These magazines accept literary fiction. A few also accept genre fiction. A few also accept other genres, like nonfiction and poetry. A few of the calls are themed. Some of these magazines pay writers. Most, but not all, of them are open for submissions now.

The Louiseville Review
This print magazine has been publishing since 1976. They are open briefly, till 29^th January for general submissions of fiction/hybrid prose (flash and short) and poetry. They will also read fiction from young writers (K-12) for their Cornerstone section till 28^th February 2026. International contributors get an electronic copy and US contributors get a print copy. Details here.

Short Story, Long
Short Story, Long is a Substack-based magazine. You can read about them here. Each story will be paired with original artwork. They pay $150 for stories of 2,000-8,000 words (3,000-5,500 words preferred). The deadline is 31 January 2026. Details here.

SmokeLong Quarterly
They publish flash narratives–fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid (somewhere between fiction and non-fiction)–up to 1,000 words. Their next fee-free submission window will open mid-May. They pay $100-150 (see guidelines). Details here.

Let me tell you a story
Let me tell you a story is a Substack-based magazine. “We’re looking for flash fiction inspired by the spontaneous occurrences of everyday life, including what triggers lost memories and imaginations. The style should feel fresh and never overthought but still meticulously edited and proofread.” They accept stories up to 1,000 words. Each post must have in the title ‘let me tell you a story’, and cannot be more than 1,000 words. They pay  CAD10. The submission deadline is 14^th February 2026. Details here.

wildscape. literary journal:  calm // storm
wildscape. is a quarterly online magazine publishing fiction (up to 1,500 words), poetry, creative nonfiction, and art. “Our goal is to blend whimsy with chaos, ethereal with truth, gentle with wild. We want to make you feel.” They want submissions on the calm // storm theme. They have detailed guidelines. Please note / Trigger Warning: The backstory to this theme is a school shooting. The deadline to submit is 14^th February 2026. Details here.

Free Flash Fiction
They accept flash fiction, of 100 to 500 words. Submission is via a form on their website. Details here.

The Paris Review
They will open for prose submissions (up to 40 pages) via Submittable starting 1^st February and will remain open till they hit a submission cap. They accept submissions by post year-round, of both prose and poetry, and during certain months via Submittable. Details here.

AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought
“We love work that is linguistically, intellectually, and emotionally demanding of the reader. We want literary fiction that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous prose executed with thematic intent. … We are not concerned with genre distinctions—send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. All writers tend to develop a scrap heap of brilliant writing – sharp dialogue that has been cut in service of a plot, a philosophical tirade that can’t quite be couched in a narrative, a stunning imagistic landscape of linguistic pyrotechnics that deserves an audience…  We would love to provide a space for those portions of works that have been cut away through no fault of their own.” They accept up to 50 pages of writing; literary fiction, creative nonfiction, excerpts, screenplays, stageplays, fragments, meanderings, philosophy and poetry. Each published piece will be accompanied by a custom sketch by their illustrator. Details here and here.

A Public Space
They are accepting fiction (including translations, as well as excerpts from larger works), nonfiction, and poetry for their magazine until 15^th February 2026. They’re also accepting applications for editorial fellowships, for which they pay, open to those who are residents of New York for the duration of the fellowship; the deadline for fellowship applications is end-February. Details here.

Necessary Fiction: Summer flash fiction series 2026
“Our summer flash fiction series returns for its ninth year! While we read flash fiction year-round, summer is the time when we get hot and heavy for three months of the perfect piece of storytelling, the beautiful sentence, the emotional gut punch, and the surprising character arc that’s the right length for reading at the beach (cocktails and mocktails optional).” They want fiction up to 750 words for this call; the deadline is 15^th February 2026. They also publish  book reviews, Research Notes series, and “occasional interviews, essays, and other surprises.” Details here and here.   

The Rumpus
They publish fiction (up to 5,000 words), comics, essays, criticism, poetry, interviews, and stories for The Sunday Scaries section. Regarding fiction, “…we are interested in stories that have layers, with elements of surprise and unexpected stakes and points of tension running beneath. Rumpus stories have an edge and feature unique, indelible voices. They tackle emotional depth while not being at all sentimental. We love it when a story’s language, plot, and characters feel palpable and dynamic on the page, and a strong sense of place goes a long way. Show us something new, bold, brash, alive.” They pay $100 for prose and comics, and $50 for poetry. Details here.

