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Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff and listed in the Literary Magazines database. Here you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, and contact information—everything you need to determine which publications match your vision for your writing and your writing life. Use the filters below to find magazines with reading periods that are open now or opening soon (within the next thirty days), accept unsolicited submissions, and match all of your criteria for the perfect publisher of your work.

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Creative Writing: Journals

• Free Online Resources
• Introduction

A journal is a regular publication (monthly, yearly, etc.) in which you will find academic and research articles. The articles present current research and are critiqued by experts before publication, so you can be confident of their quality. The majority of journals held by the Bodleian Libraries in both physical and electronic formats can be searched via SOLO , as can the individual articles within ejournals.

On this page you will find recommended journals and guidance on how to search for and access print and ejournals.

Definitions

Terms you may encounter in your research.

Journal: A regular publication of academic and research articles.

Serial: A broad term that refers to items published in a series but the items are separate and standalone. Examples include indexes, yearbooks and some journals.

Periodical: A regular publication that includes articles, stories and other text. Magazines and newspapers are examples of these.

Conference proceedings: The published record of a conference.

Full-text: This means you can read the item in full from beginning to end, not just the abstract or summary.

Platform: This refers to the site on which you can find and access the journal.

Electronic journals (ejournals)

• Key ejournals
• Ejournal Collections
• Free Resources

Ejournals are digital versions of select types of serial publications. Broadly speaking they come in two forms: they are either 'born digital' or are digital reproductions of physical works.

The tabs at the top of this section list key ejournals, ejournal collections and free online resources relevant to the study of Creative Writing.

Members of Oxford University can use ejournals that the Bodleian Libraries have purchased for free. Search for them on  SOLO . They can be read on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, e-reader or mobile phone; you just need your Oxford Single Sign On to access them. Individually purchased ejournals are all searchable on SOLO, but not all purchased ejournal  collections  are, so it is important to visit the websites of ejournal collections too. Look at the 'ejournal collections' tab above.

Note, some ejournals have restrictive access and usage terms, for example they can only be read by one person at a time.

Some journals are acquired via 'electronic Legal Deposit'. These must be read on a library desktop computer in one of the Bodleian Libraries. Further information on how to identify and access electronic Legal Deposit items on SOLO is at the link below.

• Electronic Legal Deposit guide

Help with ejournals

The links below are provided for those wishing to learn more about ejournals.

• Online and Remote Access Information on accessing Bodleian Libraries content remotely.
• University of Oxford E-resources Blog The e-resources team use this blog to help keep you informed of news and changes in the world of ejournals and databases.

Below you will find key texts for Creative Writing.

Depending on the journal provider, you may need to use your Oxford Single Sign On  to access materials.

• New Writing New Writing: The International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing is a leading international journal in the field of Creative Writing Studies and publishes both critical and creative work. more... less... Articles can focus on any area of Creative Writing Studies including (but not limited to): pedagogy, practice and research the processes of creative writers, their drafts and completed works the history of particular writing forms analysis of particular creative works diversity, equity and inclusion in creative writing and creative writing teaching studies of creative writing in languages other than English explorations of teaching in different contexts (e.g., high schools, the community) In addition to scholarly articles, New Writing publishes: stories, poems, works of creative non-fiction, novel extracts, writing for the stage or for the screen, and other creative pieces extracts from works in progress and discussions about themes and subjects interviews with creative writers, publishers, editors, designers, booksellers
• Poets and Writers magazine
• Modern Fiction Studies MFS publishes theoretically engaged and historically informed articles on modernist and contemporary fiction. The journal's substantial book review section keeps readers informed about current scholarship in the field. MFS alternates general issues with special issues focused on individual novelists or topics that challenge and expand the concept of "modern fiction."
• Adaptation Academic articles on book to screen adaptation, screen to book adaptation, popular and classic adaptations, theatre and novel screen adaptations, television, animation, soundtracks, production issues, and genres in literature on screen. Includes book and film reviews.
• Modern Drama Close readings of both canonical and lesser known dramatic texts through a range of methodological perspectives. The journal features refereed articles that enhance our understanding of plays in both formal and historical terms, largely treating literature of the past two centuries from diverse geo-political contexts, as well as an extensive book review section.
• Life writing Life Writing is one of the leading journals in the field of biography and autobiography, and publishes scholarly articles, critically informed creative personal essays, and book reviews.
• The Literary Review An international journal of contemporary writing.
• Novel: a forum on fiction Novel is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to the best new criticism and theory in novel studies.

The following is a list of ejournal collections and journal indexing services applicable to those studying Creative Writing at Oxford. Not all ejournal collections are available on SOLO, so it is important to visit ejournal collection websites to expand your search.

The platforms that host ejournal collections allow you to browse and search across all ejournals on their site and encounter titles of interest you may not have otherwise found. Unlike search engines, such as Google, these platforms allow you to effectively refine your search. You can be confident content is credible as it has been collated by the platform editors. It is clear where articles can be read for free through the Bodleian Libraries' subscriptions.

The ejournal collections have been selected by the Bodleian Libraries and you are able to access them for free because of institutional subscriptions. You will need your Oxford Single Sign On to access the ebooks if you are not on the University network.

