Best Lit Mags of 2023: Chill Subs Community Favorites # 11-25
The votes are in!
The nominations are in! Yay! Out of the 1500 nominations of over 600 literary magazines we received for Best Lit Mag of 2023, we’ve narrowed it down to the Top 25 based on how many times they were nominated. We will be releasing these lists in sets of three.
#11-25 - Today!
#6-10 - Wednesday (Dec. 13th)
and The Top 5 Best Lit Mags of 2023 will come on Friday (Dec. 15th)
All will be free. We want to give each of these magazines the space and credit they deserve. If you’re curious about why we are doing this, I wrote up a little something in our startup diary last week about it. But if you’re short on time, here are the highlights:
We want to offer more qualitative data on literary magazines.
We want to offer more than the “who are the most prestigious, prize-winniest, most-funded magazines out there?” model. (If you want that, Brecht, Garstang, and Krouse have all done exceptional work on that front.)
Who better to make these judgments than the writers who’ve been interacting with these magazines all year? Getting rejected. Working with the editors. Reading, following on socials, the works.
Basically, if you’re looking for the best restaurant in town, you’d like to hear from folks who have actually eaten at those restaurants, right? We think so. Also, in our next update on Chill subs, these nominated magazines will have new community-favorite tags created from the feedback we received plus a special Top 25 Best Lit Mag badge. This is a first step toward molding our database into something that provides more than just data.
We are fully funded by our premium users and paid subscribers. If you like the work we are doing and have the means to support us, you can sign up on our website or upgrade to a paid subscription here on Substack.
Each of these magazines will soon have a Top 25 Lit Mag of 2023 badge added to their listing pages on Chill Subs! (editors, you can also add it to your websites, just saying) Check it out:
25th - Fiction on the Web
“Has been publishing great stories for decades.”
Every story gets reader comments. Free to submit. One of the web's oldest lit mags, so no fear of it closing down anytime soon.
Some of the best (and often most humorous stories) I have ever read, plus helpful feedback.
Quality writing and editing, excellent and timely communications between writers and editor,
High quality, variety, feedback forum - great relationship with both writers and readers.
Steady stream of juried stories as well as feedback and commentary from the editor.
Fiction on the Web is a GB-based magazine founded in 1996 that is fee-free, responds within 30 days.
Fiction on the Web has been online and continuously publishing since July 1996, which makes it the oldest short stories website on the Internet. Thousands of stories have been enjoyed by millions of readers.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
They are open to some previously published works.
Submit via email.
Genres [Fiction.]
Visit them: Fiction on the Web
24th - Mom Egg Review
“Very responsive editors. Great quality work.”
Kindness of editors, efficient, strong work
Excellent writing. Captivating pieces. Diverse pieces.
1) Fantastic writing relating to motherhood (everyone had a mom) 2) Features book reviews and promotes diverse writers 3) Creates spaces for community to connect via readings and online forums 4) Nominates for awards 5) Offers print and online publication 6) Has a solid reputation for integrity and quality
Devoted, discerning and kind editors. Wonderful about supporting their writers. Thought provoking and strong writing.
MER highlights the best in poetry, prose, and art from people writing about motherhood. This is not a journal that exploits or condescends. They consistently strive for excellence, truth, and diversity.
MER - Mom Egg Review is a US-based magazine founded in 2002 that charges some fees (with an open free period in April) and responds within 180 days.
A literary journal on motherhood.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Flash. (1) Poetry. (4)]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfiction.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
Visit them: Mom Egg Review
23rd - Split Lip
“Beautiful presentation of work, transparent editors.”
Just the best team who made me feel so welcomed when I was accepted. They run a little feature where they ask writers about the inspiration for their pieces, and another little feature where they ask everyone in the issue what they're listening to recently. When I somehow forgot to send a revised version of my poem for literal months, and panic-emailed last-minute about it, their team was super sweet and understanding and made me feel much better about it. Split Lip is just great!
Split Lip curates an easily digestible monthly online journal with unique outlay and emerging writers. Because they take just four pieces a month they’re able to provide in depth edits and elevate each contributors work — investing in new writers with no ding to quality. They famously maintain connections with contributors and use their platform to amplify the diverse artists they support. With added free submission months Split Lip is the model for emerging independent lit journals.