DASH Literary Journal
The journal is back after a hiatus. They are affiliated with the California State University, Fullerton. They’ve published “national and international poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, micro-literary criticism, hybrid texts, and artwork by authors and artists of all levels of experience, from first-time submitters through well-published creators.
While the works themselves cover a diverse range of topics, themes, and styles, successful DASH submissions are brief, concentrated expressions of creativity, with an emphasis on brevity.” They want fiction up to 2,000 words, and the deadline is 1 March 2026. Details here and here.

Mslexia
They accept submissions by women-identified authors only, of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, pitches, and fun projects. For fiction and poetry featuring in Mslexia Showcase, they want work on Maps (deadline: 9^th March) and Gold (deadline: 8^th June) themes. They also have interesting sections in each genre; in fiction, they have a section called The World’s Wife, in which they want a fictional prose monologue in the voice of the wife, mistress, sister, daughter, mother of a famous real or fictional person (deadline 6^th April 2026, for inclusion in their upcoming issue). Some of their submission sections are for subscribers only, and a few are closed, but most of them are open to all writers. Details here (scroll down and click on various sections/genres).

COMP
This magazine is affiliated with Piedmont University. They publish fiction (no minimum or maximum word count), creative nonfiction, poetry, cross-genre work, critical prose. They accept submissions November through February. Details here.

Liars’ League
They want themed stories, of 800-2,000 words. Two of their upcoming themes are: Illusion & Confusion, deadline 1^st March; Above & Below, deadline 3^rd May 2026. They offer £20, reading of your story by a professional actor, as well as podcast, video and online publication of your work. Details here.

Alternative Milk Magazine
They want “your most gorgeous, nostalgic, ruthless, relatable, sardonic, lush, and bruising work.” They accept fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and art. They will open for submission in March 2026, for their fourth issue. Details here.

The Bombay Literary Magazine
This India-based literary magazine accepts fiction (2,000-5,000 words), graphic fiction, translated fiction, poetry, translated poetry, and essays (see guidelines). They have a submission cap, so submissions close by category when they hit those caps. Their submission form is active during the reading period. They pay INR5,000. Details here.

Salt Hill
This print journal publishes fiction (up to 30 pages), poetry, nonfiction, translations, interviews, and art. They are affiliated with Syracuse University. Their website says, they publish work “by people at various stages in their literary and artistic careers. We publish new and emerging writers alongside those with long, illustrious careers in the literary arts.” They have two submission periods for fiction and poetry: December through January, and July through August. They accept nonfiction and art submissions year-round. Details here and here.

The Threepenny Review
This quarterly journal accepts fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and submissions for their ‘Table Talk’ column. Pay is $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. The deadline is 15^th April 2026. Details here and here.

Valparaiso Fiction Review
This is the sister publication to Valparaiso Poetry Review (VPR), and is affiliated with Valparaiso University. They want fiction of 1,000-9,000 words. Excerpts from novels are acceptable only if selected piece operates as a stand-alone story. Details here.

Zyzzyva
This award-winning journal publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from around the world. You can read about them here. Watch for their next submission period. Details here.

Southword
This is the magazine of the Munster Literature Centre, and they will be open for fiction submissions up to 5,000 words from 1^st February; they’ll stay open till 28^th February or when they reach a submission cap, whichever is earlier. They pay €400 per short story. Their Submittable will open for fiction during the reading period. Do not send poetry during this reading period. Details here.

Scribeworth
They publish “fresh voices and compelling narratives that push the boundaries of popular fiction, literary fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and visual art.” For fiction (of 500 to 2,000 words), “We appreciate nuanced stories that explore the human condition, delving deep into character development and offering layered, thought-provoking themes. Whether your work is introspective, experimental, or minimalist, we’re interested in prose that pushes boundaries and evokes a strong emotional or intellectual response from the reader.” They will open for their Autumn issue submissions from April 1^st to May 31^st. Details here.

