antae was first established in 2013 as an academic journal, and was relaunched in 2024 as a journal of creative writing. Since then they’ve published three issues with writing from 22 to 29 contributors. The issues are thoughtfully designed and available to read for free as downloadable PDFs.

antae holds three submission periods each year: June 1 through August 31, October 1 through December 31, and February 1 through April 31. They also sometimes hold additional submission periods for special issues, contests, and events.

Poets may submit up to four poems in any style. Although there’s no length limit, if any poem exceeds three pages, only one poem may be submitted. Authors of prose—fiction or creative nonfiction—may submit 1,000 to 3,000 words in any genre or style. They also accept excerpts from longer works in both poetry and prose.

antae also accepts scripts, creative criticism, reviews, and other works that don’t fit into the categories they’ve outlined.

Authors of scripts may submit 1,500 to 4,500 words in any genre or style. Authors of creative criticism may submit works of any length, using past issues of antae as a guideline. Authors may also contact antae to pitch reviews of creative works—such as novels, essay collections, poetry anthologies, and plays—or to ask about submitting writing that does not fit into their usual categories—such as interviews, videos, and artwork.

In addition to writing in English, antae also accepts English translations from Maltese. All submissions undergo a three-stage review process, and writing is considered without the author’s name attached. 

antae accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. antae does not accept simultaneous submissions or previously published writing. Authors may submit once per submission period. Submissions to one issue may be considered for later issues as well. Authors will be notified when this is the case.

antae only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to antae, please visit their website here. 

Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.

149 Review launched in 2025, and since then they’ve published two online issues, with writing from twelve and thirteen contributors. Both the journal and the website as a whole  are thoughtfully designed. The journal is published twice a year, in the summer and winter. They also offer craft essays and other craft resources, as well as a podcast about submissions.

149 Review is open to poetry submissions twice a year: from February 1 through April 30 for their summer issue, and August 1 through October 31 for their winter issue. Poets may send one submission per reading period. They are open to fiction and nonfiction submissions year-round, and authors in these categories should submit no more than once every three months.

Poets may submit three to five poems. Authors of fiction and creative nonfiction may send one short story or essay, 5,000 words or fewer (keeping in mind that they prefer stories and essays under 3,000 words).

Every issue, 149 Review awards a non-monetary prize to one poem, one story, and one creative essay with exceptional craft: “It takes an incredible amount of time to develop a command over one’s craft toolkit, and as writers ourselves, we want to put that effort on display.” All submissions are considered for these prizes. 149 Review also plans to nominate writing published in the journal for all the major anthologies.

149 Review accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions, but ask that authors withdraw writing published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work, and they do not accept writing generated or assisted by AI.

149 Review only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to 149 Review, please visit their website here. 

Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.

Shadowplay was established in 2023, and since then they’ve published three yearly issues. The most recent issue contains writing by 36 contributors, with six pieces available to read for free online. The print edition is distributed in bookstores, libraries, academic institutions, and through online retailers.

Shadowplay is open to submissions from October 15 through March 15. Poets may submit up to five pages, with each poem beginning on a separate page. Authors of fiction and nonfiction may submit up to 2,500 words. Authors may send one submission per genre per reading period. Submitting authors can expect a response within six months.

Authors published in Shadowplay receive one contributor copy of the print journal, and Shadowplay nominates authors published in the journal for the Pushcart Prize.

Shadowplay accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw writing published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work.

Shadowplay only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Shadowplay, please visit their website here. 

Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.

So far, the Carrier Bag has published one issue, themed “A New Leaf,” featuring eight poems and five stories. The digital journal is thoughtfully designed and free to read.

Now through February 13, The Carrier Bag is accepting submissions for their second issue, themed “A Look Into the Future”. For this issue, they are especially interested in speculative and science fiction (though in general they are open to all genres), and they are looking for writing that focuses on small future moments, rather than the future as a whole.

Authors of fiction may submit up to 3,000 words, and poets may submit up to three pages. Submitting authors can expect a response by March 14.  The Carrier Bag pays authors published in the journal $10.

