If you write genre fiction, here are a dozen literary magazines that will pay for your work. Some also accept poetry and nonfiction. There are no submission fees.
Genre fiction is popular fiction that falls into a well-defined category, such as fantasy, romance, science fiction, horror, thrillers, westerns, mysteries, and so on. (Fiction that doesn't fall into a neat category is "literary" fiction.) Frequently, literary magazines that accept genre fiction won't accept literary fiction, and vice versa. (Agents also follow this rubric.) This does not imply that genre fiction is any less worthy as literature. Good writing isn't limited to what is considered "literary."
For many more paying markets that accept fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, see Paying Markets.
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Serial Magazine specializes in genre fiction: action-adventure, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, horror, thriller, romance, and westerns. "We love unexpected endings, romances that dip into melodrama, or even romances that completely switch genres midway through. The content must be suitable for young adult audiences. No explicit sex scenes or known racial or LGBTQIA+ slurs. Related comics are also accepted. Payment: Before the magazine sale date, you will receive a payment of at least $0.004 / word. Every 15th of the month, you will receive a royalties payment if applicable. Read guidelines HERE.
Bethlehem Writers Roundtable publishes all genres, except for horror and erotica. Length must be 2,000 words or fewer. They are looking for G, PG, or PG-13 rated material according to the MPAA. Poetry, fiction, and memoirs are accepted. "We are an “old fashioned” editorial crew: we love stories. We admire great writing; we swoon at beautifully worded sentences and lovely descriptions, and chuckle at clever metaphors--but we always choose a great story over all of that. We constantly receive great character sketches, serious mood pieces, wonderfully written scenes that in the end are just wonderful scenes or elegant reminiscences.… And we judge all of this by one simple standard--where is the story?" Payment: $20 for featured author stories; $10 for stories published on their &More page; $5 for poems. Read guidelines HERE.
The Forge publishes one prose piece per week, fiction or nonfiction. They are open to all genres and voices. Length: Stories under 3,000 words. They love flash and micro prose. Unpublished pieces only. They are open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their Submittable limit. Payment: $50. Read guidelines HERE.
Buckshot Magazine is looking for fresh, engaging and previously-unpublished stories of up to 2000 words in every genre and style (plus the occasional bit of poetry). Payment: 20 USD (25 CAD) per accepted piece. Read guidelines HERE.
Selene publishes speculative romance, mystery, and alternate history. Translations are welcome. Payment: POETRY: Any length paid $50USD per poem; FICTION: 100-7500 words paid $0.06USD per word. REPRINTS: Any length of poetry paid $15USD and 100-7500 words of fiction paid $0.01USD per word. Reading period: May 1 - 15. Read guidelines HERE.
Every Day Fiction publishes flash fiction (up to 1,000 words) in all genres, and also stories that do not fit neatly into any genre. "There’s no such thing as too short — if you can do the job in 50 words, have at it! — but our readers prefer pieces that tell or at least hint at a complete story." Payment: $3. Read guidelines HERE.
Pulp Literature publishes any genre or between-genre work of literature, or visual art (black and white for interiors, color for covers) up to 50 pages in length. "Short stories, novellas, poetry, comics, illustrations — bring it on. We do not publish non-fiction, memoir, or children’s stories. Aside from that we want anything entertaining and well written." Payment: $0.05 – $0.07 per word for short stories (to 7000 words), $0.03 – $0.05 per word between 7000 and 10000 words, and $0.02 – $0.035 per word for works over 10000 words. Poetry and interior illustrations pay between $25 – $50. Sequential art (graphic novels and cartoons) and illustrations are at a rate of $25 to $75 per page. Reprints are up to 50% of first publication rates. See submission periods. Read guidelines HERE.
Crimson Streets is looking for fiction with a focus on action and atmosphere over characterization. Stores can fall into the adventure, aviation, detective/mystery, fantasy, hard-boiled, gangster, horror/occult, masked-vigilante, noir, railroad, war, and western/cowboy genres. "We publish everything that could fall under the banner of pulp with the exception of Science Fiction. We are looking for stories from 800 to 6,000 words. We are not interested in poetry, fan-fiction, or stories that fall outside of the broad umbrella of pulp. A work of fiction should be a quick read." Payment: 1 cent per word of final, edited length. Read guidelines HERE.