• Arts & Humanities Citation Index (ISI) more... less... Alternative name: Web of Science. Arts & Humanities Citation Index is a multidisciplinary index covering the journal literature of the arts and humanities. It fully covers 1,144 of the world's leading arts and humanities journals, and it indexes individually selected, relevant items from over 6,800 major science and social science journals.

JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization with a dual mission to create and maintain a trusted archive of important scholarly journals, and to provide access to these journals as widely as possible. JSTOR offers researchers the ability to retrieve high-resolution, scanned images of journal issues and pages as they were originally designed, printed, and illustrated. The journals archived in JSTOR span many disciplines.

Originally conceived as a project at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, JSTOR began as an effort to ease the increasing problems faced by libraries seeking to provide adequate shelf space for the long runs of backfiles of scholarly journals. JSTOR is not a current issues database. Because of JSTOR's archival mission, there is a gap, typically from 1 to 5 years, between the most recently published journal issue and the back issues available in JSTOR.

Browse journals published by Oxford University Press.

An online archive of digitized, full-image journal articles, Periodicals Archive Online (formerly PCI Full Text) offers unprecedented access to international, scholarly literature in the humanities and social sciences disciplines from 1802 to 2000. Many journals are non-English. Oxford has access to Collections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, which also includes The Spectator 1828-2000.

Note that Periodicals Archive Online is separate from other ProQuest databases such as British Periodicals.

The following is a list of ejournal collections applicable to those studying Creative Writing at Oxford and freely available on the web.

You do not need your Oxford Single Sign On to access these collections. Note, they are different to the ejournals subscribed to by the Bodleian Libraries for which you need your Single Sign On for access.

• DOAJ The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed journals.
• Google Scholar Used to search for scholarly literature including articles, theses, abstracts and books from a variety of publishers.
• JSTOR JSTOR's collection of OA journals offers broad coverage in the field of humanities as well as other subject areas. You can create an account to access further content.
• Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) ORA provides a single point of public access to electronic copies of peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings by Oxford authors and Oxford research theses.

Physical journals

• Principal Collections
• Other Collections

The tabs at the top of this section list Oxford University libraries with print journals of interest to those studying Creative Writing. A lot of journals are available online but some are still in print, especially those published before the introduction of computers and online journals, and they have not all been digitised.

Help with print journals

For those wishing to learn more about searching for journals in Oxford, we recommend the following guide:

• SOLO: Search Oxford Libraries Online guide A guide for students and researchers at the University of Oxford, or those visiting, who seek support in using the Bodleian Libraries resource discovery tool, SOLO.
• Rewley House Continuing Education Library The Rewley House Continuing Education Library supports the teaching, learning and research of the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education, including the Diploma and Masters courses in Creative Writing.

The following journals are held in print format in the Continuing Education Library:

London Review of Books: current issue and most recent 2 years held in the Reading Room

New York Review of Books: current issue and most recent 2 years held in the Reading Room

Poetry News: 1997 - 2002, Lower Library

Poetry Review: 1997 - current, Lower Library

Times Literary Supplement: current issue and most recent 2 years held in the Reading Room

Writers Chronicle: 2014 - current, Lower Library

• Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library is the University's largest library, with holdings numbering several million items. It offers access to many journals, to be read within the library itself, the majority of which are stored offsite. Journals stored offsite need to be requested to a reading room via SOLO, or you can request a scan to be sent to your email.
• English Faculty Library The English Faculty Library (EFL) primarily serves all those reading and teaching English at Oxford, as well as other readers requiring access to its collections.

Recommend a journal

If the Bodleian Libraries don't have the journal or article you are looking for, you can make a recommendation by completing the form below ( Oxford Single-Sign On required).

• Recommend a purchase

Inter-library loans

If the Bodleian Libraries don't have the journal you are looking for, we may be able to source it through Oxford's inter-library loan service.

• Inter-library Loans Service Online Form Use this form to request material not held by the Bodleian Libraries. Please check Oxford collections on SOLO and ensure that the item is not in stock, either in print or electronically.

• BrowZine Intended for staff and students of Oxford University wishing to learn more about BrowZine.
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• Last Updated: Aug 17, 2023 2:34 PM
• URL: https://libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/creative-writing

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After weeks of deliberating over the right words and fine-tuning your creative nonfiction piece , you’re ready to begin submitting to literary nonfiction journals. The only problem is finding the right home for your creative nonfiction submission. What journals or literary nonfiction magazines should you prioritize submitting your work to?

Find your answer here: we’ve searched the net for great creative nonfiction journals, and any of the following 24 publications is a wonderful home for creative nonfiction—guaranteed.

If you’re looking to submit multiple genres of work, take a look at the best places to submit poetry and the best places to submit fiction , too!

24 Creative Nonfiction Magazines to Submit To

Just like our other guides on the best literary journals to submit to, we’ve divided this article into three different categories:

• Great journals to secure your first publications in
• Competitive journals for writers with previous publications
• High-tier creative nonfiction journals at the summit of publishing

Any publication in the following 24 journals is sure to jumpstart your literary career. So, let’s explore the best nonfiction magazines and journals!

