparaiso Fiction Review (VFR) is a publication of Valparaiso University and its Department of English.” They want fiction of 1,000-9,000 words. Excerpts from novels are acceptable only if selected piece operates as a stand-alone story. Details here.
The Paris Review
They will open for prose submissions on 1st February 2024, and will accept submissions via Submittable until they hit their submission cap (which is early on during their reading periods). They will continue to accept postal submissions of prose until end-February (postmarked). Translations are welcome. They are open to prose in February, June, and October, and open to poetry in January, April, July, and October. Details here.
Flash Frontier
They are currently open to international flash fiction submissions, of up to 250 words, on the ‘Quiet | Marire’ theme. The deadline is 29 February 2024. Details here.
McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern
They publish fiction and nonfiction, and pay $400 for short stories. Watch for their next submission period. Details here and here.
(Also see the guidelines for their humor site, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.)
Zyzzyva
This award-winning journal publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from around the world. Watch for their next submission period. Details here.
riddlebird
accepts literary fiction and personal essay submissions. For fiction, “Our favorite writers include authors like George Saunders, Souvankham Thammavongsa, and E.C. Osondu.” They pay $100 for works of 650-5,000 words. They are scheduled to reopen on 1st February 2024, and will stay open until they hit their submission cap – their submission guidelines are here, and the submission portal is here.
The Stinging Fly
This respected Irish print journal publishes short fiction, novel extracts, nonfiction, and poetry. They pay €45 per magazine page, but with a minimum/maximum payment of €300/€1200 for fiction and nonfiction, €150 for flash Fiction/shorter essays (1 – 2 pages), and €40-60/poem. Their next submission period is May 15th-May 29th for the Winter 2024 issue. Their submission portal will open during the reading period. Details here.
One Story
This magazine publishes one literary fiction story per issue, of 3,000- 8,000 words. They also accept reprints, if the story has appeared in print only, outside North America. They pay $500 and 25 contributor copies. They will reopen in Spring 2024. Details here.
Epoch
This magazine is affiliated with Cornell University. They accept prose, poetry, and comics. Postal submissions are free, and are open till 15 April 2024. Electronic submissions follow a different cycle, are charged, and offer one fee-free weekend during each cycle. They pay $100-500. Details here.
A Public Space
They have occasional reading periods for fiction, essays, translations, poetry, as well as graphic and hybrid work. (A Public Space also accepts readership, internship, and fellowship applications periodically – and currently, they are open for their Editorial Fellowship, a paid position for those who can live in New York for the duration of the fellowship.) Details here and here.
Kennings Literary Journal
This journal is affiliated with Hanover College. They accept fiction (500-3,000 words), poetry, creative nonfiction, art, photography, and other media. The deadline is 14 February 2024. Submission is via a form. Payment is a contributor copy. Details here.
Fusion Fragment
This Canadian magazine publishes science fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction. They also publish one reprint story per issue. Length guidelines are 2,000-15,000 words, and pay is CAD0.04/word, up to CAD400. They will open for submissions on 29th January 2024; usually, they have a brief submission period. Details here.
The Fiddlehead
This Canadian literary magazine is accepting for general submissions of fiction (up to 6,000 words) and nonfiction via Submittable; poetry is currently open for Canadian writers only (see guidelines). Postal submissions are accepted year-round. They have some submission periods for Canadian writers only. Pay is CAD65/page. The deadline is 31 March 2024. Details here and here.
The Argyle
This online magazine publishes short fiction (up to 3,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, articles, interviews and reviews, art, and some themed work. They also publish an online micro-chapbook – “Every issue will include an online, vanishing micro-chapbook of poetry, fiction, or non-fiction that will last only one issue (after which, it will disappear into the vastness of nothingness). We will also consider hybrid manuscripts.” Published micro-chaps will include fiction (1,000-3,000 words), poetry, nonfiction, and hybrid works. Details here.
Fahmidan
Their website says, “Fahmidan comes out four times a year online. Send us your thought-provoking existentialism, your phobias, your darkest moments. Entrance us with your whimsical fantasy. Move us to tears with your truth in a world of suffering. Captivate and intrigue us with your hopes and dreams. A broad range of styles, forms and voices make any journal truly representative in the 21st century and we are no different!” They accept fiction (flash up to 800 words, short fiction of 1,000-2,500 words), nonfiction, and poetry. They are open for submissions year-round. Details here.
Embark
This is a literary journal for novelists. They want the opening of your (unpublished) novel, of 2,500-4,000 words. They also want an author’s statement (250-500 words); “You can interpret this however you like, discussing the book’s plot, themes, aims, inspiration, etc. Whatever your focus, though, the statement should give the reader a good sense of what the novel is all about and why you chose to write it.” Submissions received until 1st March 2024 will be considered for the 20th issue. Details here.
