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Hi, my name is Alys Jackson and I'm an author and poet

based in Adelaide, South Australia.

My work has been published in books, magazines,

anthologies and online.

35 Magazines and Journals that Accept Fiction

What does this list contain?

35 magazines and journals (which consider themselves to be literary) that accept fiction submissions in Australia. Most don’t need you to be Australian to submit and they all accept work from established and emerging writers.

 

Won’t details Change?

Yes, so please check current submission deadlines, copyright and formatting guidelines by going directly to the relevant website.

 

What NOT to include in a submission.

The following two blogs are really helpful if any of you are interested in finding out how editors view submissions;

  1. Writing Short Stories? Don’t Make These 4 Submission Mistakes’ by Patrick Icasas.
  2. 5 Faux Pas That Will Prevent You Getting Published’ by Jess Gately.

35 journals and magazines that accept fiction

35 Journals and Magazines that Accept Fiction

 

Antic Magazine

Type online literary fiction
Fiction accepted on a commission basis
Description an online magazine that publishes edgy, diverse writing by new and established writers from Australia and worldwide.

The Australian Book Review – (ABR) Print and online literary review that will accept fiction and poetry. They don’t accept fiction submissions while they are accepting stories for the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize.

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 2000 to 5000 words/3 months
Payment/fee to submit $400 – $500/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions no

 

Djed Press – is an online publication that seeks to ‘address the insufficient representation of marginalised peoples within the Australian literary landscape today. We are committed to increasing diversity and visibility especially in a time where racial tensions around migrants, people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, Muslims and Indigenous Australian peoples are high, both here on home soil and overseas.’

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken if > 3,000 words, please email the editor first/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $25 – $100 for stories up to 3,000 words(it depends on length)/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Yes/unsure
Multiple submissions Yes

Feminartsy – ‘Feminartsy is an online feminist literature and arts journal, founded in 2014.’

Open rolling – pitch an idea to them first
Word limit/time taken unknown/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $50/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions no

Gargouille Literary Journal – ‘Gargouille is a printed, bi-annual literary journal of short stories, poetry, scripts, aesthetic essays, lost and found words.’

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken 10 000 /unknown
Payment/fee to submit yes – determined by subscriber status, editing time and length/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions one only

Going Down Swinging – Going Down Swinging is one of Australia’s longest-running and most respected literary journals.

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 5000 words preferable although they’ll take up to 15000/3 months
Payment/fee to submit $100 – $250/no
Submission online
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 2 stories

Griffith Review  – Literary themed magazine – published quarterly. Our aim is to provide the opportunity for established and emerging writers, thinkers and artists to tease out complexity and contradiction and propose new ways of thinking and seeing.’ They accept fiction and poetry. They also hold an annual novella competition with a prize pool of $25,000 to be shared among the five winners (15,000 – 25,000 words).

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 2000 to 6000/unknown
Payment/fee to submit yes – payment negotiated by word length/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints unsure/unpublished only
Multiple submissions no

Island – Print magazine. ‘Island is one of Australia’s leading literary magazines, a print-only quarterly of ideas, writing and culture.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken 2000 to 5000/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $150 to $200/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Unknown/unpublished only
Multiple submissions no

Kill Your Darlings – ‘Kill Your Darlings (KYD) is one of Australia’s most lively and entertaining cultural magazines.’ You must be a paid member to submit.

Open unknown
Word limit/time taken unknown
Payment/fee to submit yes/no but you must be a paid member (from $20)
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints unknown/unknown
Multiple submissions unknown

Marauder Literary Journal – ‘Marauder Literary Journal is new platform for over-worked or unappreciated, emerging and established literary rogues, who want to network and share their brave, captivating and original work.’

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken 500 for flash fiction, 2000 words for short fiction/unknown
Payment/fee to submit none/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints unknown/unknown
Multiple submissions 1 story

Mascara – Biannual literary journal. They are particularly interested in the writing of ‘contemporary migrant, Asian Australian and Indigenous writers.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken > 3500 words or 1000 for flash fiction/3 months
Payment/fee to submit none/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Meanjin – Print and online magazine that will accept fiction and poetry.