The Carrier Bag accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They do not accept simultaneous submissions, and they only accept one submission per author per category. They do not accept previously published work.

The Carrier Bag only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting. They do not accept writing generated or assisted by AI.

If you would like to learn more or submit to The Carrier Bag, please visit their website here. 

Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.

Root Smoke will begin publishing in February of this year, and right now they are seeking submissions for their first publications. They plan to publish three times a week, featuring poetry every Tuesday, fiction every Thursday, and an essay, interview, or artwork every Sunday. Then on the last Wednesday, they will share a compilation of everything published that month.

In general, Root Smoke is looking for memorable writing with emotional resonance and “clarity balanced with mystery”. Poets may submit up to five poems. Authors of fiction may submit up to three flashes or short stories, totaling 8,000 words or fewer. Authors of creative nonfiction may submit up to two pieces, totaling 6,000 words or fewer. Root Smoke also accepts book reviews, interviews, and hybrid writing.

Root Smoke accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw writing published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work, and they do not accept writing generated or assisted by AI.

Root Smoke only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Root Smoke, please visit their website.

Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.

The quarterly lit mag features selections from five zines and is available to read for free online. The full-length zines are also available for purchase; they are created by paid artists and folded by hand.

The zine vending machine is a pop-up installation that can be found at museums, bookstores, art galleries, festivals, and more, mostly in the Southern United States. You can find out where it will be here.

Zine Machine is open for submissions four times a year: from January 1-31 for the Spring edition, April 1-30 for the Summer edition, July 1-31 for the Fall edition, and October 1-31 for the Winter edition.

Authors may submit up to two mini zines. The whole zine must fit on one side of an 8.5” x 11” paper, which will be folded into a zine no larger than 4.25” x 2.75”.  They offer a mini zine design guide to help with this. Zines may include writing and/or artwork of any kind.

All zines accepted for publication will be published online, and will be available in the zine vending machine. Authors published by Zine Machine will receive $20.

Zine Machine accept submissions online using Submittable, not via email or by post. They only accept original writing and artwork. Zines that include collage or found elements must meet fair use guidelines.

Zine Machine only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Zine Machine, please visit their website here.  

Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.

Baubles from Bones launched its first issue in the summer of 2024, and since then they’ve published seven quarterly issues. Each issue is available to read for free online, or to purchase in print or as a digital edition. The issues are thoughtfully designed, and most feature writing from twelve contributors.

Right now, Baubles from Bones is accepting submissions through January 29. Authors of fiction may submit sci-fi and fantasy, 1,000 to 8,000 words. They accept stories on most themes, but they are especially interested in, “compelling adventures, folk-retellings, stories of hope in the dark, emotional healing, love of all sorts, environmentalism, and the humanity (or lack of it) among the fantastical and speculative.” Authors may submit one story at a time.

Poets may submit poems of 40 lines or fewer. They accept all forms and styles of poetry, but it must explore, “the fantastical, supernatural, or speculative.” They also accept short prose, 600 words or fewer. Authors may submit up to three poems and/or short prose pieces at once.

Baubles from Bones pays authors published in the journal. Authors of fiction receive $.01/word. Authors of poetry and short prose receive $10/piece. With this payment, they purchase first serial rights (electronic, print, and audio) for one year, after which authors may publish their pieces elsewhere.

Submitting authors can expect a response by March 18.

Baubles from Bones accepts submissions using an online form, not via email or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions, but ask that authors withdraw writing published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work, and they do not accept writing generated or assisted by AI.

Baubles from Bones only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Baubles from Bones, please visit their website here.

For online publication they are open to submissions of written and visual works, “including but not limited to poetry, short stories, personal essays, opinion pieces, photography, illustrations, and videos”.

Their website is easy to navigate, well organized, and the work they share is well presented. It’s easy to get a feel for what they publish online here.

They accept all submissions through Google forms, which you can see here, although I very much encourage you to read some pieces first to see if they are a good fit for your work or not.

