Magazine/Journal, press & online submission suggestions
As a young writer, you might be thinking about starting to get your work out there and are unsure where to start. So at Hive, we’ve rounded up a few good places who are keen to hear from 16+ (unless otherwise stated). Don’t forget Hive also does a yearly anthology of the best writing from young writers in South Yorkshire (deadline 9th Jan 2017). For the best possible chance of getting work accepted, whatever you’re sending work to, always read the guidelines carefully.
NOTE: Beware of what are known as ‘vanity publishers’ offering publication in books because they claim to like your work, and then asking for loads of money for a load of copies. You are basically paying to have your work printed by those who don’t care about your work or the quality of what they produce. Here’s a list of those to watch out for: https://winningwriters.com/the-best-free-literary-contests/contests-to-avoid
Paper Swan Press
What: Paper Swans Press is a small, independent publisher of poetry and flash fiction. We currently print anthologies and, in 2016, will publish our first pamphlets from individual poets/writers. We also run competitions and host projects with The Poetry Shelf to bring poetry into the local community. Paper Swans is run by Sarah Miles, supported by a team of talented editors.
Submission: CURRENTLY until 31st December Young Adult Anthology poems or flash fiction (up to 250 words) on any theme for a new anthology. Poets MUST be between 13-18 years at time of submission.This anthology will complement our award-shortlisted Schooldays anthology. Schooldays reflected on memories of youth and we are looking to publish an anthology that IS youth; a current, contemporary collection giving a platform to young poets and writers. Poems can be already published and of any length and topic.
When: Various windows, keep an eye on website or social media
Website: Click here
The Fat Damsel
What: Online journal for poetry and short pieces
About: The Fat Damsel are looking for pieces that you simply had to write. Words that had to come out of you, words that came immediately, or words that you had to wait years to have the courage to write. Send poems or short pieces that show the world that you are a survivor. From the big things, to the small things, life can be a battleground. We look for honesty and heart. We look for poems to survive in.
Submission: No more than two poems/short pieces at a time, poems no longer than 40 lines and short prose pieces | different submissions windows through year
When: Different submissions windows through year
Website: Click here
Lies, Dreaming podcast
What: Lies, Dreaming is a bi-monthly spoken word podcast curated by Andrew Blair and Ross McCleary.
Submission: When we say ‘words’ we want anything that involves you making noises; it’s only limited by what your mind can come up with and a time constraint: a maximum of five minutes in length. We’re interested in any style of writing, we want to show off the range of spoken word. These will be set to an ambient soundtrack, so we ask that the recordings are vocals only. Every two months they invite submissions on a specific theme (eg. ‘Tim Henman’, ‘Robot Wars’, ‘For synergy’) with the aim of showing off the breadth and diversity of spoken word.
When: Different submissions windows through year
Website: Click here
Myths of the Near Future Magazine
What: e-magazine young writers (16-25).
Submissions: there is a theme for each edition and Myths magazine publishes fiction, poetry, sound recordings, video of performances, literary reviews, and discussions about writing itself. But they do accept non-themed work too
When: always open
About: Myths is about good writing, but we tread the tightrope between demanding quality and encouraging talent. There are friendly editors behind the email, and we’re published by the young writer development agency NAWE Young Writers Hub. You can download copies of Myths by logging in as a NAWE member and downloading them on this page or by reading them on ISSUU. You could pop round and see us on twitter or facebook, if you like. Or we’re at [email protected]
Website: Click here
Cadaverine Magazine
What: Online publishers of the best new poetry, prose and non-fiction from under 30’s. They believe in showcasing contemporary, innovative and original new writing from the next generation of literary talent.
Submission: literary fiction, poetry and reviews by writers under the age of 30
When: Different submissions windows through year
Website: Click here
Prole
What: Prole is a print magazine that publishes high quality, accessible poetry and prose. It also runs competitions and published pamphlets
When: Different submissions windows through year for the magazine and competitions
Submission: Various depending on whether magazine or the prose or poetry competitions. The website has good detail on what they are after.
