It’s one thing to get a list of excellent publications that are accepting stories with your theme and word count. It’s another thing altogether to find a publication that might actually like your submission.
In order to determine which magazines on my list fall into that second category, there’s only one thing to do: actually read the stories they publish.
I’m going to read the latest editions of each magazine, then ask myself three questions:
- What type of fiction do they normally publish?
- Do they publish authors who write like me?
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? (Upcoming themed issue, not accepting submissions at this time, etc.)
Let’s see how each magazine fairs.
Allegory – https://www.allegoryezine.com/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Magical realism in gritty, urban settings.
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – For some of my other stories, yes! They very much seem like a magazine that has the kind of fiction that I absolutely adore to write and read!
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – Unfortunately, I don’t think there are enough magical elements in my story and it would likely get passed over.
Antioch Review – http://review.antiochcollege.edu/antioch-review-home
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Prestigious, established authors. (Couldn’t get into their archives, due to our local library being closed for Coronavirus and everything online being behind a paywall.)
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – Unsure.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – I honestly can’t tell.
Cloud Rodeo – https://www.cloudrodeojournal.com/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Dreamy poetry
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – Nope. They seem to only be publishing poets right now, and I’m a fiction author. (I’ve tried to write poetry, and I am absolutely abysmal at it.)
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – It’s not poetry.
Colorado Review – https://coloradoreview.colostate.edu
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Super literary, dream-like stories that have a lot of focus on people’s feelings.
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – Not particularly.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – My current story is much more of a horror tale, I don’t think it would be a good fit.
Crazyhorse – https://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? A lot of good poetry and more literary, dream-like fiction.
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – They definitely prefer more literary, realistic work.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – For the particular story, it’s just not a good fit.
Five Points – http://fivepoints.gsu.edu/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Elevated literary
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – Not sure. Their online work is behind a paywall, and, again, Cornoavirus has closed my local libraries.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – Their website is so prestigious that I ended up changing my shirt after I went through it because I felt grubby. I might try with another story, but I don’t think my little horror story will be up their alley.
Fogged Clarity – http://foggedclarity.com/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Poetry and interviews
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – No. They tend to focus more on current events and modern problems than complex fictions.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – They don’t seem to have put out a new issue since 2018. Probably a good idea to skip this one for now.
The Fourth River – https://www.thefourthriver.com/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Gripping stories based in natural settings.
- Do they publish authors who write like me?– Several stories on the website are literary versions of what I’m trying to do with my story!
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – Their reading period is in July-December, there is a $3 reading fee, and they won’t accept stories that are longer than 4,000 words. Blast it.
Harvard Review – https://www.harvardreview.org/submit/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Extremely excellent fiction
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – While everyone they’ve published is nerve-wrackingly good, I did see a couple of stories in their most recent publications that were similar to mine.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – They accept works up to 7,000 words in length, and while they do charge $3 for each reading they are apparently reading right now! It’s a hell of a stretch, but I’m going to put them on the list as a maybe.
- BONUS: They also recommend similar magazines for writers to try next. The publication AGNI Online looks promising, and I’ll be adding it to the end of my list!
Hotel Amerika – http://www.hotelamerika.net/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Fiction about Americans in desperate, realistic situations.
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – It seems like they publish for writers that are very similar to me!
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – Their reading period only lasts until April 1st. If I’m going to submit, I’m going to have to hurry.
Hudson Review – https://hudsonreview.com/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Literary
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – They publish a surprisingly large range of talent.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – While there’s nothing that’s making me stand up and say “I must send them my work!” they are open minded about their submissions, and accept works up to 10,000 words. Their fiction reading period isn’t until September, though. BLAST it.
Hunger Mountain – https://hungermtn.org/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Elevated literary that transcends genre.
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – YES! A lot of their work looks like mine! AND their upcoming issue is based around ideas I bring up in my own story! This publication looks like an amazing fit for not only this story, but my work in general!
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – BLAST IT THEY’RE CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS.
Iconoclast – http://www.iconoclastliterarymagazine.com/
- What type of fiction do they normally publish? – Iconic authors
- Do they publish authors who write like me? – I’m not iconic yet, so not really.
- Is there any reason why they might not publish my current story? – It’s so prestigious, I honestly don’t know if I should even try. Plus, they prefer works starting at 3500 words, and they abhor violence and terror – which does come into play in my latest work – so I think I’ll give this one a pass for my little horror story.
Well, things aren’t looking good, at least not for this batch of publishers. But I do have two potential places to submit, three places I might be able to submit later, and quite a few other potentials to go through.
We’ll walk through the rest of the potential publishers in the next installment – coming soon.