Creative Nonfiction Magazines: Great First Publications

The following eight journals sponsor creative nonfiction from both emerging and established writers, making them great opportunities for writers in any stage of their journey.

1. Sundog Lit

Sundog Lit loves the weird and experimental, and it regularly seeks innovative nonfiction for its biannual journal. All submitted works should be well-researched and play with both form and content. Submit your hybrid content to this great creative nonfiction journal!

2. River Teeth Journal

River Teeth Journal specializes in narrative nonfiction. The journal operates with the motto “Good Writing Counts and Facts Matter,” which captures their preference for well-researched and thoughtfully composed CNF. Literary nonfiction submissions are open twice a year, typically between September and May.

3. Atticus Review

Atticus Review posts daily nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. They publish work that is unabashed and resilient, finding hope in even the toughest of situations. All published works after September 19th, 2020 receive a $10 award from this creative nonfiction journal!

4. Barren Magazine

Barren Magazine publishes nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and photography, preferring works with grit and muster. Each publication of this creative nonfiction magazine includes prompts: for their 17th issue, the prompts are “unorthodox, sensational, kinetic, quixotic, & transcendent.”

5. The Offing

The editors at The Offing look for work that’s innovative, genre-bending, and challenges conventions. The Offing is especially keen to support both new and established authors, making them a welcome home for your creative nonfiction submissions.

6. Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse sponsors emerging and diverse voices in its biannual publication. Submissions for this journal remain open between September and May, and they typically range between 2,500 and 5,000 words. This is a great literary journal to submit to for writers of all styles and narratives!

7. Dogwood: a Journal of Poetry and Prose

Dogwood is a journal of poetry and prose based out of Fairfield University. This annual publication only opens for submissions in the Fall, and each edition includes prizes for top pieces. Literary nonfiction from all walks of life are welcome here.

8. Montana Mouthful

Straight out of the Treasure State, Montana Mouthful seeks “just a mouthful” of fiction and nonfiction. Creative nonfiction submissions should not exceed 2,000 words but should still deliver a cogent, memorable story.

Creative Nonfiction Magazines: Reputable Literary Journals to Submit To

The following literary magazines and creative nonfiction journals can be tough competition, but with a few previous publications under your belt and a special story ready for print, the following journals could jumpstart your literary career. All of these journals have fantastic literary nonfiction examples!

9. Conjunctions

Conjunctions publishes daring works of poetry and prose, living by its motto to “Read Dangerously!” Submitted works should provoke, excite, and linger with the reader. Conjunctions publishes both a biannual magazine and a weekly online journal, both of which house fantastic literary journalism.

10. Black Warrior Review

Black Warrior Review is a biannual literary journal run by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This Whiting Awarded journal nurtures groundbreaking literary nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, with many of its authors going on to win Pushcarts and Best of the Net prizes!

11. Hippocampus

Hippocampus Magazine is one of the best creative nonfiction magazines out there, as it focuses solely on the publication of personal essays and nonfiction stories. Their strictly digital publication is highly literary and has many great creative nonfiction examples and pieces. Despite being a highly competitive journal, both new and emerging writers can find a home at Hippocampus .

12. American Literary Review

The American Literary Review , run out of the University of North Texas, publishes engaging and precise stories and poetry. The journal is currently on hiatus, but read some of its back issues and you’ll understand why it’s a great literary journal to submit to.

13. Fourth Genre

Fourth Genre is a biannual creative nonfiction journal published through Michigan State University. The journal amplifies diverse and powerful voices, seeking stories that are refreshing, earnest, and imaginative. Fourth Genre only publishes nonfiction, so read its back issues for some great creative nonfiction examples!

14. The Cincinnati Review

The Cincinnati Review is interested in literary nonfiction that can “knock your socks off.” Submissions for personal essays are open between September and January; writers can also submit flash nonfiction year-round to its miCRo series.

15. Creative Nonfiction

“True stories, well told” is the motto of Creative Nonfiction , the aptly-named journal of all things CNF. Creative Nonfiction celebrates a diverse range of voices and experiences, championing both new and established essayists. Between its literary publications and its creative nonfiction blog, writers can learn a lot from this journal. Send your creative nonfiction submissions to Creative Nonfiction !

16. Witness

Witness publishes prose and poetry that examines and analyzes the modern day. They seek stories about modern issues and events, often publishing bold and eclectic takes on serious issues. Witness is a more politically-oriented journal, making it a leader in contemporary literary journalism.

Creative Nonfiction Magazines: The Summit of Literary Nonfiction

The following journals are notoriously difficult to publish in, as writers often have to have a name built for themselves in the literary world. Nonetheless, the following publications exist at the summit of CNF, so keep these publications on your radar as top literary journals to submit to.

AGNI , a highly literary publication run at Boston University, publishes fiery, transformative prose and poetry. Creative nonfiction submissions should be polished, inventive, and highly original. Be sure to read their previous publications for an idea of what they look for!

18. The Atlantic

The Atlantic is well-respected for its literary journalism, making it a premier publisher of creative nonfiction. Though many of its published pieces are solicited, The Atlantic is always looking for fresh, bold stories and poetry, so it’s a premier place for nonfiction magazine submissions.