Collateral
They publish work concerned with the impact of violent conflict and military service beyond the combat zone. Their website says, “we provide a creative platform to highlight the stories of those existing in spaces surrounding combat, including the military family, veteran, service member, close friend, protestor, refugee, teacher, and advocate. These voices sometimes go unheard, and we’d like to capture the “collateral” impact of military service.” They encourage submissions from artists of historically silenced backgrounds. They accept fiction (up to 5,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, art, and reviews. They read year-round, and the deadline for their Spring issue is 1 March 2024. Details here and here.
(And Consequence Forum publishes work around the themes of war and geopolitical violence, including fiction. They pay $20-50 for writing, and $40-150 for art. They’re open till 15 April 2024. Details here and here.)
Liars’ League
Stories for Liars’ League are performed by actors, and also published in anthologies and broadcast on YouTube and their podcast; you can read about them here. They want themed fiction, of 800-2,000 words. Two of their upcoming themes are: ‘Dreams & Reality’ (ambitions & imaginings, VR & AI), deadline 3rd March; and ‘Sports & Leisure’ (Paris Olympics & all that …), deadline 5th May. Their general submission guidelines are here; story theme and deadline, as well as future event details are here.
Salamander Magazine
This respected magazine is affiliated with Suffolk University. They publish fiction (including flash), nonfiction, poetry. They pay. Details here; you can submit by post, or via their online manager here.
Kaiju-adjacent
Good morning everyone! Sorry about the family issues popping up everywhere - I've been there.
Going through the developmental edit is really difficult work. One careful page at a time.
Doctor appointment today, with the neurologist. Fingers crossed folks.
Coffee (Costco), teas (Kitty Zoomies, Dazed Dodo), and cookies (Sara's animal creations) are all out for your enjoyment.
Kaiju-adjacent
Quote by Mendalla
Hey, nice to have you back. I remember you well.
I am on a cruise ship in the Caribbean right now so not onlining much. Or writing. Thought about packing along my personal laptop for sea days but Mrs. Mendalla talked me out of it. Having some ideas, though.
Been reading Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez a bit since one of our port stops was Cartagena, Colombia where he lived for a chunk of his life and where he died and is buried. Interesting writer but a bit depressing, at least the material I have been reading. Couldn't get his famous novels from the library in time so reading shorts instead.
We play with the idea of going on a cruise. I think one up to Alaska from Vancouver would be awesome. Actually the train trip up the West coast to Vancouver looks equally cool.
Not much going on today. Lazy Sunday. An important doc visit and a possible story sale are on the agenda tomorrow. I could use some crossed fingers on both accounts.
Coffee (Costco), teas (Kitty Zoomies, Dazed Dodo), and cookies (Sara's yummy creations) are all out for your enjoyment.
Kaiju-adjacent
Welcome Cora! I hope your battle with writer's block goes well. We've all been there.
Started out the day driving in the snow for a blood test - fasting, of course, meaning I...wait for it...couldn't drink coffee! Enjoying my first cup now as I shake off the snow.
Dove into the beginning of the developmental edit yesterday. Not easy work - it's a slog, a paragraph at a time (Red can, I assume, relate lately). It's how you make the donuts, I guess.
Coffee is a-perking, Kitty Zoomies and Slovenly Salamander are our teas. Sara's cookies and Gill's cake are on a platter.
Enjoy the weekend!
Kaiju-adjacent
Dang. Crickets again. Maybe we ought to put up a sign or something.
whips up a perking percolator of Costco, and puts out our teas, Drama Llama and Kitty Zoomies, before putting Sara’s cookies on a fine decorative platter.
My Band Box story is off. I should find out on Monday if they like it. The bitter cold has finally left, as it has most of the country. I may take a walk today - it should reach 50 degrees!
Red had got some fine historical fiction on the front page.
Hope everyone is well, and hope someone comes in. I’ll depart with a coffee and cookie.
Kaiju-adjacent
Quote by redwriter
Might disappoint you, Sarah. These animals are very regimented. Could be stroked though, and often are. And as you will see below --the story begins. Such speedy verification is to be applauded.
Nice, Red. Look forward to reading it!
I just had breakfast in Minneapolis virtually, at the Band Box, a restaurant I used to work at. An old high school friend and an old college friend were my companions. Really nice morning.
I hope everyone is well. Coffee and tea, and cookies, are all out for your enjoyment.!
Kaiju-adjacent
Quote by redwriter
Gosh, editing your own work can be a tedious business. But at last it's just about done and early chapters of the historic novella ( Regency period) could begin bleeding onto these pages this week. Remember, I did say I wanted to have a ready flow to stop folk being tired of waiting. The chapters have been kept relatively short too, for the same reason. Still have some problems to resolve--like, choosing an appropriate title and deciding which genre to choose for it--there is a love story there, but there is as much about the exploits of certain animals and the class divide. Got to make my mind up.
Wow, after all that I think I'll plop myself in an easy chair in the corner there and have a cup of hot chocolate and a couple of Sara's tempting football cookies. Then to solve those problems and get chapter one out.
Short chapters are a good idea, I think. Chunking it out into smaller units makes editing easier. I'm about to start a major rewrite and it scares me a bit.
REALLY crappy day so far. Missed a vet visit for the cat, and broke my phone, and it's not even noon. Is it too late to go back to bed?
