8 Literary Magazines Open to Fiction, Poetry, Essays NOW - Paying markets

Updated 9/5/22

Here are ten literary magazines open to submissions right now.

These publications want everything from horror, to SFF, to social commentary, to anarchist poetry. The sky's the limit. None charge submission fees and all are paying markets.

For a list of hundreds of paying markets, broken down by genre, see PAYING MARKETS.

(Image: "Woman writing a letter with her maid" by Johannes Vermeer)

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Ahoy Comics. Genre: Short fiction and social commentary. "We seek smart, weird, funny articles or stories, which run between 500 and 1,500 words." Payment. $200. 

The Bureau Dispatch. Genre: Short stories between 500 to 1,500 words. "We want your best work. We want fiction that is compelling and beautifully-crafted; narratives that leave the reader breathless and changed. The kind of story that, when all is said and done, elicits a resounding "sh*t, yeah! We are open to all narratives, but are currently partial to ones that explore the theme of DISPATCH." Payment: $50.

Neon. Genre: "We prefer darker pieces, especially those with an element of the surreal or speculative, but are open to anything and like to be surprised. Images, comics, and graphic poems are also welcome, as are self-contained extracts. If you have any doubts about whether something is suitable, go ahead and send it anyway." Theme: Cuisine. Payment: Prose 2p per word; Poetry 20p per line; Photography £5 per image; Comics £5 per page. Minimum payment of £10 per contributor.

Galaxy's Edge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Flash fiction, short stories and novelettes up to 10,000 words. Payment: 7 cents per word for new fiction. 

Propertius Press. Genre: Various categories: Cozy mystery, short stories,  BIPOC historical fiction, poetry, memoir, biography. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: Various deadlines.

In Space, No One Can Hear You Laugh – A Comedy Anthology. Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Comedy, Satire "Space opera can often be a wonderous, cold and scientific place.  But it doesn’t have to be!  Ever hear of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Galaxy Quest? The Adventures of Pluto Nash? Red Dwarf?" Word count: 2,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalty split. Deadline: Open until filled.

Flash Point Science Fiction. Genre: Speculative fiction stories from 100 to 1,000 words in length. "Send us your science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and everything in between, so long as it’s short." Payment: $15.

Infinite Worlds/Infinite Horrors. Genre: Science fiction, horror between 1500–5000 words in length. Payment: 8 cents/word. Also accepts art.