Submission Sunday 1.11.26
Strange Horizons, The Atavist, The Journal, Carnegie Mellon University Press, The Bombay Literary Magazine, The Hyacinth Review, Elegant Literature, and Neighborhood Literary
Happy new year, writers! Let’s hope somehow it’s not the same as the old year. Thank you for subscribing. Every other Sunday, you’ll receive eight literary submission opportunities, varying in audience and genre, that have been selected for quality and relevance.
We had an inspiring Improve Your Submission Game get-together last Sunday, and now we’re back on our regular schedule. I’m planning some additional online events available to paid subscribers as well as the usual benefits: craft essays by writers, interviews with published authors about their submission process, interviews with editors about what they’re looking for, round-ups of articles about submitting and writing in general, and full access to the archives.
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This edition of Submission Sunday has calls and contests from Strange Horizons, The Atavist, The Journal, Carnegie Mellon University Press, The Bombay Literary Magazine, The Hyacinth Review, Elegant Literature, and Neighborhood Literary. More details below.
☆☆☆ This week, we’re celebrating our latest (reported) success with submitting superstar Dan Murphy, whose poem “Aspirin for the Roses” was published in Eclectica Magazine following the publication of his poem “American Childhood Elegy” in the latest issue of Epiphany. He saw both calls for submissions listed here in 2025. Nice work, Dan! ☆☆☆
Strange Horizons Call for Submissions (for 48 hours starting January 19)
Strange Horizons is a weekly magazine of and about speculative fiction. We publish fiction, poetry, reviews, essays, interviews, roundtable discussions, and art. Our definition of speculative fiction includes science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and all other flavors of fantastika. Work published in Strange Horizons has been shortlisted for or won Hugo, Nebula, Rhysling, Theodore Sturgeon, James Tiptree Jr., and World Fantasy Awards.
Speculative fiction has a vibrant and radical tradition of stories that can make us think, can critique society, and can show us how it could be otherwise, for better or worse. We aim to be part of that tradition, and to update it: in the twenty-first century, speculative fiction must be a global, inclusive literature. We want to showcase work that challenges us and delights us, by new and established writers from diverse backgrounds and with diverse concerns.
The Atavist Call for Submissions: “Revived”
Revived is an Atavist project breathing new life into old stories. Periodically, the magazine releases previously published features that can no longer be found online. We collaborate with authors on edits and updates we deem appropriate, but our goal is to celebrate existing work otherwise lost to dead outlets and dead links, not to remake it into something new. Eligible stories run about 5,000 words or more. They have a strong narrative arc, in keeping with The Atavist’s mission. Authors receive a fee of $2,500.
The Journal Call for Submissions (Deadline February 15)
The award-winning literary journal of The Ohio State University, The Journal contributes significantly toward the literary landscape of Ohio and the nation. The Journal seeks to identify and encourage emerging writers while also attracting the work of established writers to create a diverse and compelling magazine. The Journal has recently had poems reproduced in the Best American Poetry and Pushcart Prize anthologies.
The Journal, originally titled The Ohio Journal, was founded in 1973 by William Allen of the English Department at The Ohio State University, and has been published continuously ever since. We are interested in quality fiction, poetry, nonfiction, photo essays, author interviews, and reviews of new books of poetry and prose. We impose no restrictions on category or type of submission for fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
Carnegie Mellon University Press Call for Literary Translations and Plays (Deadline January 12)
The literary division of the Carnegie Mellon University Press has been publishing for more than 50 years. It was among the first press to publish works by poets who would become Pulitzer Prize winners, including Rita Dove, Ted Kooser, Franz Wright, Stephen Dunn and Peter Balakian.
Our winter open reading period for literary translations and new plays begins on December 1, 2025 and runs through January 12, 2026. For our literary translation series, we welcome volumes of poetry, collections of short fiction, and completed novels in translation from both emerging and established translators. For our drama series, which celebrates innovative storytelling in dramatic writing, we are keen to see submissions of finished full-length plays (60-120 min. running time) and particularly welcome submissions from emerging playwrights.
Online Generative Writing Workshop with Carol Ghiglieri (Starting January 28)
Do you want to write fiction but don’t know how to get started? Join a friendly and supportive writing workshop this January and jumpstart your writing! Five weeks of exercises and craft discussion to help you get words on the page.