I haven't had a piece with them in years, but they do such a wonderful job of promoting writers and former contributors online. (And they write very encouraging rejection letters.) They enliven the literary community and consistently publish beautiful work, beautifully. I like that their monthly issues are small, so that they can focus on the individual contributors that much more. They are one of the few journals that I've been happy to pay for a tip-jar submission even though there's a free option because I believe in them and want them to succeed.
If there's one mag I can almost guarantee is on everyone's dream list, I'd put all my money on Split Lip. With incredible, personalized art to go along with each piece (and only four pieces published per month), Split Lip has held the bar as high as it is for other online mags.
Killer commitment to the community
Split Lip Magazine is a US-based magazine founded in 2012 that charges fees, pays writers, and responds within 120 days.
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.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Fiction. Nonfiction. Poetry. (1)]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfiction.
They are in the Top 1% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
They are well-established on social media (20K+ following)
Visit them: Split Lip Magazine
22nd - Variant Lit
“Careful, beautiful editing.”
Fast turnaround times, beautiful website!
Super fast, free, pays writers, love the weird stuff they publish.
We strive to do right by our authors during selection, the editing process, and promoting the published work.
Talented, dedicated editors who help with editing accepted pieces.
Exceptional editing and care of work
Variant Lit is a US-based magazine founded in 2019 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 60 days.
A small nonprofit press + mag committed to publishing diverse voices at all stages of their career. Our staff is entirely volunteer run and all proceeds go towards creating new books and paying writers.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Fiction. (Pay: 10) Flash. (3) (Pay: Per piece: 10) Nonfiction. (Pay: 10) Poetry. (5) (Pay: 10)]
They nominate work for BOtN, Best Small Fictions Our records show that they are active on social media.
They are in the Top 5% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
They have a solid social media presence with 10K+ followers.
Visit them: Variant Lit
21st - BRUISER
“Very supportive, unpretentious, indie/punk vibes.”
Publishes diverse talent and has a friendly leadership
Custom art, fast turnaround, cool stuff, no sub fees
Very supportive, unpretentious, indie/punk vibes.
Love the submission model; amazing design; great social media presence
Such weird and quirky content cannot be described, and the much simplified process of being published there is a pure unadulterated joy! They ROCK!!!
BRUISER is a US-based magazine founded in 2022 that is fee-free, responds within 21 days.
BRUISER publishes new work in all mediums — prose, poetry, image, audio, video, comix, whatever. Submissions always open. Get weird.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via their form.
Genres [Fiction. Nonfiction. Poetry.]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
They are in the Top 10% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
Visit them: BRUISER
20th - fifth wheel press
“Inclusive of queer & otherwise marginalized writers. Kickass team of editors.”
Inclusive of queer & otherwise marginalized writers. Kickass team of editors
Incredible editor, consistently beautiful issues, a creatively fulfilling space to be a part of
They've built an awesome community for LGBT+ creatives, and visiting their Discord daily has helped me feel more part of it
I love and appreciate the safe space for LGBTQIA+ writers, and the issue themes are fun.
Excellent editors, beautiful anthologies, a beloved queer voice in indie lit.
fifth wheel press is a US-based magazine founded in 2019 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 45 days.
An independent community-focused publisher of art and writing by queer, trans, and gender non-conforming creatives.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
They are open to some previously published works.
Genres [Fiction. Nonfiction. Poetry. (3)]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
They are in the Top 2% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
Visit them: fifth wheel press
19th - Fractured Lit
“Best stories out there.”
Seeks to publish a variety of writers and is constantly finding new ways to introduce new flash and micro styles to the world
The stories published in Fractured are always fantastic. The editorial staff is always respectful and polite, and very supportive of authors. Fractured works to reprint stories that have become homeless due to the original publisher going defunct. Submissions are always free, and they pay well.
Best editor and community
Consistently high quality stuff!
They pay well and publish some great stories. I like that they have different pay scales for different kinds of pieces -- micro, flash, flash series. They also run contests all the time and have a bit of diversity as far as readers/assoc eds.
fractured literary is a US-based magazine founded in 2020 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 60 days.
