Call for Submissions: The Offing Magazine

 

The Offing Magazine

Thanks so much for your interest, and we look forward to reading your work. Please be familiar with the magazine and our mission before you submit.

For 2026, there will be no submission fees thanks to our generous donors.

In your cover letter, we encourage you to include information that you would like us to know, such as whether, if we choose to publish it, this submission will be your first publication.

***If a department is not listed below, that means it is not currently accepting submissions.***

Please DO NOT email any submissions. We will not accept any submissions via email, only those sent through this portal.

Just a few additional things:

Upon publication, contributors will be paid a $25–$100 fee, depending on department and number/length of works published. 

All pieces should be original, and previously unpublished in any format in English.

We acquire first serial rights worldwide in English and non-exclusive anthology rights.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted; please be sure to withdraw your piece promptly if it’s accepted elsewhere.

Please don't send more than one submission per department; wait until your work is accepted or declined before submitting again.

We'll do our utmost to respond within six months, but due to the volume of submissions we receive, and the careful & collaborative nature of our review process, that may not always be possible. Thank you for your patience.

If you have any questions regarding your submission or our submissions process, please contact us at:

info@theoffingmag.com

However, please do NOT email any submissions, as they will not be considered via email, only through our submission links.

As a journal that publishes literature and art, we want to allow writers and artists to explore and critique AI explicitly. Therefore, any submitted piece created using AI must do so as part of an intentional engagement with or critique of AI and must be accompanied by or marked with explicit denotation of where and how AI was used in the piece. Otherwise, we will not generally accept AI-assisted work (including assistance for editing or “reader feedback”), unless the assistance is used due to a disability. If you submit work using this assistance, please state so explicitly in your cover letter. Any piece found to otherwise use AI without our knowledge is subject to automatic rejection or removal from The Offing.

We would like to be up front about a contributor's rights in the event that they are published at The Offing. Here is the relevant portion of the contract:

"In consideration of the above-described Work, the Contributor identified above grants to The Offing (“Publisher”) the following rights to the Work: (a) for the website, theoffingmag.com, and as a part of the archives of The Offing and (b) the non-exclusive right for use and re-use of the Contributor’s name, image, and biographical data in advertising and promotion of all Publisher’s publications in all media. Except as above, Contributor retains all other rights.

Contributor represents and warrants that (a) the Work is the Author’s original work; (b) the Work is accurate and factually correct, (c) he/she has full power to make this grant of rights, (d) that the Work contains no matter which infringes copyright, trademark or other rights, is defamatory or otherwise unlawful, invades the right of privacy or publicity, or which infringes any other proprietary right of any third parties; (e) the Work has not been previously published in English by Contributor or any third parties, except in such cases as are previously agreed to in writing by Publisher and Contributor; and (f) if the consent and permission of any third parties are required for the use of the Work described above, including persons depicted in the Work, Contributor has obtained such consent and permission in writing and will submit copies to Publisher on delivery of the Work. Contributor agrees to cite The Offing as the source of original publication if Contributor licenses the use of the Work to other publishers or publications in any media."

Submit your work here. 

Call for Submissions on Theme of "People, Places, Things!": Catalogue Zine Magazine

Catalogue Zine Environmental Magazine

People, Places, Things! is a study into the nouns and identities that are defining modern sustainability and social justice.

We want to see works on the people that have changed life as we know it, the people driving the world forward, the places that hold a special place in the public conscious or how different places and systems are more or less conducive to sustainability. We want to hear about the things in life that bring you joy, and the things that we need to do away with.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION

We accept any submission type in any format. This includes, but is not limited to:

Nonfiction Fiction Audio Memoir Criticism Drama Photography Essays Graphic Novels Humor Interviews Reviews Visual Art Graphic Design Poetry Translation Research Fashion Food

in Print, Digital, Audio, Video, File, etc.

No more than 5 pages in total, and please no more than 3 works.

Please provide an email for which you will be easily contactable at.

Accepted contributors will have their work published in the upcoming issue and can also have their work featured on this website for one week. They will also receive an online or print copy of the issue they were accepted for.

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR NAME ON YOUR SUBMISSION!

We do not accept AI Generated work.

It is your responsibility to ensure your submission does not infringe any other magazine or publication's submission/publication rules.