Gift of Deep Song: A Short Course on the Poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca (Tuesdays, March 10–April 7)
Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936) is a touchstone of 20th century poetry. His concepts of duende and deep song, and his theories about imagination and creativity and poetry…have had an immense and lasting influence on poets around the world. In this short course with Victoria Chang and Matthew Zapruder, we will combat indifference, by engaging energetically with Lorca’s poetry and prose.
📚 Every other week, I’ll be making space for up to three online writing classes or programs (and the occasional retreat or conference). Learn more about getting your own classified ad. 📚
The Bombay Literary Magazine Call for Submissions (Deadline January 31)
The Bombay Literary Magazine’s mission is to publish fine literature from around the world and promote a writerly perspective on narratives. We publish fiction, poetry, translations, essays, photo-essays, and graphic fiction in the months of April, August and December. As our archives spanning 10 years and 57 issues and 300,000+ words will prove, we welcome writers from all over the world.
We love literature, but this love is not—at least we try to ensure it is not—a blind love. We like to mull over how something is written, and not get unbuttoned simply by what it is about, or why it was written, or who wrote it, or to which genre it belongs. Of course, we all know that style cannot be so neatly unzipped from content, yes, this we all know, of course, of course. Unpacking this “of course” is of great interest to us.
The Hyacinth Review Call for Submissions (Deadline January 11)
Founded in 2021, The Hyacinth Review is an online journal dedicated to exploring the humanities through various mediums and providing free learning resources for all. In the Victorian language of flowers, the hyacinth sends the message: ‘your loveliness charms me’. In Greek mythology, the hyacinth sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, lover of Apollo. Wherever it’s represented, the hyacinth symbolizes an aesthetic appreciation which, as our name suggests, is the focus of this journal.
Our aim is to promote and celebrate the beauty that can be found everywhere in our world, in all its diversity. If you leave this site with a new bit of knowledge, a burst of inspiration, or even just a nugget of joy—then we’ve done our job.
Elegant Literature Call for Submissions (“Ink & Iron” – Deadline January 31)
All new writers can submit work to the magazine. It’s free. We don’t believe publications should charge authors to be published. However, we have a specific submission process you must adhere to in order to have your work considered.
Our submissions window opens on the first and closes at midnight on the final day of each month. Each issue of the magazine is themed according to our monthly prompt. The prompts are designed to inspire ideas but leave room for you to tell the story you want to tell. This $3000 contest invites you to explore Ink and Iron, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Neighborhood Literary Open to Queries
We’re a boutique literary agency headquartered in Philadelphia that focuses on adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as books for children. And while we represent authors from all over, we also work to be good literary citizens in our neighborhoods through free workshops and events that cater to the local literary community. Neighborhood Literary. Good neighbors, good books.
Dedicated to working with a diverse roster of authors and championing unique, out-of-the-box books, Neighborhood Literary brings over fifteen years of publishing experience into everything we do.
Here’s a reminder of the deadlines coming up from previous posts. Hot tips:
If you go into the archives and revisit posts from this time of year during previous years, you’ll find additional calls that are open annually.
If you submit to any of the Submission Sunday calls and publish or win, let me know and I’ll broadcast your success in a future post.
Monson Arts Residency Program Call for Applications (Monson, Maine – Deadline January 15)
Salt Hill Call for Submissions (Deadline January 31)
Ink in Thirds Call for Submissions (Deadline January 31)
César Egido Serrano Foundation VIII International Microfiction Contest (Deadline January 31)
The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers (Deadline February 1)
Palette Poetry 2025-26 Rejected Poetry Prize (Deadline February 9)
The Edinburgh Writing Awards: Short Story, Novel, Young Adult Novel, and Essay (Deadline February 28)
Stillhouse Press Call for Nonfiction Manuscripts (Deadline March 10)
The Other Almanac Call for Submissions (Deadline March 20)
Redivider Call for Submissions (Opens January 1 through April 30)
Kweli Call for Submissions (Deadline May 30)
AGNI Call for Submissions (Deadline May 31)
*This newsletter does not guarantee the unimpeachable behavior of all venues shared here but the odds are good.
Happy New Year, Chris, and Thank you! I don't always comment, but I do read your posts, and I do thank you for the information you share.