Welcome to Sub Club’s Where to submit this week! Our weekly report is of up-to-date submission opportunities for writers.
This week, we’ve got:
5 Recently Opened Submission Calls
13 Lit mags closing for submissions this week
4 Theme Calls To Inspire You!
15 New Friends (new listings we’ve added to our database)
5 Contests That Probably Won’t Scam You
3 Agents Who Don’t Care Where You’ve Published Before (NEW!)
Yay! A couple people used our Sub Club Submissions Help Line. But only half of them used it correctly. One person submitted a bunch of poems. Thank you, they were lovely, but no. And someone else asked for a specific list. Now, we might do something along these lines. But custom lists are something I think we’d have to charge for. I don’t know, would anyone we interested in paid, personalized lists just for you? I think it would have to be $30-40 to make it worth the time it would take us.
Well, now that random thought is out of the way, here were two questions we had from subscribers that we can answer:
My short story has been accepted at a great magazine, slated for a 2025 issue. I submitted simultaneously to other places and now need to withdraw from those - no problems there. But the 'acceptance' is only in an e-mail. Should I wait until I've signed a contract?
Answer: Once an email acceptance has come in, I always withdraw from anywhere else. Yes, even before getting a contract. Why? Some lit mags won’t send the contract until closer to the date of publication. And, it’s a worst case scenario situation. Worst case, you can resubmit your work later to a mag you withdrew from. But if you get an acceptance somewhere and then have to tell them it was already accepted elsewhere, you’ve burned a bridge. If the magazine you received an acceptance from is a reputable one (have been around for a while with a solid publishing record and no red flags) then I would feel confident in an email acceptance.
How long does it take to have an answer from an agent ? I’ve heard people say that they had offers for their novels but the agent never really got back to them.
Answer: There are two parts to this. First, agents vary wildly. Some will get back quite soon, others will take a long time. Since they are individuals and not organizations (even if they are often part of organizations) it is going to be a crapshoot and many have first readers or assistants who will screen queries (so faster response times aren’t necessarily what you want). So, that’s the first part. It varies. Now, if people are having agents never get back to them it is because some agents are assholes. Ok, that’s a crude way to say it. But just being an agent doesn’t give someone morals or competence. There isn’t even a certification for becoming an agent. And plenty of people out there are willing to fuck writers over, or not treat their work with respect. Remember, an agent is the person who is there to sell you. Though many are passionate about writing and respectful of writers, that isn’t a job requirement. This is why we look for additional information for the agents we share here like who else they’ve represented and specifics on what they are looking for. People will be people.
Got a question about submitting? Ask us and we’ll answer it in next weeks Where To Submit This Week. Visit our submission help line.
Last week, we had a some extra lists:
As always, as an extra thank you to paid subscribers, we’ve included a spreadsheet download at the end.
Literary Magazines & Journals
Recently Opened Calls
Exposed Bone | Deadline: July 16
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2023 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid.
Exposed Bone publishes uncanny work that wrecks our expectations, keeps us on edge, and fucks with our thoughts.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 90 days. Acceptance rate of 3% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards
Ouch! Collective | Deadline: July 28
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2022 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, Translation, Art, Photography.
Ouch! Collective is a community of queer and nonbinary creatives holding space to resist hierarchy in the art community and uplift traditionally erased voices.
Fee: None | Pay: $20
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 90 days. Acceptance rate of 59.09% based on 22 tracked submissions.
Noteworthy: #has print issues # consistent quality #beautiful design
Radar Poetry | Deadline: August 1
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2013 that publishes Poetry, Translation, Art.
Radar Poetry currently publishes three issues each year: the Winter Issue, the Summer Issue, and the Conistion Prize Issue.
Fee: None | Pay: $0-$1000
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 60 days. Acceptance rate of 4% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #extremely competitive #poetry prize winner
Snowflake Magazine | Deadline: August 1
United Kingdom-based literary magazine founded in 2021 that publishes Flash Fiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Review, Interview, Art, Photography, Wtf is genre, send anything.
