August 27, 2026

Ley Lines Literary Review: Now Seeking Submissions

Ley Lines is an online journal of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Named after the theory that suggests there are lines of energy connecting within the earth, Ley Lines aims to publish writing that connects “lit & life:” “we see literature as integrally connected to the broad conversations that characterize our contemporary lives.” They’re looking…

Notes from the Editor’s Desk: August 2026

This monthly column is published on the fourth Thursday of every month, and is a space to share information that doesn’t fit anywhere else in our publication. This includes a wide range of opportunities for writers, news and information, and subscribers’ recent success stories. Opportunities: The Conroy Center Writer’s Residency  is open for applications till…

15 Magazines And Anthologies Publishing Romance Fiction

These magazines and anthology publishers accept romance fiction. Most also accept other fiction genres, and some accept blended genres like romantasy, paranormal romance, or historical romance. Some of the calls are themed. They vary widely in tone and style; when possible, please read their stories to see if yours is a good fit. Some of…

The Benefits of Surveying Before Publication

By Rajvi Mittal Books are unusual products. And even if the monetary cost isn’t large, the reader is paying big time in trust and time commitment. When you think about it this way, it is easy to understand why readers would want some signal that the investment will be worthwhile. A survey is one of…

August 24, 2026

87 Specialized Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions

All of the presses on this list meet all of our guiding principles, but some of them have such a specific focus that we cannot justify writing a full review and sending it to our full list of subscribers. Some of them, we have full reviews on. There is no particular organization to this list….

August 20, 2026

Indigo: Now Seeking Submissions

Indigo is a new online journal of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and “other text-focused experiences”. Although they accept all types of writing, they especially love experimental, cross-genre, hybrid and “medium-bending” work. They aim to showcase writing that lives in liminal spaces: “Show us the jagged pink edge of twilight just before moon rise, when the sky…

76 Publishing Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (August 2026)

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities….

Don’t Just Write! Why Writers Should Have a Hobby (Other Than Writing)

Most of us start writing because it’s something we love to do. With practice and patience, what starts out as a hobby turns into a passion and then into a career, part-time or otherwise. And while that comes with its own rewards, there are also downsides to having our hobby become our work. The answer…

August 17, 2026

50 Magazines and Anthologies Publishing Speculative Fiction

These magazines and anthologies publish speculative fiction – science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their many sub-genres; alternate history, dark fantasy, Weird fiction, cosmic horror, supernatural or paranormal horror, superhero, solarpunk, fairy tales, reimagined myths, and more. Some calls are themed, and some of the themes are: gothic horror and paranormal romance, vampires, food in fairy…

August 13, 2026

5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in August 2026

These magazines pay for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They’re a mix of literary and genre magazines.  Haven SpeculativeThey publish speculative fiction and poetry. They also publish climate crisis focused Dry and Wet issues each year; scroll down on the guidelines page for details. “We like stories that are subtle in their telling and stick with…

Wild Willow Magazine: Now Seeking Submissions

Wild Willow Magazine is an online publication of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, “where word takes roots”. You can read the journal online to get a sense of what they publish. Formerly The Minison Project, Wild Willow was launched in 2025. Since then they’ve published six issues with themes such as “Mums”, “Wintergreen”, and “Pomegranate”….

Writing Characters Who Are Bad at Explaining Themselves

Some characters speak like they’re trying to carry soup across an icy parking lot. Careful. Sloshing. Half the meaning ends up on the ground anyway. Those are usually the characters I trust. Fiction has this weird historical addiction to emotional fluency. People in novels somehow produce perfectly shaped confessions while under immense psychological stress. Their…

Should Writers Write to Make a Difference?

Can writing change the world? I don’t have a definite answer to that. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been changed by other people’s writing and who’s also dreamed of writing something that would change someone else—if not writing something that would change the world (or at least, a significant part…

August 10, 2026

26 Publishers Always Open to Submissions

Some publishers open and close their doors to submissions on a routine basis. It can be hard to determine if they are open or shut to submissions, and when you should submit. The following publishers, however, are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. All of these publishers meet our…

August 6, 2026

Nine Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in August 2026

This list focuses on nine publishers that are open to submissions this month. Some are only open for a short period of time, others will be open the whole month and beyond. At least four of these are presses we have not covered previously. Please note that if a publisher doesn’t have a specific submission…