Pulp Modern is a biannual fiction journal that publishes crime, fantasy, science fiction, horror, and westerns. Absolutely NO SUBJECT is taboo. (3,500-5,000 words). Payment: $10. Read guidelines HERE.
EconoClash Review (Quality Cheap Thrills) is a biannual print journal of Genre Fiction. "We accept only the best contemporary pulp submissions. Which includes quality Crime, Noir, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Weird, Humor and Other Words for Uplifting Gormandizers. We like stories about Weirdos, Criminals and Pregnant Prom Queens going to great lengths to destroy or keep the status quo. HOWEVER, we don't want erotica, or pornography, or torture-porn-erotica between characters of any age, race, species both real or fictional." Payment: $10. Read guidelines HERE.
The Literary Hatchet This is a journal devoted to provocative fiction, poetry and prose. "We are interested in well-written but digestible works in any genre (except erotica). We will consider previously published material but prefer original works. We accept short fiction, flash fiction, first-person narratives, speculative fiction, short stories, poetry, photography, art, cartoons, and illustrations. We’re interested in new angles on old ideas, or topics that don’t get covered frequently. We like to showcase articles that don’t just sum up some issue but make us think and make us want to read further." Payment: FICTION, SHORT STORIES: 500-6,000 words — $10. INTERVIEWS and REVIEWS: compensation is paid to the person conducting the interview — $5. POETRY: we prefer poetry under 100 lines — $5. ART/ILLUSTRATIONS: in JPG or GIF format only — $5.
The Offing The Offing is an online literary magazine publishing creative writing in all genres and art in all media. "The Offing publishes work that challenges, experiments, provokes — work that pushes literary and artistic forms and conventions. The Offing is a place for new and emerging writers to test their voices, and for established writers to test their limits." Payment: Upon publication, contributors will be paid a $20–$60 fee, depending on department and number/length of works published ($20 for a Micro or a poem; $60 for all other departments).
Genre fiction is popular fiction that falls into a well-defined category, such as fantasy, romance, science fiction, horror, thrillers, westerns, mysteries, and so on. (Fiction that doesn't fall into a neat category is "literary" fiction.) Frequently, literary magazines that accept genre fiction won't accept literary fiction, and vice versa. (Agents also follow this rubric.) This does not imply that genre fiction is any less worthy as literature. Good writing isn't limited to what is considered "literary."
For many more paying markets that accept fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, see Paying Markets.
________________
Serial Magazine specializes in genre fiction: action-adventure, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, horror, thriller, romance, and westerns. "We love unexpected endings, romances that dip into melodrama, or even romances that completely switch genres midway through. The content must be suitable for young adult audiences. No explicit sex scenes or known racial or LGBTQIA+ slurs. Related comics are also accepted. Payment: Before the magazine sale date, you will receive a payment of at least $0.004 / word. Every 15th of the month, you will receive a royalties payment if applicable. Read guidelines HERE.
Bethlehem Writers Roundtable publishes all genres, except for horror and erotica. Length must be 2,000 words or fewer. They are looking for G, PG, or PG-13 rated material according to the MPAA. Poetry, fiction, and memoirs are accepted. "We are an “old fashioned” editorial crew: we love stories. We admire great writing; we swoon at beautifully worded sentences and lovely descriptions, and chuckle at clever metaphors--but we always choose a great story over all of that. We constantly receive great character sketches, serious mood pieces, wonderfully written scenes that in the end are just wonderful scenes or elegant reminiscences.… And we judge all of this by one simple standard--where is the story?" Payment: $20 for featured author stories; $10 for stories published on their &More page; $5 for poems. Read guidelines HERE.
The Forge publishes one prose piece per week, fiction or nonfiction. They are open to all genres and voices. Length: Stories under 3,000 words. They love flash and micro prose. Unpublished pieces only. They are open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their Submittable limit. Payment: $50. Read guidelines HERE.
