What better time than in self-isolation to write and submit your writing? Here are 10 magazines and journals with open submission periods. They’re waiting for you to send your work, even in these strange days. So wash your hands, stay healthy, and send your words out into the world even if you’re stuck at home.
Whitefish Review
In these times of unexpected challenges that touch everyone (e.g., COVID-19, political unrest, sudden loss of income) we felt it was important to hear from artists and writers at this moment, so we can make sure that we are illuminating what is most vital and essential. We are seeking submissions through March 31, 2020. Send us 1 story (fiction or essay) or up to 3 poems (all in one Word document).
https://whitefishreview.submittable.com/submit/163232/25-new-work-for-the-current-times
11th Annual Spirit First Poetry Contest
Poetry submissions may be of any length and any style but must have a theme of Meditation or Mindfulness. Poems may reflect any discipline, any faith, or none. Poems must be previously unpublished. Poems not on the themes of meditation, mindfulness, stillness, or sacred silence will not be included in this meditation poetry event. Enter up to three submissions. Deadline: March 31, 2020.
https://www.spiritfirst.org/poetry_contest2020Entry.html
The Masters Review New Voices
Submissions for our New Voices category are open year round. New Voices is open to any new and emerging author who has not published a work of fiction or narrative nonfiction of novel length. All submissions must be less than 7,000 words.
https://themastersreview.submittable.com/submit/26106/new-voices-free
Valparaiso Fiction Review
Submissions to VFR should be original, unpublished fiction. Submissions should range from 1,000 to 9,000 words with possible exceptions. Please no novels, poetry, or children’s fiction unless otherwise noted. Excerpts from novels are acceptable only if selected piece operates as a stand-alone story. There is no submission deadline. Submissions are considered on a rolling basis.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/vfr/guidelines.html
Posit
Posit is interested in finely crafted, innovative literary and visual art. Submit 1-3 pieces of prose, including fiction and hybrids, but no nonfiction please. 1000 words or less each. However, if you are submitting very short pieces, please send us at least three to choose from. Please include a minimum of five and a maximum of six poems for us to consider. Deadline: April 15, 2020.
https://posit.submittable.com/submit
Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel
For Volume 23, we are asking for your poems, short stories, essays, flash pieces and black and white 2D art on encounters with the edge, however you define it. Unpublished work is preferred, but we aren’t sticklers. Send us your best creative work exploring Appalachian Edge. Submit up to 5 poems for one piece of prose up to 3,000 words. Deadline: April 15, 2020.
http://www.sawconline.net/pmsg-submission-guidelines.html
EPOCH
EPOCH magazine publishes fiction, poetry, essays, cartoons, screenplays, graphic art, and graphic fiction. In continuous publication since 1947, the magazine is edited by faculty in the Department of English Program in Creative Writing at Cornell University. For poetry, submit no more than five poems in one envelope. For fiction, submit no more than one story per envelope and no more than three short short stories per envelope. We consider fiction in all forms, short short to novella length. Deadline April 15, 2020.
https://english.cornell.edu/epoch-magazine-0?
Rattle Poetry
Themed Issue: “Service workers.” This may include those in the hotel, lodging, food service, tourism, or customer service industries, as well as many others. Poems may be written on any subject, in any length, but the poet must currently be, or have been, employed as a service worker for a significant period of time (years, not months). Please include a brief note about your background in the service industry and what effect it’s had on your poetry (if any). Submit up to four previously unpublished poems (or four pages of very short poems). Deadline: April 15, 2020.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/34383/service-workers
The Fiddlehead
The Fiddlehead is open to good writing in English or translations into English from all over the world and in a variety of styles, including experimental genres. Our editors are always happy to see new unsolicited works in fiction, including excerpts from novels, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Work is read on an ongoing basis; the acceptance rate is around 1-2% (we are, however, famous for our rejection notes!). A short fiction or nonfiction submission should be one story or essay, double spaced and maximum 6,000 words. Unless a story is very, very short (under 1000 words), please send only one story per submission. Please submit no more than 6 poems per submission. Deadline: April 30, 2020.
https://thefiddlehead.ca/submit
Birmingham Poetry Review
Unsolicited manuscripts of no more than five poems are welcomed. Pay is one copy of the Birmingham Poetry Review. Submit now through May 15, 2020.
https://www.uab.edu/cas/englishpublications/bpr/submit
Denton Loving 