An LGBTQ+ networking initiative centered around a published creative showcase. Join our community of queer writers, artists and creators!
Fee: None | Pay: £15
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 90 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #has print issues #active on socials # good vibes #engaged editors
Midnight Fawn Review | Open for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Micro Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Art.
Midnight Fawn Review is a literary and art magazine for the writers and artists who love to make beautiful pieces (in whatever way that means to you).
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 30 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time #nominates for industry awards
Last Chance to Submit
New Feathers Anthology | Midnight!
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2020 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Art, Audio, Video.
An online literature and art magazine, published three times annually, with a year-end print anthology. We are interested in quality fiction, poetry, nonfiction, visual art, music, and short videos, imposing no restrictions on genre.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 60 days. Acceptance rate of 16.94% based on 59 tracked submissions.
Noteworthy: #read for free #has print issues #very competitive
Bellevue Literary Review | Midnight!
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2000 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry.
An independent literary journal that probes the nuances of our lives both in illness and health.
Fee: None | Pay: Yes
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 150 days.
Noteworthy: #independent #good vibes #fiction prize winner #krouse top 500 #20+ years old #nonfiction prize winner #poetry prize winner #mega super popular. woah.
Forevermore | Deadline: Midnight!
United Kingdom-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Hybrid.
Forevermore is a brand new online literary magazine ! We are currently accepting submissions for the first issue.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints.
Noteworthy: #one week response time
Jelly Squid | Deadline: Midnight!
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Art.
Jelly Squid is a brand-new online literary magazine that seeks to showcase emerging and previously unpublished writers & artists.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 130 days.
Noteworthy: #active on socials
The Indianapolis Review | Deadline: July 2
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2017 that publishes Poetry, Hybrid, Art, Photography, Comics.
We are an online only quarterly journal of poetry, art, and visual poetry.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 130 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #nominates for industry awards
The Westchester Review | Deadline: July 2
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2007 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Play.
Founded in 2007, The Westchester Review has spent more than a decade publishing established and emerging writers. We welcome submissions of original poems, stories, essays, and plays by writers wherever they reside.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Acceptance rate of 22.03% based on 59 tracked submissions.
Noteworthy: #read for free #one week response time #brecht top 1000 #somewhat competitive #10+ years old
Penumbra Online | Deadline: July 4
United States-based literary magazine founded in 1989 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Review, Art.
Literary and Art journal housed in the English department of California State University- Stanislaus. Publishing prose, poetry, & art for more than thirty years.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 42 days. Acceptance rate of 20% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #has print issues #active on socials #university affiliated #somewhat competitive #30+ years old #popular
The Dawn Review | Deadline: July 5
literary magazine founded in 2022 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Art, Photography, Play.
The Dawn Review is an international literary magazine publishing three issues annually, featuring poetry, prose, art, and hybrid submissions from emerging and established writers and artists. We nominate work for the Pushcart Prizes and Best of the Net.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 30 days. Acceptance rate of 3% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time #nominates for industry awards #highly competitive
Catheartic Magazine | Deadline: July 6
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2023 that publishes Fiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Art, Photography.
Literary and arts magazine uplifting conversations about youth mental health.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Do not accept simultaneous submissions. Acceptance rate of 35% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #one week response time
Daikaijuzine | Deadline: July 7
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2006 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry.
We like stories that are strange, that have wacky, huge ideas, and are diverse in content and authorship.
Fee: None | Pay: Yes
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Acceptance rate of 9.18% based on 392 tracked submissions.
Noteworthy: #one week response time #somewhat competitive #10+ years old
The Primer | Deadline: July 7
United Kingdom-based literary magazine founded in 2022 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Art, Photography, Wtf is genre, send anything.
A quarterly periodical of the strangely beautiful ✧
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 21 days. Acceptance rate of 25.00% based on 24 tracked submissions.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time
Hexagon SF Magazine | Deadline: July 7
Canada-based literary magazine founded in 2020 that publishes Fiction, Translation, Comics.