We want to find Flash with emotional resonance and characters we care about, who come to life through their actions and responses to the world around them. We’re searching for Flash that investigates the mysteries of being human, the sorrow and the joy of connecting to the diverse population around us.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
They are open to some previously published works.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Fiction. Flash. (2)]
They are in the Top 5% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
They have a solid social media presence with 10K+ followers.
Listed in Erika Krouse's Top 500 Fiction Magazines
Visit them: Fractured Lit
18th - RockPaperPoem
“They are consistently great.”
Excellent contemporary poetry, attractive design, reader and contributor friendly
High quality poetry, beautiful accompanying artwork!
It's all poetry by some excellent, mostly unknown, poets!
Excellent mix of talents and great editorial staff!
Wonderful editors, elegant zine, clear beautiful writing
RockPaperPoem is a US-based magazine founded in 2020 that is fee-free, responds within 30 days.
We publish poems that rally to great causes, speak to daily lives, reveal personal passions.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Poetry. (5)]
They nominate work for BOtN.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
Visit them: RockPaperPoem
17th - trampset
“Fearless and amazing.”
The editors are super nice, and very supportive. They pay writers for each piece.
Fearless and amazing
They're kind and give feedback and publish great stuff and love writers and they PAY
Consistently great writing. Fast response time and easy-to-work-with editors.
Fast and kind, free
trampset is a US-based magazine founded in 2017 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 90 days.
A literary journal, trampset publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on a rolling basis. We welcome diverse voices, including writers working outside academia.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Fiction. (Pay: 25) Flash. (3) (Pay: 25) Nonfiction. (Pay: 25) Poetry. (3) (Pay: 25)]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfiction.
They are in the Top 1% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
They have a solid social media presence with 10K+ followers.
Visit them: trampset
16th - Reckon Review
“Diversifying grit lit!”
Strong focus on a local vernacular - southern grit. Beautiful prose.
Consistently cover hard topics with emotional depth
Gritty, spare, and gorgeous.
Great stories with a southern twist.
Southern grit lit at its finest. Rarely do you see even a mundane or average story from them.
Reckon Review is a US-based magazine founded in 2020 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 84 days.
Inspired by dirt roads, switchbacks, wildflowers, porch sitting, cicada songs, and the scent of something good cooking in the kitchen; The Reckon Review is a journal of prose that publishes one incredible story, per week.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Genres [Fiction. Nonfiction.]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfiction.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
Visit them: Reckon Review
15th - SWWIM
“Love the energy of this journal.”
This journal features five poems per week written by women poets from all over, but also shines a light on Miami with residencies and in-person events.
Refreshing, surprising poetry that opens the day and the heart. Careful and attentive editors. Generous readers.
Highlights a magnificent range of poetry styles and content. The daily poem from SWWIM in my email (actually, I read it on Substack more often) nearly always sends me off to find more work by a particular poet or check out a literary journal they’ve published in - and this is certainly a wonderful chain of events that a good poetry pub can trigger.
Strong poetry with a focus on women's concerns (however we define women and concerns). I read for them, so I know how thoughtful they are in making their selections. I like the poem in my inbox model.
They don't forget you after you're published there. They continue to promote their writers through weekly updates.
SWWIM Every Day (Supporting Women Writers in Miami Every Day) is a US-based magazine founded in 2017 that charges fees and responds within 90 days.
An online daily lit mag. We raise the voices of women.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Poetry. (3)]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
Visit them: SWWIM
14th - Voidspace
“Such innovative issues and submission calls.”
Creative pop ups, completely accessible. Friendly. Amazing response times. A terrific aesthetic has been created that really lets you play and above all have fun. Fun is here! An all round supportive member of this community.
Innovative and diverse. Approachable. High quality, cool and creative content. Fun.
Unique vision, fun detailed prompts, fast responses and helpful edits, beautiful website, free
Interactive and beautiful, mesmerizing and bizarre, different journeys that make our inspiration fly. Unique and unafraid, stares into the void and laughs with passionate intensity - smart, clever, brilliant writing, intelligent and aware, curated with finesse and elan.