Submissions are accepted until EOD November 30.

YOU MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER WITH YOUR NAME, THE TITLE OF YOUR WORK, AND YOUR EMAIL.

Please ensure your submission relates to the overall concepts of our zine (climate advocacy) and the current issue theme (currently "Lifestyle").

Simultaneous and pre-published works are accepted for all submission types.

Submit your work here. 

Call for Submissions: Common House Magazine

Submissions to our fall issue are now OPEN until November 30.

Common House accepts rolling submissions for its Fall and Winter issues:

FALL SUBMISSIONS PERIOD: August 24 to November 30

WINTER SUBMISSIONS PERIOD: December 1 to March 31

SUMMER PERIOD (Spotlight and Contest): [subscribe to our mailing list for updates]

Please ensure you review our submission guidelines before submitting. Note that submissions that do not comply with our guidelines will not be read.

I. Who can submit

We accept works from anyone, anywhere in the world. We reserve up to a quarter of each issue for uOttawa students exclusively.

We will not consider works from those who have been published within that same year. For example, those published in Fall 2024 will not be considered until Fall 2025. Summer Spotlight remains open to all uOttawa students and the summer contests open to anyone.

II. What to submit

Please submit:

1 work of prose up to 3000 words or 2–3 flash pieces up to 1000 words each

OR up to 5 poems

OR up to 5 works of art or photographs

OR audio and video submissions of up to 3 minutes

Pieces must be original and unpublished. Published pieces include those posted on personal blogs or social media. If visual art pieces have appeared publicly in galleries or personal portfolios, please indicate so in the submissions form.

We will consider excerpts from longer work, but we are unlikely to accept an excerpt that doesn’t work well on its own.

We accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify us by email:

 commonhousemag@gmail.com 

if your work has been accepted elsewhere.

We do publish genre fiction (e.g. fantasy, mystery, etc.) but generally lean towards literary fiction. We recommend scrolling through a few of our previous issues before submitting to know whether we're a good fit for your piece.

III. How to submit

Please only submit through our Google Forms. Submissions sent via email will not be considered. If there is something wrong with the link, please contact us, and we will get it up and running as soon as possible.

Please submit your piece(s) as a:​

Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF (.pdf) for written work

PNG file for art and photography

MP3 file for audio

MP4 file for video​

Name your document: LastName_Title and include all pieces in a single document. The inclusion of additional information such as full name, bio, address, or artist's statement violates this guideline.

Use 1.5 spaced, 12-pt plain text font such as Times New Roman unless font is used as a creative visual element in the piece.

​If your work does not fit into one of our five main genres—poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, or multimedia work—simply choose the genre you feel fits best.

IV. After submitting

Our response time is 1–4 months. Feel free to inquire by email about the status of your submission after 4 months have passed.

Monetary compensation has been offered in the past for our summer contest winners due to successful fundraising during the academic year. Compensation is currently unavailable for contributors to our seasonal issues. Common House is an entirely volunteer-run operation; as we continue to grow, we hope to be able to compensate contributors in the future.

Submit your work here. 

Statement about the use of AI:

We at Common House celebrate the originality of human thought and creativity. We support authors, poets, and works that make readers feel connected to a broader humanity. The use of AI betrays these values and contributes to dangerous developments against ingenuity, critical thought, and the natural world. We prohibit submissions that have been written with the use of AI tools, and have updated our contractual materials to reflect this policy.

Statement about diversity in our publication:

Common House is committed to representing a wide range of voices reflecting the diversity of human experience and artistic expression. While our evaluations begin anonymously, we recognize the existence of systemic and institutional barriers actively restricting underrepresented artists. Thus, at the highest stage of our vetting process, we do take personal bios into account. We strive to compile issues that remain inclusive and we hold ourselves responsible for showcasing varied perspectives representative of the vibrancy of our world.

We particularly welcome submissions from marginalized and underrepresented artists, including Black artists, Indigenous artists, artists who are people of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ artists, artists with disabilities, as well as artists who are unpublished and/or emerging. If you are comfortable identifying yourself as one or more of the above, please indicate so on the submissions form or in your personal bio.