Salon does not present itself as a creative nonfiction journal, but many of its previous magazine issues are highly literary in nature, examining current issues with a sharp, educated lens. If you have nonfiction stories that are both personal and global in nature, Salon accepts queries for articles and editorials, so check them out!

20. The Antioch Review

The Antioch Review is a real page-turner, as their past publications can attest to. This highly literary journal publishes fantastic prose and poetry, and if you have a creative nonfiction piece that’s riveting and influential, The Antioch Review is looking for your creative nonfiction submissions.

21. The Colorado Review

The Colorado Review is a tri-annual publication steeped in history, with original issues featuring poetry and prose from Langston Hughes, E. E. Cummings, Henry Miller, etc. The journal is committed to contemporary literature, seeking voices that are transformative and capture today’s (or tomorrow’s) zeitgeist. The Colorado Review is a fantastic space for literary journalism and will certainly welcome your creative nonfiction.

22. The Virginia Quarterly

The Virginia Quarterly publishes a wide array of literary nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, promising both ample readership and ample pay. VQR seeks inventive and imaginative stories, and it accepts both personal essays and nonfiction pieces on literary and cultural criticism. Submissions are generally open in July, but keep tuned for any special announcements or brief reading periods!

23. New England Review

New England Review is a quarterly publication of all things literary. The journal is dedicated to publishing both emerging and established voices, though it remains a highly competitive journal for creative nonfiction. NER is a great literary journal to submit to for stories that are engaged, critical, and sparkling.

24. North American Review

The North American Review is the oldest literary magazine in the United States. Since its inception in 1815, it remains one of the best nonfiction magazines to submit to, publishing strong literary voices with imaginative story arcs and moving messages. Nonfiction magazine submissions at North American Review are always spectacular—go check them out!

Tips for Publishing Your Creative Nonfiction Submissions

“How do I get my nonfiction published with so many other voices in the room?” This is a question we hear often, and as writers in the modern day, we can’t help but notice how diverse the publishing world is, and how everything “has already been written.” How can you make sure your story gets published in the right creative nonfiction magazines?

Of course, no story is guaranteed publication, but if you’ve written an earnest, sparkling story with grit, character, and truth, then the right literary journals to submit to are in this list. Additionally, you can boost your chances of success with the following publishing tips:

Start With a Powerful Title

Your creative nonfiction submissions should draw the reader in right away, which means starting with an attention-grabbing title. Your title could be a singular and obscure word, or it could be a long description, or anything in-between—the goal is to stand out while representing your story faithfully.

Here are some great titles we saw from a brief glance at the literary nonfiction examples from Hippocampus :

• Bar Bathroom Graffiti in New Orleans: A One Year Catalog by Kirsten Reneau
• Necrokedeia for Children by Mark Hall
• Ford Motor Company Tells Me About Perseverance by Alexis Annunziata

These titles give you an idea about the story itself while also drawing you in with wit, humor, or obscurity. Literary editors have thousands of stories to read each year; give them something to notice so you can stand out among the rest!

Follow the Creative Nonfiction Journal’s Formatting Guidelines

A surefire way to receive rejections on your literary nonfiction is to ignore the formatting guidelines. Each journal has its own requirements, though they often align with MLA formatting requirements, but be sure you follow the journal’s instructions faithfully, or else they may discard your submission without even reading it.

Read the Creative Nonfiction Magazine’s Past Issues

The 24 publications mentioned in this article are some of the best nonfiction magazines in the world, in part because they adhere so strongly to their tastes and preferences. As such, no two journals are alike, and each publication has its own expectations for the nonfiction they read and publish. Before you submit your creative nonfiction, be sure to read some past publications and gauge whether your essay will fit in with the journal’s literary tastes.

Keep Track of Your Submissions

Many creative nonfiction journals allow simultaneous submissions, meaning you can submit the same piece to multiple journals. However, if one journal accepts your work, you need to notify the other journals that it has been accepted and is no longer available for consideration.

Keeping track of your creative nonfiction submissions in a spreadsheet or personal organizer is essential: if multiple journals publish your story, it could harm your chances of getting published in the future.

Aim High—But Not Too High

Your personal essay deserves to be read, but if you’re only submitting to journals like VQR or The Atlantic, it might never see the light of day. Part of the publishing process means building your publication history and portfolio.

Your literary journalism will one day get published in Salon or the New York Times, but until then, focus on getting recognized in smaller and medium sized journals—and don’t let rejections bring you down, because it’s only up from here!

Fine-Tune Your Creative Nonfiction Submissions with Writers.com

Looking for extra help on writing your personal essay, lyric essay, or hybrid nonfiction piece? The instructors at Writers.com are ready to assist you. Gain valuable insight and diverse perspectives on your nonfiction stories before submitting them to the 24 creative nonfiction magazines we’ve listed.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Sean Glatch

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Established in 2017 as a literary magazine for fiction,  CRAFT  expanded in 2020 to publish creative nonfiction as well. We explore how writing works, reading pieces with a focus on the elements of craft, on the art of prose. We feature previously unpublished creative work, with occasional reprints, as well as critical pieces including craft essays and interviews. All published creative pieces include an author’s note and an editorial introduction that both discuss stylistics in the work.

