Update June 1st 2023: We no longer recommend submitting to this lit journal as they now are charging submission fees again.
The Ocotillo Review is an imprint of Kallisto Gaia Press, a nonprofit literary organization that aims to support both emerging and established authors. They publish fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry in their biannual print editions, and they showcase both experimental and traditional literary writing.
The Ocotillo Review holds two submission periods each year: from January 15 through March 31, and from August 15 through October 31. While previously The Ocotillo Review charged a reading fee, submissions are now free. All authors published in The Ocotillo Review receive payment.
Authors of fiction may submit short stories, 1,000 to 4,200 words, or up to three flashes, 1,000 words or fewer each. Authors of creative nonfiction may submit 800 to 4,200 words. Poets may submit up to three poems, 65 lines or fewer each.
The Ocotillo Review and Kallisto Gaia Press also hold several contests, including the Joshua Tree Novel Prize, the Acacia Fiction Prize, and the Saguaro Poetry Prize. Submissions for contests are paid. You can read more about the contest guidelines on their website.
The Ocotillo Review welcomes submissions written partly or entirely in Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Portuguese. These submissions must be accompanied by an English translation.
The Ocotillo Review accepts submissions online using Submittable, not via email or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that authors withdraw work published elsewhere. They also accept multiple submissions, and submissions in multiple genres. They do not accept previously published work.
The Ocotillo Review only accepts submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online. Please read these guidelines in full before submitting.
In order to get a feel for what they publish visit their website here.
If you would like to submit to The Ocotillo Review, please visit their submission portal here.
Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant. Over the past five years, she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copywriter and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. She is the author of The Quick Start Guide to Flash Fiction. She occasionally teaches a course on flash fiction. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.