Between the clever pop-up calls and the mind-bending issues of the zine, Voidspace has stretched, bent, and broken the rigid definition of what makes something a "literary magazine". The interactive nature of the pieces turns the reader into a collaborator, providing a unique experience for each person that reads the zine.
voidspace is a magazine founded in 2021 that is fee-free.
We are looking for work the reader can interact with or influence in some way.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
They are open to some previously published works.
Submit via email.
Genres [Fiction. Nonfiction. Poetry.]
Our records show that they are active on social media.
Visit them: Voidspace
13th - Rattle
“Best poems.”
So much contribution to community with free podcasts, daily poems, free subs, young poets anthology and more
Tim Green is the embodiment of kindness, generosity and community building. His Rattlecast and Critique of the Week webcasts are invaluable for all poets trying to better their craft and discover new work by established poets.
Tim truly is an advocate for all that the art of poetry does and can be.
Timothy Green has been a major contributor to the poetry community for 20 years. He's changed the landscape of lit mags by pushing innovation as a futurist. Tim is responsible for getting more lit mags to accept sim subs. I personally love the chapbook series. Tim also hosts so many other positive community-oriented features including
Editor Timothy Green somehow manages to be supportive, encouraging, and creative, yet has one of the fastest response times of any journal at that level.
Rattle is a US-based magazine founded in 1995 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 180 days.
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.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via Submittable.
Genres [Poetry. (3)]
They are in the Top 1% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
They have a solid social media presence with 10K+ followers.
Visit them: Rattle
12th - Flash Frog
“Spotlights amazing writing, their selections never disappoint!”
Eric Scott Tryon is such a terrific champion of Flash, but as an editor, he 1) actually engages with editing the piece and pushes/encourages writers to push their work (without being dogmatic or overbearing); 2) commissions lovely artwork to accompany one's work; 3) pays writers and artists for their work without charging submission fees; 4) promotes writers online via various social media; and 5) does this all on his own, which in itself is an amazing feat.
They publish a new piece of quality flash fiction every Monday, accompanied by a piece of complementary art. I admire how they support all their writers and artists, through shout outs and encouragement.
Enthusiastic and thoughtful editor, beautiful presentation of work with bespoke artwork for each piece, great communication, active promotion on social media, publishes weekly which gives each story space to breathe.
Pays, quick turnaround on submissions, art curated for each piece
They publish amazing work, respond quickly to submissions, run an annual contest, and pay writers and artists (each story has a commissioned artwork). It's run by one nice person, but the stories are diverse and exciting.
Flash Frog is a US-based magazine founded in 2021 that is fee-free, pays writers and responds within 7 days.
An online flash fiction magazine featuring stories under 1,000 words. We like our stories like we like our dart frogs: small, brightly colored, and deadly to the touch.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via email.
Genres [Fiction. Flash. (1)]
They nominate work for Pushcart, BOtN, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfiction.
Our records show that they are active on social media.
They are in the Top 2% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
Visit them: Flash Frog
11th - Milk Candy Review
“Lightning fast response times, interviews with every author.”
Always very nice personalized feedback with rejections, quick response times, love the little writer interviews about the stories too.
They publish some of the best flash fiction, they are swift in response times and kind and supportive to their writers, readers, and to the flash fiction community as a whole
Fast responses. One of the most supportive and kind editors I’ve ever encountered. Lots of communication and a transparent publication process. Love the interview with the author feature. The quality of the stories there are absolute fire. The website is great.
Best magazine to work with, the EIC always treats writers with respect, consistently promotes the work of their writers
Free subs, quick and personalized responses that are courteous, beautiful online format, promotes writers on social media, nominates for prizes
Milk Candy Review is a US-based magazine founded in 2018 that is fee-free, responds within 7 days.
We're here for your beautifully weird flash fiction.
They accept simultaneous submissions.
Submit via email.
Genres [Fiction. Flash. (1)]
Our records show that they are active on social media.
They are in the Top 10% of most popular magazines on Chill Subs.
Great list- looking forward to the second installment!
What a great list, thank you!!