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EveryWriter

A New Community of Writers

Best Online Literary Magazines

March 12, 2023 by Richard 3 Comments

Welcome to an updated and edited version of our Best Online Literary Magazines list. This list and our Top 50 literary magazine list have gotten much attention. Atlantic Monthly wrote in an issue years that they hoped “rank and file” lists of magazines weren’t a trend that would continue. Well, these lists are essential. They help people put publications into perspective. Writers need to know well-established magazines that can get recognition. For a complete list of literary magazines, look at our database  here .

It’s shocking to see 2023 how many websites have copied this list. There are many copycats. We’ve been publishing since 1999, and this list is the original. Our top 50 list was the first on the Web, and this was just a short time after. Accept no substitues. 

A couple of notes about this new list in 2023: first, don’t judge a literary magazine by its cover, and it’s odd to say don’t judge a web publication by its website, but don’t. In the early 2000 website, Can we have our ball back. com started publishing poetry online. The site looked terrible, but some of the most remarkable poems were in its cryptic ugly, hyperlinked pages. The site was included in a wide range of national anthologies. Few writers anyone had ever heard of were getting a lot of attention. So you never know. 

Some of the magazines on this list may not be eye-pleasers, but excellent editors head them, and the work appearing in their publications is outstanding. 

For a long time, literary magazines were short print-run issues that only dared to be different because they wanted to. The established writing community, universities pressured them, and even money constraints to stay on the norm for as long as it lasted. With the advent of the Internet and so many voices and large audiences for the taking, it is our goal, and we believe it should be the goal of others, to push the gatekeeper to continue to do the different and riskier thing that helps writing and writers. We hope all who have a voice will continue to reward and pressure literary magazines to continue to be different, be better, and shape the face of literary writing. If you are on this list, you are welcome to use the logo below to show your readers.

How dare you write a list like this. What good does it do?

These are the best of the best ONLINE literary magazines. They do not have a counterpart consistently published in the real world. Their primary source of readership and reputation comes solely from web publishing. We used the following criteria:

•  What do they do for writers?

Do they accept all writing and publish new writers? Do they promote the state and well-being of writing on the Web?

•  What have they done for writing on the Web?

Did they make headway for writing and respect on the Web? Do they help writers and other web publications publish?

•  What do they bring to readers?

Do they publish excellent writing? Do they publish in a timely fashion? Do their new writers go on to bigger and better things? What is their readership? Are they well-known?

•  Do they take risks that have paid off?

Have they risked anything for writing and made the better craft and the state of publishing?

Some of these magazines are new and have been published for many years. They all publish outstanding authors and writing. Many have won awards and are often included in national anthologies. 

20 Best Online Literary Magazines

  1. Narrative Magazine   http://narrativemagazine.com

Edited by Carol Edgarian and Tom Jenks, two well-established editors, the publication is making a real run at being a “big-time” literary magazine on the Web. Only a few publications in print or online have been able to be successful AND keep creating content as their bread and butter. Narrative is attempting to do just that. They work weekly to bring excellent writing to the Web and promote writers. It is like the Atlantic Monthly depending on fiction and poetry first and articles second. Narrative acquired the long-time print magazine Story Quarterly and is now carrying out a literary tradition by bringing that writing to the mainstream. They are doing something unique and worthwhile for writers, and every writer on the Web should support them.

Here you have former editors and writers who have worked for or published in publications like Esquire, GQ, and Vogue, trying to bring excellent writing to the Web like never before. The site states, “Narrative was founded in 2003 to explore what could be done with quality literary publishing on the Internet. At that time, nothing that could stand alongside well-established literary periodicals existed online, but it was clear that they would soon be marginalized unless writers moved onto the Internet.”

They do it right and are working very hard to promote writing as a mainstay of the Web. Please read them, subscribe, and visit often. They are number 1 on our list for their content and vision. They could be at the top of our print magazine list if they were in print.

2. Agni https://agnionline.bu.edu/

Agni is one of the best magazines in publication. It’s on our top 50 list as well. Agni has been in publication since 1972. They have won award after award. Most published on the Web now, the magazine continues to gain recognition for new and well-established writers. Agni is a must-read. 

  3. Carve Magazine http://www.carvezine.com/

Carve Magazine magazine is new to the list. In 2000 they were consistently publishing work that kept getting better. They have also become very well-known in writer’s circles for their “Raymond Carver Short Story Contest.” Since the inception of this contest, the magazine has been getting more attention. The site reads:

 “Carve seeks to publish outstanding literary fiction and strengthen its ties to the literary community. Though online-literary magazines are not the “norm,” we at Carve believe that with time and consistent publishing of quality work, we can attain the same level of reputation enjoyed by print magazines.” 

According to Alexa, they already do rival print magazines because they have better web traffic than the Mississippi Review.

4. 32 Poems https://32poems.com/

As the name suggests, they only publish poetry, but it’s only possible to have the best online magazine list with them. The magazine has been on the Web since 2002 and has had work included in Best American Poetry many times. We strongly suggest you read and submit your work to their site. 