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken 100 to 3000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit 20c per word in printed version only/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions Unknown

Overland  Quarterly print journal/ biannual online magazineOverland publishes fiction by new and diverse writers (as well as some established authors) with a focus on work that is politically engaged, intellectually challenging and emotionally charged, across a range of genres and styles. We actively look for new work from emerging writers in regional Australia.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken didn’t specify/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $500 print/$150 online/no fee
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 2 stories per quarter

Pencilled In – Quarterly print journal/ biannual online magazine. They ‘seek(s) to highlight and showcase art by young Asian Australians.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open check their website – pitches always welcome
Word limit/Time taken unknown/4 weeks after submission closing date
Payment/fee to submit $50 for artists (do they mean writers, too – not sure)
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints no/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 only

Peril – Online magazine. They are ‘focused on issues of Asian Australian arts and culture.’ They also welcome submissions in creative and new media, including video, audio and sound.

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken 1000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $50 – $100/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions > 5 pieces – Asian Australian interest and connected to issue theme!

Quadrant – Print and online literary journal. Although it ‘retains its founding bias towards cultural freedom, anti-totalitarianism and classical liberalism, its pages are open to any well-written and thoughtful contribution’. They accept fiction and poetry.

Open rolling – published ten times/year
Word limit/time taken 1000 to 5000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit yes but unspecified/no
Submission mail
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Right Now – An online organisation for human rights issues and justice in Australia. They accept fiction and poetry.

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 1000 words. They suggest you send them a pitch first/1 to 2 weeks
Payment/fee to submit none/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Scum – ‘Scum is an online literary magazine, launched in February 2013. We aim to deliver new writing a couple times a week and publish fiction, memoir, rants, and basically whatevz.  Scum has filthy feminist leanings and a disregard for propriety.’

Open 1st to 7th of every month
Word limit/time taken > 1000 words
Payment/fee to submit $60/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Seizure – ‘Flashers is the online home of Australian flash fiction.’

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 50 to 500 words.
Payment/fee to submit $50/no
Submission online
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Social Alternatives An independent quarterly journal ‘committed to the principles of social justice and to creating spaces of dialogue intended to stimulate social alternatives to current conditions.’

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 1000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit none/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints unknown/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Southerly – A peer reviewed journal published three times a year. Launched in 1939, Southerly is a journal of literary criticism, cultural debate and reviews. They accept fiction and poetry.

Open rolling plus calls for themed editions
Word limit/time taken 2000 to 8000 words/12 weeks
Payment/fee to submit unknown/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Spineless Wonders – SPINELESS WONDERS is a multi-platform publishing company devoted to short, quality fiction produced by Australian writers.

Open rolling plus calls for themed editions
Word limit/time taken 200 to 2000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit unknown/there was a $10 fee for their current themed issue
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Stereo Stories – A boutique website – stories have to be connected with music in some way. See their website for examples.

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 800 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit none/no
Submission email or their contact page
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

StylusLit – A bi-annual online literary journal that accepts fiction and poetry. They publish in March and September and have set submission periods.

Open check their website for set reading periods
Word limit/time taken 5000 words
Payment/fee to submit unknown/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Sweaty City is Australia’s first magazine dedicated to climate change and urban ecology.

Open check their website for pitches
Word limit/time taken unknown
Payment/fee to submit no/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints unknown
Multiple submissions unknown

The Big Issue Fiction Edition – ‘the annual fiction edition is one of the biggest-selling fiction magazines in Australia, and is a highlight of the publishing calendar.’

Open check their website – in 2017 submissions opened in March
Word limit/time taken 300 to 3000 words
Payment/fee to submit yes/no
Submission post
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

The Blue Nib Literary Magazine has dedicated itself to discovering the very best new voices in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The mission of The Blue Nib has always been to encourage and promote the development of creative writing and writers and to promote an appreciation among our readership of outstanding literary work.’ 

Open check their website
Word limit/time taken 750 to 3000 words
Payment/fee to submit unknown/unknown
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints unknown/unknown
Multiple submissions 1 story per submission/multiple separate submissions accepted

The Lifted Brow – A quarterly ebook and print magazine. ‘Those wishing to submit material are very strongly urged to first read The Lifted Brow or our website, depending on for what you are submitting.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open Check their website
Word limit/time taken 2000 to 4000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit Yes/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

The Suburban Review – ‘The Suburban Review is a literary collective that worships creativity. We publish a quarterly digital journal of short fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and art.’

