Northern Spy is an online journal of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, produced and published by Finger Lakes Community College. They accept submissions from both new and established authors from around the world, and they also reserve space in each issue for undergraduate authors from the Finger Lakes and Rochester regions. They’re looking for “rich and flavorful pieces” that inspire curiosity.
Northern Spy was previously published as Bare Hill Review. Bare Hill Review published 28 issues, which you can read online to get a sense of what they like.
For their inaugural issue as Northern Spy, they are seeking writing on the theme of “New Beginnings”: “We desire works that celebrate transformation, but also works that reflect on what was left behind, for every sapling is the culmination of another tree’s efforts.” They are also seeking submissions for their fall issue, themed “Twisted Roots”. For this issue, they want writing that explores “hidden twists” in personal histories. The deadline to submit to both issues is April 23.
Poets may submit up to three poems. Authors of fiction and creative nonfiction may submit one piece, 5,000 words or fewer. Submitting authors can expect a response within four months.
Northern Spy accepts submissions online using an online submission manager, not via email or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw writing published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work.
Northern Spy does not accept writing assisted or generated by AI. They only accept submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online; please read these guidelines in full before submitting.
If you would like to learn more or submit to Northern Spy, please visit their website here.
Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name of an internationally published author and editor. After earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College, she lived as a monastic for five years. She now lives as a lay monastic, and teaches poetry, flash fiction, and literary publishing at the Authors Publish Writers Workshop. Her writing has been published in Room, The Apple Valley Review, Fourteen Hills, and elsewhere. And a number of full-length manuscripts she’s edited have received major international awards, including The Best Graphic Novel of the Year (Comics Finlandia), The Montaigne Medal, and The National Indie Excellence Awards. She’s also a long-time literary journal reviewer and editor at Authors Publish Magazine.