5. A Public Space   https://apublicspace.org/ 

Founded by one of the Editors of The Paris Review, A Public Space has been winning awards from the beginning. They have a significant online publication and are one of the best, if not the best, new publications on the Web.

6. Apple Valley Review https://www.applevalleyreview.org/

Apple Valley Review has been online since 2005. Their authors have been included in “ Best American Short Stories ,  Best American Essays ,  Best Microfiction ,  The Best Small Fictions ,  Best of the Net ,  Best of the Web , The  Wigleaf  Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions,  story South  Million Writers Award, and  New Poetry from the Midwest.” They consistently gain recognition for their authors. 

7.failbetter.com https://www.failbetter.com/

They continuously publish great work and make significant inroads for women writers on the Web. They are one of the best online literary magazines on the Web that are setting standards for literary magazines of the future. It was not so long ago that print magazines were turning up their noses at publications on the Web; failbetter.com and other zines on this list have helped to change that view. 

From their site: “failbetter.com is an online journal that publishes original works of fiction, poetry, and art.” Work from the site has appeared in Best American Poetry, and the Pushcart awards have recognized them.

8. Evergreen Review   http://www.evergreenreview.com/

Est. 1959 as a print publication that ended in 1973. It was reincarnated as an online literary magazine in 1999. Generally, it’s a beautiful read. The Wikipedia article in the Evergreen Review states,

“Evergreen Review debuted pivotal works by Samuel Beckett, Jorge Luis Borges, Charles Bukowski, William Burroughs, Marguerite Duras, Jean Genet, Allen Ginsberg, Gunter Grass, Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Henry Miller, Pablo Neruda, Vladimir Nabokov, Frank O’Hara, Kenzaburo Oe, Octavio Paz, Harold Pinter, Susan Sontag, Tom Stoppard, Derek Walcott, and Malcolm X. United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas wrote a controversial piece for the magazine in 1969. Kerouac and Ginsberg regularly had their writing published in the magazine.”

The magazine was pivotal and outstanding, and now the online magazine carries on the tradition.

9. The Cortland Review http://www.cortlandreview.com/

Work from The Cortland Review was selected in 1997 to be included in Best American Poetry. It has also been honored as one of the Forbes “Best of The Web.” The site reads, “The Cortland Review publishes poetry and short fiction, both solicited and by open submission. Essays, interviews, and book reviews are solicited, queried, and approved before submission.”

Est. 1997 and has published many outstanding poets. Their website boasts 350,000 visits a month.

10. The 2River View   http://www.2river.org

We cannot stress enough that this zine is one of the best! The following is taken from their submissions page:

“The 2River View  is published four times a year. The reading period for each issue is as follows:

June 1 – August 31 Fall Issue

September 1 – November 30 Winter Issue

December 1 – February 28 Spring Issue

March 1 – May 31 Summer Issue

2River considers unpublished poems only. An unpublished poem has not appeared in print or digital media, including personal or public blogs. A poem from a private, online workshop, however, would be considered, as long as the poem’s final version does not appear in a public space.”

Est. 1996, and for the last 11 years, Richard Long has published high-quality work from many great authors. The journal does not get the recognition it deserves.

11. Mudlark  http://www.unf.edu/mudlark/

It is a unique look at publishing on the Web. They are more or less an electronic chapbook publisher but think of them as the most widely circulated chapbooks in the history of chapbooks. The site, starting in 1995, is a pioneer of literature and good writing on the Web. It is always a great read and preserves and promotes the spirit of literary writing at its best. Chapbooks have always been a handshake between a poet and some readers; this site represents a poet standing at the door of a football stadium greeting each person as they enter. It is hard to say how many times the first chapbook of Mudlark has been read; it dwarfs all other chapbook publications, we are sure.

Mudlark is one of the reasons online literary publishing has gained respect..

12. Waxwing https://waxwingmag.org/

The magazine started publishing in 2013. The work published on their site is outstanding. National anthologies often include works from this little site. They aim to be culturally diverse and publish international writers alongside American authors. They do a great job at accomplishing their mission. 

13. Pigeon Pages https://pigeonpagesnyc.com/

If you are looking for the newest up-and-coming magazine that is gaining a lot of attention, you don’t have to look any further than Pigeon Pages. Even though they have only been publishing for a couple of years, the magazine is already winning awards and gaining recognition for their authors. They do it right. 

14. Cave Wall http://www.cavewallpress.com/

Digging deep, we still need to find the date Cave Wall was established. They first appeared in Best American Poetry in 2011, so we know they have been around for at least a decade. They publish outstanding work by outstanding authors, and you should go and read them. Submit your work. 

15. Del Sol Review http://delsolreview.webdelsol.com/

Del Sol Review started in 1998. Outsiders often do excellent writing. There have always been elements in literature that walk their walk. Web Del Sol and Del Sol Review are those outsiders. Even in this weird world, they manage to make it weird. They consistently published great work.

16. The Rumpus https://therumpus.net/

The Rumpus has been on the Web since 2009, publishing fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. They have won many awards, and they are taking submissions. 

