Deadlines for Lifelines: Little Magazines

Little magazines — also known as literary journals or lit mags — have a long, illustrious history in U.S. publishing. They first appeared in the early nineteenth century, and today number in the hundreds if not thousands. Some feature a single genre, but most offer the full literary spectrum: fiction, poetry, essays, short memoirs, book reviews, interviews, even short-form comics/graphic novellas. Not only have individual writers been launched in little magazines but entire literary movements. Though their circulations are tiny (averaging about 1,500) their readership is highly influential: agents, editors, academics, and other writers. You’ll never get rich writing for little magazines (most pay in copies, subscriptions, or perhaps $100) but they remain a vital venue. Here are some upcoming deadlines:

One of the premier journals for creative nonfiction, Fourth Genre, is holding its annual Michael Steinberg Essay Prize. The word limit is 6,000 and the deadline is prontito: February 28. Send a check for $15 along with your submission. The winning essayist will win 1,000 bucks.

The Bellingham Review is hosting its annual contest: The Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction, which carries a $1,000 first prize. Send up to 8,000 nonfiction (meaning, true!) words by March 15 for consideration. No previously published pieces, please. Rebecca McClanahan will judge.

The Los Angeles Review opens for submissions on March 1. They will be accepting poetry until May 25 and all other genres until June 1. Length is 1,000-4,000 words for fiction and nonfiction; 3-6 pages for book reviews; and 3-5 poems (either your own, or poems you have translated). Payment is one copy.