Quarterly online magazine of international speculative fiction ⬣ We publish the weird, wondrous, and whimsical!
Fee: None | Pay: varies, see guidelines for details
Do not accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 60 days.
Noteworthy: #extra popular
The Swannanoa Review | Deadline: July 7
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Interview.
We celebrate a generosity of spirit, a willingness to experiment, and a serious (and seriously joyful) creative rigor.
Fee: $3 | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 90 days.
Noteworthy: #active on socials
Theme Calls To Inspire You!
Purely Liminal Magazine | Deadline: 5pm TODAY! | Theme Phenomenology
Canada-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Art, Photography.
Purely Liminal Magazine is a Toronto-based for-youth by-youth print (and online) magazine publishing youth!
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 45 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards
StudentKind Literary Journal | Deadline: August 1 | Theme: The Wilderness Within
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2023 that publishes Fiction, Poetry, Wtf is genre, send anything.
StudentKind Literary Journal is a youth-led magazine accepting innovative written work from contributors across the globe.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 7 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #one week response time
Literary Namjooning | Deadline: July 3 | Theme: Namjooning/ Self-Care
Singapore-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Flash Fiction, Flash CNF.
Publishing flash fiction and non-fiction narratives (500 words or fewer) centered around slowing down, self-care, appreciating nature and art.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 60 days.
Noteworthy: #active on socials #nominates for industry awards
Sans. PRESS | Deadline: July 3 | Theme: The Garden
Ireland-based literary magazine founded in 2020 that publishes Fiction, Hybrid, Wtf is genre, send anything.
Send us stories that are fresh & weird
Fee: None | Pay: €150
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 56 days. Acceptance rate of 3% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #has print issues #active on socials #nominates for industry awards #highly competitive
New friends
Midnight Fawn Review | Open for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Micro Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Art.
Midnight Fawn Review is a literary and art magazine for the writers and artists who love to make beautiful pieces (in whatever way that means to you).
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 30 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time #nominates for industry awards
Winnow Literary | Closed for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Poetry.
Winnow Literary is an interdisciplinary journal of poetry and occupation.
Fee: None | Pay: $100 per piece
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 200 days.
Bread and Butter Magazine | Closed for submissions
Thailand-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Poetry, Art, Photography.
A youth-led literary magazine dedicated to empowering new voices!
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 30 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time
The Kintsugi Journal | Open for submissions | Theme: Resilience, Healing and Transformation.
India-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Poetry, Review, Art, Photography.
A team of two, we're looking for diverse voices and stories that highlight themes of healing, and art of mending.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 3 days. Acceptance rate of 50% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #active on socials #one week response time
Carmilla Collective | Closed for submissions
United States-based literary magazine that publishes .
Carmilla Collective is an art and literature magazine made by and for youth.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Do not accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 7 days.
Noteworthy: #active on socials #one week response time
Midnight Fawn Review | Open for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Micro Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Art.
Midnight Fawn Review is a literary and art magazine for the writers and artists who love to make beautiful pieces (in whatever way that means to you).
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 30 days.
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time #nominates for industry awards
KUDU | Closed for submissions
South Africa-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes .
KUDU is an online biannual literary journal of South African writing.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Do not accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 56 days.
Winnow Literary | Closed for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Poetry.
Winnow Literary is an interdisciplinary journal of poetry and occupation.
Fee: None | Pay: $100 per piece
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 200 days.
The Marrow International Poetry | Deadline: July 30
Australia-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Poetry.
An online literary journal featuring the finest new international poetry from emerging and established poets.
Fee: None | Pay: AU$40 per piece
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 56 days.
Noteworthy: #active on socials #nominates for industry awards
The Groke | Deadline: December 2
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Wtf is genre, send anything.
An independent art and literature magazine (online), focused on building community.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 30 days.
Noteworthy: #30-day response time
Akpata Magazine | Closed for submissions
literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Nonfiction.
Akpata Magazine is open for submissions of creative nonfiction that dares to provoke thought.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions. Respond within 20 days. Acceptance rate of 20% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #active on socials #30-day response time
the ikebana magazine | Open for submissions
India-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Wtf is genre, send anything.