17. Swwim https://www.swwim.org/

The magazine publishes a poem a day. They have a dedicated group of editors and are often looked at for inclusion by some of the most significant anthologies and literary websites. The magazine publishes excellent works. 

18. Able Muse https://www.ablemuse.com/

Able Muse has constantly published great works by authors since 2000. The website has gone through many incarnations, but they have focused on literature. 

19. Cleaver Magazine https://www.cleavermagazine.com/

Cleaver Magazine is Philadelphia’s International Literary Magazine. Their mission is to “elevate” emerging writers and spotlight writers from the Philadelphia area. 

Sleet Magazine http://sleetmagazine.com/

Since 2009 Sleet magazine has been publishing poetry and fiction on the Web. They have been nominated for a Pushcart 113 times. The publication consistently publishes excellent work. 

20. Quarterly West https://www.quarterlywest.com/

The Ph.D. creative writing students at the University of Utah edited Quarterly West. The magazine was founded in 1972. It has been published in its current form since 2013. 

About Richard

Richard Edwards is a writer and an educator and the owner editor of Every Writer. Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

Reader Interactions

The Cabal says

May 1, 2017 at 4:51 pm

Hi guys. Fantastic list. Atlantic Monthly should get off their high horse. Would love to see you include The Cabal here (www.cabalmag.com) At the very least, check us out! We’re a new online literary journal that publishes fiction, essay, humor, and cultural commentary. Cheers. -Aleks

September 27, 2020 at 11:13 pm

If you plan a future update, please include http://thequietreader.com in your listing. Paying the writers published.

Nerwen says

September 26, 2022 at 7:36 am

Could you please update this list. ?any of the sites don’t accept submissions anymore. thank you

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Creative Writing: Journals

by Melissa Donovan | Jul 4, 2019 | Creative Writing | 4 comments

What do your creative writing journals look like?

Today’s post is an excerpt from  Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing , a book that provides tips and tools for writers while serving as a broad roadmap for anyone who wants to explore creative writing. This excerpt is from chapter seven: “Journals.” Enjoy!

Journals are often confused for diaries. Technically, a diary is a type of journal, but a journal is any written log. You could keep a gratitude journal, a dream journal, or a goals journal. Many writers keep idea journals where they store ideas for current and future writing projects. And many keep general-purpose journals, in which they write anything and everything. Journals can also be used beyond the realm of writing; for example, you could keep an art, collage, or mixed-medium journal.

Journaling is a good way to build writing habits, especially if you can commit to doing it every day. Many writers spend inordinate amounts of time focused on editing, publishing, or marketing their work, which leaves little time for writing. A journal provides a place to develop and maintain a writing practice.

Journals are particularly useful for new writers because they provide an ideal space for exploring the craft of writing. You can use your journal to experiment with any type of writing, whether to enhance your skills or to try new ideas and forms.

Some writers maintain multiple journals: a tiny one to carry in a pocket or a purse, and a larger one kept on a nightstand or a desk. Some writers keep one journal for poetry and another for story ideas. Others keep a single all-purpose journal. Some journals are written in notebooks, and these can be cheap spiral-bound notebooks or fancy hardbound notebooks, and other journals are kept digitally.

I highly recommend journaling for all writers, especially young or new writers who are discovering their writing. At the very least, it’s helpful to have a few notebooks or digital documents that you can use for journaling, even if you don’t do it daily. After all, one thing every writer needs is a place to write, whether it’s a text document on a computer or a composition book (aff link) and a pen.

Have you ever kept a journal? What kind of journal was (is) it? If you were going to start a journal, what kind of journal would it be? Would you rather keep multiple single-purpose journals or a single all-purpose journal?

I’m getting ready to publish a technology magazine. This article is good for timing. Thanks.

You’re welcome!

I think it will take several thousand years to reach the literary quality of the 20th century again.

I think it depends what you’re reading.

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Free Talk: A Conversation with a Literary Agent Michael Mungiello and Author Daisuke Shen. Watch Now (Free)

Written by S. Kalekar September 19th, 2022

30 Literary Magazines Accepting Hybrid/Cross-Genre submissions

These magazines publish cross-genre/hybrid/experimental writing, in some way. Most of these journals also publish other genres. Most, but not all, of them are open for submissions now. Some of these are paying markets. They are listed here in no particular order.

Dream Pop Journal They welcome submissions from marginalized voices, and are especially interested in publishing work from emerging writers working in experimental, non-narrative forms. “Please send us your strange utterings, hybrid works, collaborative pieces, visual poetry, collages, and linguistic inventions. We hope that you will challenge the limits of what literature can be and that you will share your results with us.” They publish poetry, a speculative diary, visual art, as well as visual poetry & erasure. They are open year-round. Details here .

Wandering Wave Press: An Anthology of Unconventional Stories This is a fiction anthology. “We’re looking for genre authors who cross boundaries. Authors whose stories twist the tropes to showcase in a cross-genre anthology of stories that entertain, but read fresh and new. Send us the story that you can’t classify: a story that can’t be pigeon-holed into a single subgenre, or that pushes against your genre’s boundaries. We want to showcase authors who write uncommon fiction.” Some examples are: witches in space, romances that flip gender roles, alternate histories set in the near-future, and fairy tales that start after the ‘happily ever after’. Send stories of 1,000-10,000 words. Pay is $25, and the deadline is 1 December 2022. Details here .

