Many of these journals have recurring calls for submissions, so if you miss this window, you can always submit during the next reading period.
For more literary journals seeking submissions and to get a jump on next month's open calls see: Paying Markets.
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Nonbinary Review. Genres: Poetry, fiction, essays and art. "We are open to submissions which relate to the urban legends, rumors, and suspicious stories reported on Snopes.com. We’re looking for stories in which the urban legends might be made more plausible, explorations of the nature of urban legends and their origins, etc. EACH SUBMISSION MUST CONTAIN A LINK TO A SPECIFIC SNOPES ARTICLE." Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction and nonfiction, and a flat fee of $10 per poem and $25 per piece of visual art. Deadline: May 1, 2017.
Carte Blanche. Genres: Fiction, poetry, CNF, art, photography. Payment: Modest. Deadline: May 1, 2017.
Weasel Press. Genre: Short story on theme of Hitchhiking. ‘Hitchhiking is the art of traveling through getting free rides from folks. You stick out your thumb and gamble on if you’ll make it to the next stop or if you’re walking further than you had planned. Passing Through is seeking short stories with anthropomorphic characters on the road. Cash, Grass, or Ass, give us your best hitchhiking tales! Stories must contain anthropomorphic animals (humanized animals). This is a furry anthology, keep this in mind when submitting." Payment: ½ cent per word. Deadline: May 1, 2017.
Mythic Delirium. Genres: Fiction and poetry that ranges through science fiction, fantasy, horror, interstitial and cross-genre territory. Payment: 2 cents/word on publication for stories, $5 for poetry. Deadline: May 1, 2017.
Skirt! The Summer Lovin’ Issue. Genre: Essay on theme: All things summer! From bugs to backpacking. Payment: $200. Deadline: May 1, 2017.
Timeless Tales. Genre: Stories (up to 2,000 words) and poems that fit with the theme Arthurian Legends. Payment: $20. Deadline: May 5, 2017.
Bright Wall/Dark Room: The Hero's Journey. Genre: Themed essay. "We’re looking for writing on films or television shows that deal with this structure in some way—the Hero’s Journey, or the monomyth, as defined by Joseph Campbell and further popularized by Christopher Vogler." Payment: $25. Deadline: May 5, 2017.
Mugwump Books: Afrocentric Steampunk anthology. Genre: Steampunk. " Bring us your steam machines, airships, pulleys, and cogs. Your story can be steeped in magic, science, or both. It can be an alternate history, an alternate universe, or another world entirely. But let’s not limit ourselves. Your characters can live in the aether, as long as the story’s main underlying theme is built on a steampunk foundation. We want diverse characters in diverse settings and diverse cultures, with a main character of indigenous African descent." Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: May 5, 2017.
Augur Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and graphic fiction reprints, featuring at least 75% Canadian content. "We’re looking for reprints of uncanny or dreamlike realist fiction, literary speculative fiction, and magical realism. Our perfect submission defies categorization—pieces that could be “too speculative” for canlit or “not speculative enough” for spec magazines (although we’re open to stories on both these sides as well)." Payment: Small honorarium. Deadline: May 10, 2017.
Bennington Review. Genre: Prose and poetry. Payment: $100-$200 for prose, $20 per poem. Deadline: May 15, 2017.
Cast of Wonders Podcast: Text Against Tyranny. Genre: YA podcast. "In times of seismic change, the stories that matter are the ones that enrich, inspire and support us… or simply give us the strength to carry on. We’re looking for stories of survival in difficult times, when being true to yourself can be the most dangerous choice you make. Stories of protest – subtle or overt. We want stories that have the courage and will to change the lives and worlds of their characters… and our own. Send us unheard voices in unexpected places — tales that transform, and truths that define." Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: May 15, 2017.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Genre: True stories and poems.
"We all have a tendency to get in a rut. We start to say no to new things, and that can only lead to a narrower and narrower life. When we try new things, we end up feeling energized and pleased with ourselves. There is tremendous power in saying “yes” to new things, new places, and new experiences. It makes you feel more dynamic, younger, and more of a participant in the world. You’re not distancing yourself from change any more. Start now!" Payment: $200. Deadline: May 15, 2017.