We are an online Magazine for anything and everything<3
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 30 days. Acceptance rate of 85% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #active on socials #30-day response time
The Rumi Review | Open for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry.
The Rumi Review is a literary magazine dedicated to amplifying the voices of writers of Middle Eastern descent.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 7 days. Acceptance rate of 5% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #one week response time
Afflatus Apparatus | a journal for the creative collective | Open for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, Review, Interview, Art, Photography, Humor, Comics, Video, Wtf is genre, send anything.
Afflatus Apparatus (A2) is a journal for diverse creative works in language, art, and culture, available online & print.
Fee: None | Pay: No
Accept simultaneous submissions and some reprints. Respond within 14 days. Acceptance rate of 50% (reported by editors).
Noteworthy: #read for free #has print issues #active on socials #two week response time #nominates for industry awards
Gray Flamingo Review | Closed for submissions
United States-based literary magazine founded in 2024 that publishes Fiction, Poetry.
A brand-new magazine for writers in high school and college!
Fee: None | Pay: No
Do not accept simultaneous submissions.
Noteworthy: #one week response time
Contests That Probably Won’t Scam You
Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize | Deadline: July 8
Awarded annually to a poet writing in English who has not yet published a full-length poetry book, the prize is named in honor of a great supporter of young poets, and the grandmother-in-law of the contest’s final judge, Bob Hicok. Prospective entrants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Conduit, which champions originality, intelligence, irreverence, and humanity.
Manuscript Length: 48-90 pages.
Fee: $25 | Awarding: $1500 + 30 author copies | Judge(s): Bob Hicok
Noteworthy: My favorite, Bob Hicok the man himself, judges this one annual + Conduit is a great lit mag!
Ledbury Poetry Prize | Deadline: July 8
You may enter up to 10 poems at any time.
The length of each poem must not exceed 40 lines. (This applies to the written lines of the poem. Titles, epigraphs, line spaces between stanzas and dedications are not counted as lines.)
Fee: £6.00 | Awarding: £1000 cash and a week’s poetry course with Arvon | Judge(s): Maya C. Popa
Noteworthy: All the poems I’ve read that have won or placed for this award are absolutely brilliant. The fee is very handle-able and the judge is amazing!
Stony Brook Undergraduate Short Fiction Prize | Deadline: July 14
Only undergraduates enrolled full time in United States and Canadian universities and colleges for the academic year 2023-2024 are eligible. This Prize has traditionally encouraged submissions from students with an Asian background, but we urge all students to enter.
Entrant's identity and academic institution will not be revealed to judges.
Submissions of no more than 7,500 words.
All entries must be accompanied by proof of current undergraduate enrollment, such as a photocopy of a grade transcript, a class schedule or payment receipt showing your full-time status. The institution's name and address must be clear.
Fee: Free | Awarding: $1000 | Judge(s): Editors
Noteworthy: It’s free and niche (well, for undergrad North American students)!
The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition | Deadline: July 15
As with The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award, in our flash fiction competition we’re seeking the finest work we can find that incorporates an uncanny element. Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is superb writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises. Please be assured that we will read and carefully evaluate ALL submissions to The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition.
We’re interested in flash fiction pieces of between 250 and 1,000 words
Fee: $15 | Awarding: $1000 | Judge(s): Editors
Noteworthy: I absolute love ghost stories and flash so it stands to reason that I dig this contest!
Rattle Poetry Prize | Deadline: July 15
Open to writers, worldwide; poems must be written primarily in English (no translations except by the original author).
Send up to four poems per entry.
Fee: $30 | Awarding: $15000 | Judge(s): Editors
Noteworthy: It’s one of the biggest prizes out there for a single poem. What’s more, they award $500 to 10 finalists and then there’s $5000 awarded to a Reader’s Choice winner also!
Below is for paid subscribers only. We have our Agents Who Don’t Care Where You’ve Published Before and a downloadable spreadsheet for this week’s opportunities.