Temple in a City
They’re looking for “The liberated moment, whether that comes from a gentle easing or a tornado. We like things that yearn, ache, comfort, seek, bristle, explore, prick, navigate, love. Mythic, dreamy and poetic welcome. Unafraid, unself-conscious and unapologetic welcome. TiaC is not afraid of softness, sentiment is better than cleverness if it’s truthful. Feel free to be embarrassing. We like the unintentional misfits, work that can’t help but slip between gaps.” They publish flash fiction (up to 1,000 words), poetry, art, and “letters to whatever needs addressing”. Submissions are now open for their Spring 2026 issue. They also accept work on TiaC Timely and Joy themes on an ongoing basis. Details here.   

HOOT
“HOOT is a postcard. …  It is also:
a brief, displayable, shareable literary magazine.
The idea is:
-to have stories and poems on a postcard, so that they can be displayed and shared easily. Stick it on the fridge! Tuck it in your husband’s/wife’s briefcase or nephew’s book bag!
-for people to have a literary magazine that they can both afford to subscribe to and have time to read. Never again will you be able to claim that you don’t have time to read current literature! Each post card will have fewer than two “Tweets.” Except it’s not digital!” They also have an online version. They accept prose and reviews of under 150 words, and poetry of under 10 lines. The deadline is 1^st March 2026. Details here.

Sardine Can Collective
They are reading unthemed submissions on an ongoing basis – for art, poetry, prose, and occasionally an essay/interview; and, “We are currently looking for poetry and prose in the genre of love, this may be romantic, platonic, familial, etc.” – the deadline for this theme is 30^th January 2026. Both calls have different submission forms. Details here.

Thread
Thread is ChillSubs’ literary magazine run entirely on social media. They have occasional, themed calls for micro prose and poetry. They pay. Watch for their next submission call. Details here.

Pine Hill Review
They publish fiction (up to 3,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. “We’re interested in quality work, regardless of genre, form, or style. Hybrid and experimental works are especially encouraged.” Details here.

Electric Lit
They have irregular reading periods for The Commuter (their home for short prose up to 1,500 words, poetry, and graphic narrative, pays $100) and Recommended Reading (where they publish longer fiction of 2,000 to 10,000 words, pays $300). Both of these open for submissions on 26^th January 2026 and close on 1^st February or when they reach their submission cap, whichever is earlier. They also publish reading lists (ongoing pitches) and creative nonfiction (watch for their next submission period). Details here and here.

Litro
They accept flash and short fiction (up to 3,000 words), essays, and poetry. They have a themed print magazine and an unthemed online magazine. For the print magazine, the upcoming theme is Future Archives. They also accept stories for their Litro Lab fiction podcast, as well as art. Details here.  

Flow
“We publish work about beverages. We like to think of Flow as the literary equivalent of a coffee house, so while all drinks are welcome here, we are particularly interested in work about coffee, tea, and other caffeinated things. Whether your drink of choice makes a short appearance or is the central theme of the piece is up to you.” They accept flash fiction (up to 750 words), hybrid work, and poetry. They are reading for their second issue. Submission is via a form. Details here.

The Pig’s Back
This Ireland-based journal publishes fiction and nonfiction of 2,000-5,000 words. “While we welcome all forms of fiction and non-fiction, and will give everything a chance, there are some genres we generally don’t publish i.e. fantasy, horror, sci-fi.” They pay €300. Watch for their next submission period. Details here.

Peruse Lit 
This magazine is accepting submissions for their first issue, which “sets the tone for what we aim to build: a thoughtful space for writers and artists whose work is bold and emotionally honest.” They want fiction (up to 5,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and art on the Beginnings theme (New beginnings, false starts, and quiet revolutions; Reinvention, departure, arrival, or transformation). The submission deadline is 1^st February 2026. Details here.

Tiny Molecules
They accept flash fiction (up to 1,000 words). Their nonfiction is currently closed. Details here.

The Sandy River Review
This is an annual, unthemed print anthology. They accept fiction (up to 3,500 words), nonfiction, poetry, short dramatic works, and art. The submission deadline is 30^th January 2026. Payment is contributor copies. Their online sister magazine, The River (which also accepts audio essays, podcasts, and original music), is currently closed for submissions. The Sandy River Review and The River are both affiliated with the University of Maine at Farmington. Details here and here.

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Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.