About: Prole promotes accessible literature of high quality. Anything that we publish will be intelligent, engaging and impact the reader in a variety of ways. We want to appeal to a wide audience and reconnect a broad readership with excellent examples of poetry and short prose. Anything that sniffs of literary elitism is highly unlikely to make it through the editorial process. If it does, it’s only because we won’t have noticed and the piece has other areas of merit. Remember, at Prole, it’s the reader who comes first. Anything that is accepted for publication will be considered to be: intelligent, engaging and likely to impact the reader in a variety of ways.
Website: Click here
Picaroon Poetry
What: Picaroon Poetry is a bi-monthly web journal for un-themed, eclectic poetry
When: Different submissions windows through year – see site
Submission: Send 1-3 of your unpublished poems to Kate Garrett at [email protected]
About: Picaroon Poetry is a brand new, bi-monthly web journal for unthemed, eclectic poetry. I’m looking for rogue poets, if you will (and absolutely anyone can be a rogue poet, if they feel the urge, so yes poet – that means you). We will publish our issues online in May, July, September, November, January and March. Send your favourite unpublished poems, and if I love your work, I will include it in a future issue.
Website: Click here
Miracle e-zine
What: a literary and art print and e-zine.
About: Not just a magazine but a dream and imagination of thousands of people who fill the pages of this magazine with their electric, nonsensical, illusion, and their complicated dilemma of words.
Submission: poetry, short-fiction, non-fiction, flash-fiction, book reviews, author interviews, blog posts and art works. Works in progress and simultaneous submissions are welcome but must be marked as such.
When: accepts submissions all year (but there are deadlines for issues)
Website: Click here
Emma Press
What: The Emma Press is an independent poetry publisher dedicated to producing beautiful, thought-provoking books and pamphlets
About: It was founded in Winnersh in 2012 by Emma Wright, formerly of Orion Books, who runs it with Rachel Piercey as a regular co-editor. The press was shortlisted in the Publishers’ category of the Michael Marks Awards in both 2014 and 2015.When: Different submissions windows through year – see site
Submission: Various themes/specified when windows open. Subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date.
Note: In order to submit, you need to be a member of the Emma Press Club, which means you need to have bought a book from the Emma Press website in the same calendar year as you are submitting, or to already have been accepted in an Emma Press book. Buying a book from the Emma Press site gets you membership for that calendar year, so you can submit to as many of our projects as you like in that year. Being published in an Emma Press book gets you membership for life.
Website: Click here
Popshot Magazine
What: an illustrated print literary magazine, published bi-annually, releasing a new issue every April and October.
About: In 2008, the idea for a poetry & illustration magazine materialised as a result of picking through the literary shelves of the now deceased Borders. There was a feeling that the world of poetry was driving itself into an elitest and fusty no-through road, and we wanted to do something about it. Combining illustration with poetry in a neat and beautifully designed format, in April 2009 the first issue of Popshot launched, thumping its chest and quoting Adrian Mitchell’s ‘Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people’. In the years since, that positioning has developed into a strong reputation for quality writing, with Dazed & Confused calling the magazine “a who isn’t yet who of contemporary literature” and The List claiming that “Popshot looks for the best and finds it.”
Submissions: short stories, flash fiction, and poetry
When: various windows, see website
Website: Click here
Severine
What: Severine is a new literary and art journal, looking for the best art, poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction.
About: SEVERINE is a literary and art journal, looking for the best art, poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction. We’re named after feminist militant journalist, Caroline Rémy du Guebhard, and Urban Dictionary’s definition of her pen name, Séverine: Around-the-world traveller and round-the-clock worker who has a taste for challenges, either professionally or personally, and who is always there, at least virtually, for her friends. We’d love you to send us your work.
Submission: Information when window opens
When: Different submissions windows through year – see site
Website: Click here