Writing Competition: The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

About the award

The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence honors Louisiana’s revered storyteller, Ernest J. Gaines, and serves to inspire and recognize rising African-American fiction writers of excellence at a national level. The book award, initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, is now in its 18th year and has become nationally recognized in its role of enhancing visibility of emerging African-American fiction writers while also expanding the audience for this literature. The annual award of a $15,000 cash prize is to support and enable the writer to focus on writing.

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation sponsors the winner’s travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to receive the prize at a ceremony, where the author reads an excerpt from the selected work of fiction. A reception follows. The evening is free, open to the public and attracts a diverse audience.

The literary award winner also participates in educational activities at selected area schools and after-school programs in keeping with the Gaines Award's interest in emphasizing the role of literature and arts in education. Through small creative writing workshops with the winning author, students are encouraged to pursue reading, delve into their own creativity, and to consider becoming an author.

Criteria and Submission:

To enter a published book or galley for review, send the completed REGISTRATION FORM and EIGHT (8) copies to:

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
c/o Baton Rouge Area Foundation
451 North St., Suite LL 100
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801

Non-winning entries will be donated to an area nonprofit. Ineligible entries will not be returned.

The Literary Award, initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to honor Mr. Gaines, is designed to inspire and recognize rising African-American writers of excellence as they work to achieve the literary heights for which Ernest J. Gaines is known.

Entries will be accepted through October 31, 2026.

 

Criteria for the 19th Annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence:

A work of fiction (novel or collection of short stories) that is published between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Galleys for a 2026 publication are also accepted.

 

The nominee must be a rising author, not yet widely recognized for their work. 

 

Author must be an African-American U.S. citizen.

 

Self-published books will not be accepted. Self-published defined as publishing one's work independently and at one's own expense.

 

Emailed entries will not be accepted.

 

The winning author must be willing to attend the award ceremony in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2027 and participate in media and educational outreach activities during that week.
TIMELINE:

 

April 1, 2026 – October 31, 2025 Eligible entries for the 19th Annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence will be accepted. See eligibility criteria and submission instructions above. All entries for the book award will receive written notification of receipt.

Spring 2027 – The winner will be selected by a national panel of judges. The judges reserve the right not to issue the award if they feel the selection pool lacks an acceptable candidate. Once the winner is selected, written notification will be sent to all eligible entries.

2027 – The 19th Annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence Ceremony will take place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 

For additional information, please email:

 

gainesaward@braf.org

Webinar: Five Elements of Plot

 Please join me this Thursday for my webinar on the Five Elements of Plot (1:30 p.m. EDT) You can sign up here:

Do you know what an inciting incident is or how to raise the stakes for your characters? On Thursday, Jeanne Lyet Gassman Author will reveal the elements of plot that will make your story engaging for readers.

https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/webinars/c/e/2366...

 

Call for Submissions: REVOLUTE

 

We accept submissions from September 15 to November 15th.

REVOLUTE is a literary magazine of the Randolph College MFA. Submissions are accepted each year from September 15th through November 15th.

If "no open calls for submissions" appears during our submissions period, this means we have capped submissions. Check back, as we may reopen...

General Guidelines

Revolute reads poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and microreview submissions during one submission period each fall. We encourage submissions from marginalized voices. We do not tolerate that promotes racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, or harmful stereotypes and viewpoints.

For prose, send 1 story (or flash fiction) or 1 essay per submission, up to 6,000 words. For poetry, send up to 3 poems. We also welcome poetry comics, photo poems, video poems, erasures, etc. For micro book reviews, please send 1 review of 300 words or less. We welcome reviews of new and underappreciated work.

Revolute pays $50 per accepted work of fiction, nonfiction, micro book review and per acceptance of up to three poems.

Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please notify on Submittable immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Graduates of Randolph MFA may submit five years after graduating from the program. For Microreviews, there is no wait period.

Previously published work will not be considered. Contributors retain all rights but are asked to acknowledge Revolute as first publisher if the work appears in books, anthologies, or elsewhere. Please submit once per reading period. Response times will vary between 1-3 months.

Feel free to email:

revolute (at) randolphcollege (dot) edu (Change (at) to @ and (dot) to . )

with any questions. We are a seasonal MFA publication, so response times vary, especially over the summer.

Thank you for sharing your work with us!

- The Revolute Team

Submit your work here. 

Call for Submissions: Peatsmoke Journal

 

Peatsmoke Journal 

We’re open for submission in all genres until September 30th. We’re so excited to kick off the fall with your words and artwork.

