The editors at Grist seek work of high literary quality from both emerging and established writers. We welcome all styles and aesthetic approaches. Grist is committed to diversity, inclusivity, cultural interchange, and respect for all individuals. 

We welcome submissions from writers in every stage of their career and are especially interested in considering work from emerging writers. More than 90% of the content of our most recent issues has come from unsolicited submissions. We love discovering new voices.

Founded in 2007 by graduate students in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Tennessee, Grist is a nationally distributed journal of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and craft essays.

Published annually every spring, each issue is accompanied by Grist Online, which features some of the best work we’ve received during our reading period. In addition to general submissions, Grist holds the Pro Forma Contest every spring, recognizing unpublished creative work that explores the relationship between content and form, whether in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or a hybrid genre.

Top-tier magazines that specifically welcome first-time writers. No fancy bio required—these editors focus on the quality of your work, not your credentials.

Classy AF Lit Mags That Love & Support Emerging Writers

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

These lit mags specifically note in their guidelines that they publish established and emerging writers alike. Nice:D 

Landing a piece in one of these would be a real nice bolster the ol' (new) literary bio. 

13 Top-Tier Lit Mags That Publish New Writers

They told us personally or put it in their guidelines so go get em'. 

These Lit Mags Want to Be the First Place to Publish You 

Grist: A Journal of The Literary Arts

General submissions for visual art are now open!
Although we are predominately a literary journal, we are excited to begin publishing visual art to accompany pieces on our website. Our aims are to enhance our online publications and provide a platform for up-and-coming artists. 
Your work would be published in the online companion of Grist, accompanied by a piece of poetry, creative nonfiction, or fiction. We pay $10 for each piece of accepted artwork. 
What are we looking for?
We consider original work by the artist in any medium, including painting, drawing, photography, graphic illustrations, photos of installations or sculptures. Our tastes are wide and varied--we like the weird and abstract, clear and comprehensive. If you make visual art, we want to see it. 
Guidelines
Please submit no more than 5 pieces per submission.
Give each image file the correct title as you would like it to appear online, if accepted.
Upload as .jpg format, at the highest resolution possible at no more than 100K. 
Fine Print
Our fee is the minimum possible to cover our submittable costs. 
Copyright Info
We hold first serial rights for the material we publish, with the copyright reverting back to the author upon publication.
Contact
gristeditors@gmail.com

Visual Art Submission

We want to see your best work, regardless of style, form, or subject matter. Please submit 3-5 poems.

Poetry Submission

We want to see your best work, regardless of style, form, or subject matter. Please submit one fiction story of up to 7,000 words.

Fiction Submission

The staff at Grist considers nonfiction essays, including memoir, lyric essays, short shorts, and experimental forms. We want to see your best work, regardless of style, form, or subject matter. Please limit your submission to 7,000 words.

Nonfiction Submission

For longer works: no more than 5000 words

For shorter works: no more than 5 pieces

Proforma Contest in Fiction

If you're a current subscriber, then you can submit without the $3.00 fee!
We want to see your best work, regardless of style, form, or subject matter. Submit 3-5 poems.
 
Please note "subscriber" does not mean previous contributor and your subscription must not have run out before time of submission

Poetry Submission for Current Subscribers

If you're a current subscriber, then you can submit without the $3.00 fee!
We want to see your best work, regardless of style, form, or subject matter. Submit one (1) work of non-fiction up to 7,000 words.
Please note that "subscriber" does not mean previous contributor and your subscription must not have run out before time of submission.

Nonfiction Submission for Current Subscribers

If you're a current subscriber, then you can submit without the $3.00 fee!
  
We want to see the best work you've got regardless of style, form, or subject matter. Submit 1 story up to 7,000 words. Please include a cover letter and story in a single document with the title in your cover letter.
 
  
Please note "subscriber" does not mean previous contributor and your subscription must not have run out before time of submission

Fiction Submission for Current Subscribers

Please provide us with your mailing address and let us know which back issues you'd like to order (issues 3 and 5-11 are available), along with the quantity of each issue you'd like to receive. 

Prices include shipping.

Also, contributors of our most recent issue can order additional contributor copies at the back issues price. (If this is you, please note on your order that you were a contributor and want the most recent issue that includes your work!)

Grist: A Journal of The Literary Arts

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