Gramarye has been published twice a year since 2012, and is available in print and as a paid eBook. Each edition contains writing from around fifteen contributors.

Right now Gramarye is open to submissions through March 21, 2026. In addition to fairy tales and fantasy writing, they are also seeking Gothic literature, magical realism, science fiction, and speculative fiction.

Poets may submit up to four poems, totaling four pages/240 lines or fewer. Authors of short stories may submit one story or several, totaling 3,000 words or fewer. Gramarye also accepts long poems and flashes, as well as both traditional forms and experimental writing.

Gramarye is also seeking articles (up to 8,000 words) and book reviews (up to 1,000 words) on the same genres listed above.

Gramarye accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They do not accept simultaneous submissions or previously published writing.

Gramarye only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted here.  Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Gramarye, please visit their website here. 

Prose Poems was launched in 2023, and since then they’ve published nine issues. Each recent issue contains two poems by each of four poets. Prose Poems is published monthly in the winter, November through March, and isn’t published during the spring and summer months.

Poets may submit up to five prose poems, one page or shorter each. The journal also accepts single-paragraph flashes and short shorts. They do not accept any other form of poetry.

Prose Poems does accept side-by-side translations, as long as the poet has the rights to the original text.

Authors should send only one submission at a time, and should wait a while to submit again (unless otherwise requested).

Authors published in Prose Poems receive $10 for their two poems.

Prose Poems accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw poems published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work.

Prose Poems does not accept writing generated by AI. They only accept submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Prose Poems, please visit their website here. 

The Ex-Puritan
This Canadian literary magazine publishes fiction, nonfiction, experimental/hybrid work, interviews, reviews, poetry, and poetry in translation. The deadline is 25 December, or until filled, for the next issue; they accept a limited number of fee-free submissions every month, and read year-round.
Deadline: 25 December 2025, or until filled
Length: Varies
Pay: CAD200 per essay; CAD150 for fiction; CAD100 per interview or review; CAD50 per poem, capped at CAD100; CAD50+ per experimental or hybrid work, at an increasing scale depending on the nature of the piece.
Details here and here.

(– Submissions are also open for Extra Teeth. They accept fiction, creative nonfiction, and translations; while they champion Scottish writers, they also accept international submissions. They want work for their print magazine, for which they pay £140,and also select pieces for their Substack, Bite, for which they pay £100. Send works of 800 to 4,000 words. They also offer one or two free mentorships per issue; application is via a form on their guidelines page. The deadline is 14 December 2025, midnight BST.

— Also, The Paris Review will open for poetry submissions on 1^st January 2026; their Submittable will stay open till capacity is reached, and they’ll accept postal submissions through January.)

Chestnut Review
They accept fee-free submissions of flash prose (Black and Indigenous authors can also submit longer prose fee-free – see guidelines), poetry, and art. “We are drawn to beautiful language, resonant images, and we crave narrative.” They read throughout the year, with cut-off dates for issues.
Deadline: 31 December 2025 (for the Spring issue)
Length: Up to 1,000 words for flash prose, up to 3 poems
Pay: $120
Details here and here.

SmokeLong Quarterly
They pay for accepted flash narratives – fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid works. They are not charging a submission fee through December. They also accept work in other formats – reviews, art, global flash series. They have a mentorship program (see guidelines), as well.
Deadline (for fee-free submissions): 31 December 2025
Length: Up to 1,000 words
Pay: $100 per narrative, or $150 per story with audio (see guidelines)
Details here.

The Deadlands
They are open for fiction (through December) and speculative poetry (for the first three weeks of December). “The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere. We are looking for fiction that concerns itself with death—but also everything death may involve.
A ghost in a shadowed wood. An afterlife discovered through a rusted door. An abandoned house in the middle of a haunted field. A skeletal figure moving with intent toward something unseen. … The Deadlands would love to see stories from a worldwide perspective, different cultures, different approaches to death. … We are particularly interested in works by writers from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds.” And, “We are not simply a “horror market.” Sure, we want your horror, but we also want your litfic, your slipstream, your fantasy, your sf, your chicklit, your hist-fic, your everything fic. Death touches everything and so should our fiction.” Also see the kind of stories they do not want, including “Stories about related subjects—zombies, demons, vampires, apocalypses, and the various undead—are not for us.” They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 31 December 2025 for fiction (earlier for poetry – see guidelines) 
Length: Up to 5,000 words for fiction, up to 3 poems
Pay: $0.10/word for fiction, $50/poem
Details here.