We accept previously unpublished poetry, fiction, flash, and nonfiction. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know right away if your work is accepted elsewhere. You can include a cover letter full of amusing tidbits about you or of fascinating trivia you learned from a podcast recently, but we are not interested in reading a list of the journals your work has appeared in. What is important to us is that you are sending us writing that feels urgent and necessary, work that is ready to go out for a stroll in the world. As a journal, we are committed to publishing diverse voices of all kinds.

We know how nerve-wracking it can be to check your inbox every morning, hoping to hear back from a journal, so we do our best to make our turnaround time as quick as possible. We will try to respond to every submission within two months, if not sooner. Please do not send more than one submission in any genre until you have heard back from us.

Unfortunately, we will sometimes need to charge for submissions. We are a small volunteer staff with a limited budget, and this charge will cover only our costs for running Submittable. However, we want to ensure that submitting to Peatsmoke remains accessible to all. We will provide as many free submission periods as we can throughout the year. If you are submitting during a paid submission period and are unable to pay the $3 submission fee, please send us an email at:

editors@peatsmokejournal.com 

letting us know, and we will waive your submission fee. Also, we offer free submissions for marginalized writers, as it is so important to us to support the words of those who have been traditionally underrepresented in the writing community.

Big News: We are now paying contributors!

We pay $10/per piece. We wish it were more, and hopefully it will be in the future. We would love to pay a million dollars/piece, since that is how much we feel you’re worth. We will also give your work a forever home on our website, sing your praises, and always love you! We nominate for prizes and anthologies, including Pushcart, Best of the Net, and Best Small Fictions. If published with us, we ask that you give Peatsmoke First North American Serial Rights and electronic media rights to your work. The copyright reverts back to the author upon publication, but we ask that Peatsmoke be acknowledged if the work is subsequently published in book form or reprinted in another venue.

We aren't looking for particular styles or types of writing, but here are some things we consider when reading:

Fiction

We’re into fiction that explores the human condition with empathy and curiosity. We love reading fully realized characters who are pushed and challenged, and clear, carefully-crafted sentences that bring them to life. Speculative and experimental work is absolutely welcome here.

Important: One story per submission between 1,001-7,000 words.

Flash

We love flash with strong sentence-level writing and compelling images that hold a moment and explode it, taking us to unexpected depths in a small space. We're excited to receive both flash fiction and flash CNF. If it's important to you that we know the genre you're submitting, please drop us a note in your cover letter to tell us. Realism, speculative, and experimental work, or a mix of all of these, is very welcome. Feel free to get weird — we’re here for it.

Important: An individual flash should be no longer than 1000 words. You may include up to 3 pieces in your submission.

Poetry

Nothing excites us more than a stellar combination of image and sound. We’re interested in how the two collide and inform each other and the work they’re doing. Images that have energy are the best images. Sounds and forms that follow content are the best sounds and forms. We want to be able to understand what’s going on in your poem by the weight and lilt of it in our mouths. We read everything aloud. We pay attention to line breaks. If we’ve seen it before, we don’t want to publish it. Please send up to three poems of any length.

Nonfiction

We aren't looking for particular styles or types of writing, but here are some things we consider when reading: We love nonfiction pieces we can’t classify. We most admire essays that (like poetry) emphasize image, that show the process of discovery. Please send only one piece at a time between 1,500-7,000 words. If you have flash CNF, please submit it in our Flash category.

Artwork

Peatsmoke features artists in each issue, with art paired with each story and poem and displayed prominently on our main page. We are into any kind of 2-D art that appears well on a website, with the exception of comics. Send us your collage, your photography, your paintings, your drawings, your woodcuts, your etchings, your linotypes, your sand art — whatever it is, we'd love to check it out. For our consideration, please give us a submission of 5-10 images. Please send only one submission at a time, and wait until you have received a response before submitting again.

Sometimes it can take months, even up to a year, before we accept or decline, a submission, especially if we like your work. We pair art and writing, so finding a match can take time, but we realize the long wait can be frustrating. If you want an update, feel free to send our art editor, Shagufta, a message after it has been three months since you submitted. If you would like to have your submission opened for editing to replace art that was accepted elsewhere, let us know at any time.

Submit your work here.