Alaska Quarterly Review. Genre: Fiction, short plays, poetry, photo essays, and literary non-fiction in traditional and experimental styles. Payment: $50-$200 for prose; $10-$50 for poetry. Deadline: May 15, 2017.
Natural Wonders: Time in Nature Can Change Your Life Anthology. Genre: Nature essay between 1,200 and 2,000 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 15, 2017.
The Fantasist. Genre: Space opera/fantasy. Length: Stories must be at least 15,000 words and at most 50,000. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 15, 2017.
Lamplight. Genre: Dark fiction. Length: Up to 7,000 words. Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: May 16, 2017. Reprints accepted at 1 cent per word.
The Stinging Fly. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Payment: Token. Deadline: May 19, 2017.
Griffith Review 58: Storied Lives, Making a Difference – The Novella Project V. Genre: Novella that focuses on people who have effected a change in the world. Insights from the lives of others – real and imagined, personal, political, scientific, cultural – are the key to empathy and understanding. Payment: Negotiated, depending on length. Deadline: May 22, 2017.
Granta. Genre: Nonfiction. Payment: Semi-pro to Pro. Deadline: May 25, 2017.
Pedestal Magazine. Genre: Poems on the theme of "War." Payment: $40 for each poem accepted. Deadline: May 25, 2017.
Cloaked Press. Genre: Fantasy stories. Payment: $10 and 3% of sales. Deadline: May 25, 2017.
Cricket. Genres: YA Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction on theme of Puppets & Dolls. Payment: Fiction: up to 10¢ per word, Nonfiction: up to 25¢ per word, Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Deadline: May 27, 2017.
Kweli Journal. "Kweli is the first online journal of its kind to celebrate community and cultural kinships. In this shared space, you will hear the lived experience of people of color. Our many stories. Our shared histories. Our creative play with language. Here our memories are wrapped inside the music of the Muscogee, the blues songs of the South, the clipped patois of the Caribbean." Genre: Self-contained novel excerpt, short story, or creative non-fiction piece, poetry. Length: No more than 7,000 words. Payment: "upon publication." Deadline: May 30, 2017.
Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tale on theme of "Donkeyskin." Length: 700 - 3,000 words. Payment: Story $30, Poem $10. US dollars only. Deadline: May 30, 2017.
Worldweaver Press. Genre: Short stories on theme of Mrs. Claus. "We’re looking for stories that let Mrs. Claus (or is it Ms. Claus?) take centre stage." Payment: $10 and a paperback copy of the anthology. Deadline: May 30, 2017.
Gathering Storm Magazine. Genre: Fiction, poetry. Themes: Accidents Happen, If at First You Don't Succeed Try Again, Famous Last Word, If You Build It, They Will Come. Payment: $25 for fiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: May 30, 2017.
The Well Review. Genre: Poetry. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
New England Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $20 per page. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Charges a small fee to submit.)
Baltimore Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Payment: $40 per piece. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Gettysburg Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction and essays. Payment: $15 per page (prose), $2 per line (poetry). Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Charges a small fee to submit online.)
Vestal Review. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $25. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Now charges $2 to submit.)
Renfield Press: Literary e-clectic. Genre: Fiction and Nonfiction stories on theme of Time Lost. Payment: $50. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
One Story. Genre: Literary Fiction. Length: Between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Payment: $500. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Rice Paper Press. Genre: Horror. Payment: $100. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Untreed Reads: The Killer Wore Cranberry. Genre: Short mystery stories. "All the stories contained within must be about murder and mayhem happening at Thanksgiving, and must feature a typical Thanksgiving dish as a vital part of the story (i.e.: turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie). Most importantly…it must be funny! This anthology is all about making people laugh while enjoying a great mystery short at the same time." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Manchester Speculative Fiction. Genre: Speculative fiction set in Manchester, UK. Payment: £15 Sterling. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Contemporary Verse 2. Genre: Poetry and critical writing about poetry, including interviews, articles, essays, and reviews. Length: Varies. Payment: Poetry: $30 per poem; Interviews: $50-$100, depending upon length; Articles: $50-$100, depending upon length; Essays: $40-$150, depending upon length; Reviews: $20-$75, depending upon length. Deadline: May 31, 2017. No simultaneous submissions.
