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Under the direction of founding editor Brigid Hughes since 2006, it has been our mission to seek out overlooked and unclassifiable work, and to publish writing from beyond established confines. 

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We asked literary agents which magazines they actually read. They answered with this list of publications—not comprehensive, but damn close.

Lit Mags Agents Love (We Asked)

Printed lit mags are way cooler than you'd expect. Some are pocket-sized. Others are like actual books. Lots of writers get so much more out of seeing their work in print. Holding it. Smelling it. Using it as a reason to show their favorite English teacher while low-key checking if they're still married. We have over 1000 mags with printed issues so we cut this down to our most competitive ones in our top two vibe categories. Good Luck!

89 Reputable Lit Mags with Print Issues

Publications with stories selected for O. Henry Prize anthologies, America's oldest prestigious short fiction award (established 1919). Unlike the Pushcart, O. Henry selections are made directly by the editorial committee rather than through nominations. These journals publish fiction that meets the highest standards of literary excellence.

Lit Mags Featured in O'Henry Award Anthologies

Publications with verse selected for BAP, the foremost annual poetry anthology in America since 1988. Only 75 poems are selected each year by distinguished guest editors. These journals consistently publish poetry that represents the most significant contemporary American verse across styles and approaches.

Lit Mags Featured in Best American Poetry Anthologies

Publications with stories selected for inclusion in BASS, America's most visible short fiction anthology since 1915. Only about 20 stories make it into each volume from hundreds considered. These journals consistently publish fiction that represents the highest levels of contemporary American short storytelling.

Lit Mags Featured in Best American Short Story Anthologies

Publications with nonfiction selected for BAE, the premier American essay anthology established in 1986. Only about 20-25 essays are included annually. These journals consistently publish thought-provoking, beautifully crafted nonfiction that defines excellence in contemporary American essay writing.

Lit Mags Featured in Best American Essay Anthologies

Story-focused publications with works chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Selection indicates exceptional quality, as less than 5% of nominated fiction typically makes it into the anthology. These journals have consistently identified stories that stand out among thousands of nominations.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Essay-focused publications with works selected for Pushcart Prize anthologies. The Pushcart increasingly celebrates innovative nonfiction, with essays often comprising nearly a third of each anthology. These journals have repeatedly identified nonfiction that resonates with Pushcart editors and readers.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Verse-centered publications with poems chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Poetry selections represent the most competitive category, with thousands of nominations for roughly 30 slots annually. These journals have consistently identified poems that stand out in this intensely competitive field.

Poetry Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Publications with pieces chosen for, or mentioned in, Pushcart Prize anthologies.

Lit Mags Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Click on the magazine with the submission call you're interested in for all of the details you need to send your work to them :D 

24 Lit mags that pay writers/don't charge fees

No database exists for agents' reading habits, so we did this the hard way—by asking every agent, editor, and writing-adjacent human we could until we got enough answers.

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