(– Submissions are also open now for Ashton House Magazine. This is a new quarterly magazine, their first issue will be published in December 2025. They want literary genre fiction and poetry. “From tales of horror and suspense to crime mysteries, sports yarns, otherworldly adventures and nearly everything in between, we have something for everyone inside of our pages! We strive to continue America’s “pulp fiction” tradition by featuring both new and established authors whose work reaches beyond the grip of time.”
Send up to 5,000 words for fiction, up to 2 poems. They pay $0.06/word for fiction, $40/poem.

— And, Cosmic Horror Monthly will open from 1^st to 7^th January 2026. They publish weird and cosmic fiction. Their submission portal will open during the reading period. They pay $0.03/word for stories up to 5,000 words.

— 34 Orchard will open briefly in January, as well; “we like dark, intense pieces that speak to a deeper truth. We’re not genre-specific; we just like scary, disturbing, unsettling, and sad.” They pay $50 for stories of 1,000-6,000 words; their submission period is 1^st to 10^th January 2026. Work sent outside the reading period will be deleted unread.)

Interzone
Interzone is a Europe-based magazine that accepts fantastika of up to 17,500 words. They also accept translations (see guidelines).
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 17,500 words
Pay: EUR1.5¢/word
Details here.

Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.

Lamplit was established earlier this year, and so far they’ve published two out of four quarterly issues. Their first and second issue featured 19 contributors in each issue. Both issues are thoughtfully designed and available as free digital downloads.

Right now Lamp Lit is seeking submissions for their winter issue.

Poets may submit three to five poems of any length, though very long poems will need to be exceptional to be published. Authors of fiction may submit up to three stories, 6,000 words or fewer each. Lamp Lit also accepts flash fiction, and authors of flash may submit up to three stories, 1,000 words or fewer each. Authors of creative nonfiction may submit one personal essay, 6,000 words or fewer.

They also welcome other writing that stands on its own but doesn’t fit a genre category, as long as it’s 6,000 words or fewer.

Authors submitting to Lamp Lit can expect a response within three months. Lamp Lit nominates authors published in the journal for The Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.

Lamp Lit accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw writing published elsewhere. They do not accept writing previously published in another literary journal; however, they do accept writing published on personal websites or social media.

Lamp Lit does not accept submissions generated by AI. They only accept submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online, so please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Lamp Lit, please visit their website here. 

Wild Greens has been published monthly since 2020, and each issue contains work from around ten to fifteen contributors—both authors and visual artists alike. Some issues also contain forms that combine image and text, such as collage and erasure. 

Each issue of Wild Greens is themed, and past themes have included “protection,” “time,” and “mending.” Now through December 15, Wild Greens is seeking submissions on the theme “The Great Unknown”.

Poets may submit up to five poems of any kind. Authors of fiction may submit one piece, 1,000 words or fewer, in any genre. Wild Greens also accepts longer fiction to be serialized across multiple issues. Authors of creative nonfiction may submit one personal essay, 2,000 words or fewer.

Wild Greens accepts a wide variety of other work too, including cultural commentary—such as responses to current events or reviews of television shows, 2,000 words or fewer—and visual art—such as photographs, paintings, sketches, digital images, and photos of handmade items. They also accept musical recordings.

All submissions should respond to the monthly theme.

Submitting authors can expect a response within one week of the deadline. Authors published in Wild Greens will receive a small honorarium.

Wild Greens accepts submissions using an online form, not via email or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions, but they do not accept previously published work.

Wild Greens only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Wild Greens, please visit their website here.