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6 Established Always-Open Journals (Plus Some Old List Updates)

I was looking through some of my older posts recently and realized there were a few submission lists that could probably use a refresh. Sure enough, when I looked through them I found some markets that have closed, and realized they were missing a few that I’ve discovered since writing them. So if there’s anyone out there with work looking for a home, here are some potentially useful lists:

…all three now up-to-date and accurate, at least for the next little while. I also figured, since I’m in researching markets mode, I’d round up a few others that folks can send their work to no matter when they stumble across this post. Here are some literary journals not featured on any of those lists above that generally stay open for submissions year-round and have been around for at least 10 years (which means the odds are good they’re not going anywhere anytime soon).

Berkeley Fiction Review

This annual is a student-run publication out of UC Berkeley and publishes “innovative short fiction that plays with form and content.” They also run a short fiction contest in October with different length limits (2,000 max).

Cimarron Review

Another university journal, this one out of Oklahoma State University, Cimarron Review is one of the oldest quarterlies in the US. They publish literary fiction with a focus on voice, and have published some household name level literary figures in their decades of publishing.

The Dark

Definitely a journal every horror writer and reader should be hip to. The Dark publishes horror and dark fantasy online, with four stories a month, and has beautiful covers along with fiction that’s as entertaining as it is disturbing.

Evergreen Review

Not only is the name on brand for this post, this journal has been pushing the poetic and social boundry for decades, and has managed to keep up with the times better than many mags in the old guard.

The Missouri Review

Published by the University of Missouri, The Missouri Review is one of those white whale publications, consistently ranking among the most challenging fiction and CNF markets on Duotrope. They’re also gorgeous issues that I genuinely look forward to reading. Mostly a home for literary fiction, though they’ll publish things with a touch of the odd or surreal as long as the writing’s strong and the characters are the focus.

Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern

This started as a journal only for work rejected by other places. They’ve since dropped that rule, but they’ve kept the spirit of a home for things that are a bit off-trend, off-kilter, and off the wall. Another fun fact: they’re one of the very few journals that still only accepts submissions via snail mail.

That’s just a quick list, but hopefully between those and the updates you find somewhere to send whatever work you have looking for a home.

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