Open Check their website
Word limit/time taken unknown/unknown
Payment/fee to submit Yes/US $2 to cover submittable
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints unknown/unknown
Multiple submissions unknown

Tulpa Magazine – ‘Tulpa is an Adelaide-based magazine focusing on the Arts Community in South Australia. Our aim is to give emerging and marginalised writers a safe space to publish their work.’

Open rolling
Word limit/time taken 1000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit no/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints unknown/unknown
Multiple submissions unknown

Underground Writers – A quarterly ebook and print magazine. They are ‘a team of volunteers who gather and curate creative writing from talented authors and put it together into Underground Creative Writing zine.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open Check their website
Word limit/time taken 2000 words – themed/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $50/no
Submission email
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Verity La – Online, not-for-profit journal. As it says on the mast-head, bravery is essential in the Verity La neck of the woods, which means creative risk-taking, freedom, and – above all else – being no one but yourself.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open March and August
Word limit/time taken No limit but up to 5,000 is preferred/3 months
Payment/fee to submit $100/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints No/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Voiceworks – Quarterly journal that features writing by authors under the age of twenty five/Australian residents, nationals only. They are ‘keen to read more experimental writing—think stylistically playful stuff, and work that blurs the boundaries between nonfiction, fiction and poetry.’

Open Rolling – themed
Word limit/time taken 3000 words/unknown
Payment/fee to submit $100/no
Submission online via submittable
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 2 stories

Westerly – Print magazine published twice a year/online is ongoing.  ‘It covers literature and culture throughout the world, but maintains a special emphasis on Australia, particularly Western Australia, and the Asian region.’ They accept fiction and poetry.

Open July edition – March 31st deadline/Nov edition – Aug 31st deadline
Word limit/time taken 3500 words/3 months
Payment/fee to submit $180/no
Submission online
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unpublished only
Multiple submissions 1 story

Writers Edit – Online literary magazine. ‘Based in Sydney, Australia, Writer’s Edit is a young online literary magazine created especially for writers and book lovers.’

Open check their website for submission windows
Word limit/time taken unknown/unknown
Payment/fee to submit None/no
Submission unknown
Simultaneous/reprints Ok/unknown
Multiple submissions unknown

Have I missed anything? – please let me know. I’d love to hear your comments.

Do you love poetry?

You might like: List of 31 Magazines and Journals that accept poetry – Australia

Do you write flash fiction?

You might like: Flash Fiction – a list of publications which accept submissions

 

14 thoughts on “35 Magazines and Journals that Accept Fiction

  1. I appreciate this list, but the best thing I got was the comment about Aurealis, that’s the type of publication I was after and I’m grateful it exists. You really weren’t kidding when you said the above publications were literary based, but giving them each a gander now in 2022, they seem more concerned with social justice than providing a platform to affirm the joys of fiction. This was helpful though. Thanks.

  2. Thanks, Alys – this is all much appreciated! Just one small point, though – in March 2020, its editor Rob Duplock sadly advised that ‘Brain drip is shutting up shop.’

  3. Meniscus literary journal (meniscus.org.au) is now several years old; accepts short fiction (and creative essays) and poetry. Publishes new as well as established writers. Keen on diverse voices.

    • Hi Jen, thanks for your comment. I’ve added Meniscus in my blog about magazines and journals that accept poetry but not the fiction blog. I’ll add it there, too. Alys

  4. Hi Alys
    What a generous blog! Thank you for drawing all of this together. I am going to copy the link and send to the writing group I currently attend.

    • Thank you Iris, it’s so lovely to know that my lists are useful. I’m a bit of a digital hoarder so may as well share. Best of luck 🙂 Alys

  5. There is a new magazine founded this year (2018): https://braind.rip. The front page says “It’s free to read, and free to submit.” – They do online submissions, maybe a good place for new writers to submit to.

  6. What about Aurealis? It’s been publishing Australian fiction for 25 years – and paying contributors all that time.

    • Hi Michael, I agree that Aurealis is a great publication. I am planning to add it to a blog on speculative fiction – it is simply taking longer than I hoped because there are so many journals and magazines that accept fantasy and science fiction! regards Alys

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