25 Most Competitive Literary Magazines & Journals on Chill Subs
Statistics Report: Ranked by acceptance rate. Who doesn't love statistics?
Before Chill Subs, it irked me that acceptance rates for lit mags was something I had to pay for. I don’t necessarily fault those charging me. I am irked by everything I have to pay for. Worse, I’m irked by the entire concept of money.
So Karina and I always agreed to keep statistics on our website free for all. But, there was a problem. To get statistics in indie lit, you need people to track submissions.
So we built a super simple submissions tracker. We even created a fun game of Rejection Bingo and added a card view for giggles.
You can check it out here if you want. But, to even remotely compete in any real time frame, we had to get a lot of submissions into it. It’s not like we could go and take those acceptance rates from other places. Instead, we put together an upload thingie (I know there is some technical term for this but I’m not a technical person).
Side Note: Unfortunately, writers can’t move their tracked submissions over to us if they’ve used certain other trackers — specifically others who might track acceptance rates. We read through the terms of service and it turns out that if you track your submissions in some places, the company now owns your data, not you. So if you downloaded your submissions history and uploaded them to us, you’d be breaking the law. Fun, right? (So just please check the terms of service if you use a different tracker and want to switch to ours. You may be required to start over).
But luckily, Submittable data belongs entirely to the writers. They even offer an export for your entire submission history. AND The awesome folks at the Submission Grinder gave us permission to create an uploady thing for people to share their submissions from them too! Because of this, in a short time, we’ve been able to track 100,000+ submissions.
As for this list, I always want to know what the most competitive lit mags are. I can’t help it. I know it is far from the only thing that matters and some super competitive mags are just a bag of assholes with a bigger bag of grant money, but a lot are awesome outlets who curate extremely well. So, that’s what I’m doing today.
If you also think statistics on publishing should be free for all, please give our tracker a try. At the very least, you can upload your submittable history there (instructions are linked on the top right of the page). We will be doing a huge overhaul of it this year to include a lot more inputs and fun features (plus a long-requested feature to track individual poems separate from bundled submissions).
And yes, your information from our tracker will always and forever belong to you and we have a clear export button should you ever choose to move it elsewhere.
All acceptance rate and response time data on Chill Subs can be found on lit mag’s listing pages if they choose to share it and will always be free for everyone.
→ Try our submissions tracker ←
And if you have the means to support us financially, you can become a paid subscriber here. Your extra support is what gives us the time and resources to keep this service alive.
Here they are. The top 25 most competitive lit mags on Chill Subs
SmokeLong Quarterly: 1 acceptance, 429 rejections, 0.20% acceptance rate
SmokeLong Quarterly is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2003 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Hybrid, and Translation. "We are dedicated to bringing the best flash narratives to the web quarterly, whether written by widely published authors or those new to the craft." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 1 week.
The Masters Review: 1 acceptance, 247 rejections, 0.31% acceptance rate
The Masters Review is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2011 that publishes Fiction, and Nonfiction. "An online and in print publication celebrating new and emerging writers. We are on the lookout for the best new talent with hopes of publishing stories from writers who will continue to produce great work." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 8-10 weeks.
Copper Nickel: 1 acceptance, 182 rejections, 0.35% acceptance rate
Copper Nickel is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2002 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Translation. "The national literary journal housed at the University of Colorado Denver, publishing poetry, fiction, essays, and translation folios." -C.S. Fee: $2 | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within within eight weeks.
CRAFT Literary: 1 acceptance, 216 rejections, 0.36% acceptance rate
CRAFT Literary is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2017 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, and Interview. "CRAFT explores the art of prose, celebrating both emerging and established writers. We focus on the craft of writing and how the elements of craft make a good story or essay shine." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 4-5 months.
Rattle: 3 acceptances, 533 rejections, 0.40% acceptance rate
Rattle is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 1995 that publishes Poetry, Translation, and Art. "A publication of the Rattle Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the practice of poetry, and is not affiliated with any other organization." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 4-6 months.
Salt Hill Journal: 1 acceptance, 149 rejections, 0.43% acceptance rate
Salt Hill Journal is a United States of America-based literary magazine that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Review, Art, and Translation. "A biannual literary journal publishing outstanding new fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art by people at various stages in their literary and artistic careers." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3-6 months.
The Sun: 1 acceptance, 133 rejections, 0.45% acceptance rate
The Sun is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 1974 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Photography. "We’re looking for narrative writing and evocative photography from all over the world. Send us work that maps the human landscape, where the light catches on the faintest joy, where darkness sometimes threatens to overwhelm, and where ✗ never marks the spot." -C.S. Fee: $2.50 | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3 months.
Nashville Review: 1 acceptance, 141 rejections, 0.50% acceptance rate
Nashville Review is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2010 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, Art, and Comics. "Nashville Review seeks to publish the best work we can get our hands on, period. From expansive to minimalist, narrative to lyric, epiphanic to subtle. NR is edited by the MFA students at Vanderbilt University." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within within 4-5 months.
TriQuarterly: 1 acceptance, 101 rejections, 0.51% acceptance rate
TriQuarterly is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 1958 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Interview, and Video. "TriQuarterly is the literary magazine of Northwestern University. TriQuarterly has remained "an international journal of writing, art, and cultural inquiry."" -C.S. Fee: $2 | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3-6 months.