Arg. I'm writing about hitch-hiking today, and writing will make the day go faster.
Coffee and teas and cookies, if anyone comes in here today. Is Ape gone?
I'll have a ton of coffee.
Kaiju-adjacent
Oh man, a cicada infestation for the wedding! That sounds memorable! 
I read once where the number of years cicadas stay dormant is often a prime number, so they won't wake up at the same time as other broods. I admit I barely grasp this idea, but I do have a vague sense of it.
Snowy and windy and COLD here. Jeez. Luckily we shouldn't have to leave the house.
Enjoy the day everyone. Coffee is hot and fresh! And tea too! And cookies!
Kaiju-adjacent
A boat? A boat! It’s not going to get above 15 here the entire weekend. Enjoy your weather Gill.
Novel critique day, meaning I’m stuck critiquing all day. Ah well. Too cold to do anything else.
I am eating at the Band Box cafe in Mpls virtually next week, with two old friends (one as old as high school). I will show up via FaceTime. It should be Big Fun. It’s for an article I’m writing about working there, way back in the day. Best job ever. $5 an hour.
Teas and coffees are waiting! Plus cake! Plus cookies! Someone come in and order something!
Kaiju-adjacent
Hy, a little traffic around the place! Cool cool cool. I’ll have a cup.
Taking a video memoir class today. It’s free, though I’m sure there will be a pitch involved. Memoir classes can get EXPENSIVE! I think it 90 minutes long. If anyone wants my notes drop me a line.
Another cold day, but the sun is out and that dang WIND finally calmed down. Jeez! It was scaring the cats (seriously!)!
I’ll have a Snoopy cookie Sara! And a cup to go!
Kaiju-adjacent
crickets
No takers for the Siamese Sumatra Surprise, eh? Hey, the cake and cookies are still good! And I actually like Costco coffee.
Oh well. Cold and windy here. I’m writing nonfiction about a place I used the work at - the Band Box in Mpls.. Google it sometime!
Trying to get my energy level up a bit. Didn’t sleep too well.
Enjoy the day!
Kaiju-adjacent
Glad your knees are getting stronger and that there is a plan in place, Gill. I agree about the tumbleweeds. I am promoting Stories Space in my newsletter today, but it’s not like I have a large following.
Perhaps a hot steaming urn of Costco will help! And a pot of Siamese Sumatra Surprise, our tea for today (the surprise is that it’s made of coffee beans picked only by Siamese cats on the island of Sumatra.
Plus, cookies for Sea and cake from Gill! (Gill, I hope it’s okay I’m hawking your cake - maybe it’ll bring in a cake lover from off the street,
Windy as f here today. Just howling. Cold too. With luck I won’t have to leave the house.
Coffee and cake for me!
Kaiju-adjacent
Thanks for the setup Ape. That Meow Mix from yesterday left a nasty taste I my mouth.
Eye doc today. Wah. I finally finished my Western - it’s still goofy, but less goofy than it was. A writing group I am a part of is putting out a Weird Western anthology this year. Let me know if you are interested. I’m not on the reading committee or anything. 6000 word limit.
Intermittent snow today. I hope the roads are good.
Enjoy your weekend! I’ll have a coffee and a cookie.
Kaiju-adjacent
Quote by Mendalla
Ape comes in. Sniffs tea. Starts kettle.
Here's some real tea. A nice cup of English Breakfast.
After reading through the calls from Author's Publish (see thread I started), I am looking at a couple of them. There's one where "Down In The Well" might be a fit so I am thinking of taking it down from here and submitting it there after giving it an editing pass or two. And there's the Bigfoot anthology I mentioned in the thread. I am thinking about story ideas. I was a bit obsessed with cryptids as a kid and the giant ape variety (Bigfoot/Sasquatch, the Yeti) were favourites (surprised?😉).
I thought that tea tasted a little odd. Cats have been following me around all morning.
I like that The Cosmic Background call, for slipstream flash that doesn’t make much sense. I wish I understood the slipstream genre better.
Kaiju-adjacent
Looking forward to the historical novella, Red. I’d be interested in how you did research as well.
Finally finished my stupid Western. It is rather stupid. I will edit it today, but what I really wanna work on is more memoir. First things first.
Our tea today is from Purina, a zesty little blend called Meow Mix. Hmm. What an odd looking tea! At least the coffee is traditional Costco, boring and reliable.
Plus, BIRTHDAY COOKIES FOR SARA!
Enjoy the day all.
Kaiju-adjacent
Quote by Mendalla
So when do we get the "Verbal Studios Monsterverse"? 😜
I actually tried to load one here, but I can't get it to finish loading. I just put up a Tik Tok account for it though! (momo26339)
Wow, Gill, you knee is bad enough so that you can't drive? That sounds pretty bad. Good luck with physical therapy.
Sending the book off to a developmental editor today for help! It's exciting. Other than that not much is going on. Talia returns to work tomorrow. It's been a good holiday, though I miss my daughter.
Hope everyone is well. Teas and coffee and cookies await you!