Buckshot Magazine is looking for fresh, engaging and previously-unpublished stories of up to 2000 words in every genre and style (plus the occasional bit of poetry). Payment: 20 USD (25 CAD) per accepted piece. Read guidelines HERE.
Selene publishes speculative romance, mystery, and alternate history. Translations are welcome. Payment: POETRY: Any length paid $50USD per poem; FICTION: 100-7500 words paid $0.06USD per word. REPRINTS: Any length of poetry paid $15USD and 100-7500 words of fiction paid $0.01USD per word. Reading period: May 1 - 15. Read guidelines HERE.
Every Day Fiction publishes flash fiction (up to 1,000 words) in all genres, and also stories that do not fit neatly into any genre. "There’s no such thing as too short — if you can do the job in 50 words, have at it! — but our readers prefer pieces that tell or at least hint at a complete story." Payment: $3. Read guidelines HERE.
Pulp Literature publishes any genre or between-genre work of literature, or visual art (black and white for interiors, color for covers) up to 50 pages in length. "Short stories, novellas, poetry, comics, illustrations — bring it on. We do not publish non-fiction, memoir, or children’s stories. Aside from that we want anything entertaining and well written." Payment: $0.05 – $0.07 per word for short stories (to 7000 words), $0.03 – $0.05 per word between 7000 and 10000 words, and $0.02 – $0.035 per word for works over 10000 words. Poetry and interior illustrations pay between $25 – $50. Sequential art (graphic novels and cartoons) and illustrations are at a rate of $25 to $75 per page. Reprints are up to 50% of first publication rates. See submission periods. Read guidelines HERE.
Crimson Streets is looking for fiction with a focus on action and atmosphere over characterization. Stores can fall into the adventure, aviation, detective/mystery, fantasy, hard-boiled, gangster, horror/occult, masked-vigilante, noir, railroad, war, and western/cowboy genres. "We publish everything that could fall under the banner of pulp with the exception of Science Fiction. We are looking for stories from 800 to 6,000 words. We are not interested in poetry, fan-fiction, or stories that fall outside of the broad umbrella of pulp. A work of fiction should be a quick read." Payment: 1 cent per word of final, edited length. Read guidelines HERE.
Pulp Modern is a biannual fiction journal that publishes crime, fantasy, science fiction, horror, and westerns. Absolutely NO SUBJECT is taboo. (3,500-5,000 words). Payment: $10. Read guidelines HERE.
EconoClash Review (Quality Cheap Thrills) is a biannual print journal of Genre Fiction. "We accept only the best contemporary pulp submissions. Which includes quality Crime, Noir, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Weird, Humor and Other Words for Uplifting Gormandizers. We like stories about Weirdos, Criminals and Pregnant Prom Queens going to great lengths to destroy or keep the status quo. HOWEVER, we don't want erotica, or pornography, or torture-porn-erotica between characters of any age, race, species both real or fictional." Payment: $10. Read guidelines HERE.
The Literary Hatchet This is a journal devoted to provocative fiction, poetry and prose. "We are interested in well-written but digestible works in any genre (except erotica). We will consider previously published material but prefer original works. We accept short fiction, flash fiction, first-person narratives, speculative fiction, short stories, poetry, photography, art, cartoons, and illustrations. We’re interested in new angles on old ideas, or topics that don’t get covered frequently. We like to showcase articles that don’t just sum up some issue but make us think and make us want to read further." Payment: FICTION, SHORT STORIES: 500-6,000 words — $10. INTERVIEWS and REVIEWS: compensation is paid to the person conducting the interview — $5. POETRY: we prefer poetry under 100 lines — $5. ART/ILLUSTRATIONS: in JPG or GIF format only — $5.
The Offing The Offing is an online literary magazine publishing creative writing in all genres and art in all media. "The Offing publishes work that challenges, experiments, provokes — work that pushes literary and artistic forms and conventions. The Offing is a place for new and emerging writers to test their voices, and for established writers to test their limits." Payment: Upon publication, contributors will be paid a $20–$60 fee, depending on department and number/length of works published ($20 for a Micro or a poem; $60 for all other departments).
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