Arc magazine. Genre: Poetry (modern style), book reviews, and poetry-themed essays. Payment: $40/page and one copy. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
The Gettysburg Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, essays. Payment: $2.00 per line for poetry and $15 per printed page for prose. Published authors also receive a copy of the issue containing their work and a one-year subscription. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (Charges small fee for online submissions. No fee for snail mail.)
Agni. Genre: Poetry, short stories, essays, stand-alone novel excerpts. Payment: $20 per page for prose and $40 per page for poetry, with a $300 maximum. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Grain Magazine. Genre: Poetry, short stories, literary non-fiction, Payment: $50 per page to a maximum of $250, plus 3 copies of the issue. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Haunted Waters Press. "We welcome both the profound and the quirky. We are open to most styles and genres of fiction including speculative, dark, experimental, and literary. We love flash fiction of any word count as long as it tells a complete story. We enjoy all forms of poetry including experimental, rhyming, free verse, and invented form. While we welcome deep, meaningful poetry, we also enjoy works that are witty, peculiar, or offbeat. As a general rule, we do not accept erotica. Horror only upon request. Profanity and violence, if used, must be integral to the story." Payment: $.01 - $.04/word. Deadline: May 31, 2017. (May is a free open reading period.)
ZYZZYVA. Payment: Token to semi-pro. Deadline: May 31, 2017. Snail mail submissions only.
Chicken Soup for the Soul. Positively Happy! 101 Stories about Positive Thinking and Living a Happy Life. Genre: True stories and poems."Being happy is a state of mind. We can all find happiness in our lives and, even though we may have to look for it, we know that each day brings something to be grateful for. We want to hear your stories about finding your path to contentment. These success stories can be serious or funny and should inspire our readers to focus on hope, strength and optimism. How did you think positive and find happiness? Was it something as simple as an attitude adjustment? Did you make a major change in the handling of your daily life? How did you find purpose, passion and joy in your life and how do you stay positive? How do you use gratitude to be happier?" Payment: $200. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Nashville Review. "Nashville Review seeks to publish the best work we can get our hands on, period. From expansive to minimalist, narrative to lyric, epiphanic to subtle—if it’s a moving work of art, we want it." Genre: Short stories and poems. Payment: $100/story, $25/poem. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Antioch Review. Genre: Nonfiction articles and some fiction geared to an educated audience. Payment: $20/page. Deadline: May 31, 2017. Snail mail submissions only.
The Baltimore Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction. Payment: $40 Amazon gift certificate. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Chiral Mad 4. Genre: Horror, speculative (dark). Collaborate writing anthology. Payment: $.06 per word. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Central Arkansas Speculative Fiction Writers Group: When You’re Strange: An Anthology of Strangers. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We want to see stories about estrangement, oddballs, and those who simply do not follow rules. We want to see outsiders and those deemed unworthy by society. Outcasts are welcome." Payment: $15 and copy. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Alice Unbound. Restrictions: Canadians only. Genre: Poetry and fiction. "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was Carroll’s most famous work but there are other stories and poems (some within the greater works) where madcap creatures abound. Alice Unbound should contain an element of the speculative and may embrace fabulist, weird, myth, SF, fantasy, steampunk, horror, etc." Payment: .05/word. Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Milkweed Press. Genre: Novels, novellas, and short story collections. Payment: Royalties. (Advance?). Deadline: May 31, 2017.
New Rivers Press. Genre: Novels, novellas, memoirs, and short story and poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. (Advance?) Deadline: May 31, 2017.
Fig Tree Books. Genre: Novels (including YA) and nonfiction (including memoirs) “that chronicle and enlighten the beautiful and sometimes challenging mosaic of the American Jewish Experience.” Payment: Royalties. (Advance?) Deadline: May 31, 2017.