The Ex-Puritan: 1 acceptance, 126 rejections, 0.53% acceptance rate
The Ex-Puritan is a Canada-based literary magazine founded in 2007 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Review, Interview, Translation, Art, Audio, and Video. "A premier Canadian literary magazine, publishing the best in new writing. We award the annual Austin Clarke Prizes in fiction and poetry." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within within 4 months.
Split Lip Magazine: 4 acceptances, 521 rejections, 0.55% acceptance rate
Split Lip Magazine is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2012 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Review, Interview, Art, and Photography. "A literary journal that’s totally bonkers-in-love with voice-driven writing, pop culture, and the kind of honesty that gets you right in the kidneys." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 4 months.
Frontier Poetry: 2 acceptances, 253 rejections, 0.56% acceptance rate
Frontier Poetry is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2010 that publishes Poetry. "We are looking for poetry that pushes language forward, for poets and poems that strive to place themselves at the edge of what language can do." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3-4 months.
The Lascaux Review: 1 acceptance, 132 rejections, 0.63% acceptance rate
The Lascaux Review is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2012 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. "The Lascaux Review seeks accessible fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction of literary quality, as well as essays on the craft and business of writing." -C.S. Fee: $2 | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within under one month.
Abandon Journal: 1 acceptance, 111 rejections, 0.64% acceptance rate
Abandon Journal is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2021 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, Review, Interview, Art, Photography, Humor, Comics, Audio, Video, Game, Wtf is genre, and send anything. "We publish anything that has been written "with abandon" (whatever that means to you). No submission fees, ever (though we do accept tips!), and we are a paying market." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2-3 months.
The Common: 1 acceptance, 73 rejections, 0.70% acceptance rate
The Common is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2010 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Translation, and Photography. "A literary organization whose mission is to deepen our individual and collective sense of place. Based at Amherst College, we aim to serve as a vibrant common space for the global exchange of ideas and experiences through three main areas of activity: publishing, public programming, and mentorship and education." -C.S. Fee: $3 | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 8 months.
Storm Cellar: 1 acceptance, 91 rejections, 0.70% acceptance rate
Storm Cellar is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2011 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, Review, Translation, Art, Photography, Comics, Wtf is genre, and send anything. "A literary journal of safety and danger. We place a special emphasis on the Midwest, but even more emphasis on amazing writing and art. We aim to display aesthetic ambition as well as the work of authors and artists who are under-represented in the Anglophone literary world." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3 months.
Clarkesworld Magazine: 1 acceptance, 131 rejections, 0.70% acceptance rate
Clarkesworld Magazine is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2006 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Translation, and Art. "a Hugo, World Fantasy, and British Fantasy Award-winning science fiction and fantasy monthly magazine that publishes short stories, interviews, articles and audio fiction. Issues are published monthly and available on our website, for purchase in ebook format" -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They do not accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2 weeks.
Mud Season Review: 1 acceptance, 76 rejections, 0.73% acceptance rate
Mud Season Review is a United States of America-based literary magazine that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Art. "Celebrating artistic creation, community, and all the wide-ranging voices that tramp and track in the mud of human experience." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within within 2 months.
Alien Magazine: 2 acceptances, 176 rejections, 0.74% acceptance rate
Alien Magazine is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2019 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, and Art. "We are a literary magazine for outsiders. We publish work that takes risks. We believe in you, in your art, and in aliens." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 1-6 months.
The Malahat Review: 1 acceptance, 79 rejections, 0.75% acceptance rate
The Malahat Review is a Canada-based literary magazine founded in 1967 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, and Translation. "One of Canada's leading literary journals, featuring poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 9 months.
Muzzle Magazine: 1 acceptance, 107 rejections, 0.78% acceptance rate
Muzzle Magazine is a literary magazine that publishes Poetry. "Muzzle Magazine has published writing of revolution and revelation, and in 2020, on the precipice of a new decade, we will continue seeking submissions that move us not just in feeling, but also in intention." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
A Public Space: 2 acceptances, 177 rejections, 0.82% acceptance rate
A Public Space is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2006 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, and Translation. "An independent nonprofit publisher of an eponymous award-winning literary, arts, and culture magazine, and A Public Space Books" -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 4 months.
Joyland: 1 acceptance, 88 rejections, 0.83% acceptance rate
Joyland is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2008 that publishes Fiction, and Nonfiction. "Joyland is based on the idea that fiction is an international movement supported by local communities. Our editors work with authors globally to highlight the most exciting voices in literary fiction and creative nonfiction." -C.S. Fee: $5 | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3-4 months.
Wigleaf: 1 acceptance, 66 rejections, 0.85% acceptance rate
Wigleaf is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 2008 that publishes Fiction, and Flash Fiction. "We feature stories under 1000 words." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
Kenyon Review: 2 acceptances, 126 rejections, 0.86% acceptance rate
Kenyon Review is a United States of America-based literary magazine founded in 1939 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Flash CNF, Poetry, Translation, and Play. "The Kenyon Review has been in the heart of literature since 1939 when poet and critic John Crowe Ransom started the journal on the campus of Kenyon College." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 6 months.
Is there some reason you're dancing around not mentioning which submission trackers are claiming ownership over their users' data? Because that should be shouted from the rooftops, not whispered amongst those in the know. If they have the gall to assert ownership they don't have any right to complain about it.
Any submission tracker that claims to own your data is not worth using. This is the kind of thing this newsletter exists for: to let those who don't know better what they need to watch out for.
(And for what it's worth, after just checking the TOS, it's not Submission Grinder.)
Very interesting indeed, as a writer from the U.K. I've had a piece accepted by an English literary magazine and have yet to get it accepted in the States.