Straylight They publish poetry, fiction, art in both print and online formats. For the online edition, fiction can be flash to novella length, and poetry can be prose-poetry, or a mix of visual art and poetry. Also, “Straylight Online does not mirror the content of the print edition. … We still look for stories and poems with a strong sense of place and moments that are character-centered rather than those that rely on plot turns and literary tricks. However, we welcome submissions that cross genre boundaries as well as those that explore the way that visual art, music, and literature combine to produce new manifestations of story and verse.” The magazine is published by University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Details here .

Chestnut Review This is a print and an online magazine. “We are drawn to beautiful language, resonant images, and we crave narrative.” They have fee-free submissions of poetry, flash, and art; also, “If you have work that doesn’t fit neatly into the below categories, that doesn’t mean we won’t want to see it. Choose the most appropriate and include a note—we’ll figure it out.” Contributors are paid $120. They read throughout the year, with cut-off dates for issues; deadline for the Winter issue is 30 September 2022. Details here .

The Disappointed Housewife They want “fiction, essays, and poetry – along with unclassifiable writings, photos, and drawings – that stretch genre definitions, break the rules, challenge readers, and bend their brains, all while maintaining the highest levels of style and substance. … We’re looking for stories that strike us as different, always with that idiosyncratic touch. Iconoclastic. Kind of bent. Humorous.” And, “There’s so much that can be done in terms of the way readers “read” literature now. Words on a page, sure. But you could construct a short story entirely in tweets or phone texts. Or handwrite poetry on 3 x 5 index cards and photograph them (please write legibly). A photo slide show with enigmatic captions. A facsimile of someone’s job application. The menu of a hip restaurant that’s on the forefront of insect haute cuisine. A story made up of urls that readers click on to go on a virtual journey. … writers who can think of unorthodox and offbeat ways to tell their stories will be highly appreciated here at The Disappointed Housewife.” Send up to 1,500 of prose, or up to 3 poems; and for “items that are harder to categorize (lists, faux official documents, parodic advertising, humorous-text tattoos …), we’ll know the right length when we see it.” Details here .

Sepia Journal They accept fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and cross-genre submissions. Send up to 8,000 words for prose, or up to 5 poems. They also run Staccato , where they publish music and film. They are open year-round. Details here .

Kaleidotrope This is a speculative fiction (250-10,000 words) and poetry magazine. “Kaleidotrope publishes predominantly speculative fiction and poetry—science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but also compelling work that blurs the lines between these and falls outside of neat genre categories. Man does not live on space ships, elves, and ghostly ax murderers alone, after all.” They suggest writers look through the archives to familiarize themselves with the zine to get a sense of what they’re looking for. Pay is $0.01/word for fiction, and $5 per poem. Details here .

Afternoon Visitor This is an online quarterly publication of poetry, hybrid text, visual poetry, and visual art, and they’re interested in giving space to trans + queer writers in each issue. For hybrid text, send a lyric essay, cross-genre of up to 3,000 words, or up to three short pieces with the total word count up to 5,000 words; for visual poetry, send up to 8 pages. Details here .

Doubleback Review They republish work that was previously published in a now defunct literary journal – you can read about them here . Send poetry (up to 5 poems), prose (up to 4,000 words), art, and multi-genre/hybrid work. Details here .

LIT Magazine This magazine is published by The New School MFA in Creative Writing program. They publish hybrid works of up to 20 pages – “Hybrid prose works generally experiment with non-traditional stylistic forms. This category is not just for works that defy casual interpretation, but also works that include elements generally reserved for non-prose writing. …we are interested in hybrid prose that is aware of the tension between fiction and non-fiction, and wants to exploit, reify, and expand those terms, but not be contained by them. If it’s too prose-y to be a poem, but not clearly a short story or an essay, it might belong here.” They also accept fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translations, book reviews, and art. Their reading periods are January-May and September-December. Details here .

elsewhere “elsewhere cares only about the line / no line. We want short prose works (flash fiction, prose poetry, nonfiction) that cross, blur, and/or mutilate genre. We publish only six writers quarterly. Give us your homeless, your animals, your lunch money: we’re hungry.” Submit up to 3 pieces of unlineated work, less than 1,000 words each. They accept fee-free as well as tip-jar submissions. Details here .

Pine Hills Review They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. Hybrid and experimental works are especially encouraged. Send up to 3,000 words for prose, or up to 6 poems. Details here .

Bennington Review This magazine is associated with Bennington College. They publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. “In the spirit of poet Dean Young’s dictum that poets should be “making birds, not birdcages,” we are particularly taken with writing that is simultaneously graceful and reckless.” Send up to 30 pages of fiction or creative nonfiction, or 3-5 poems. Pay is $120-250 for prose, and $25 per poem. The deadline is 9 January 2023. Details here .

Diode They welcome all types of poetry (including, but not limited to, narrative experimental, visual, found and erasure poetry). Send 3-5 poems. They also accept poetry in translation, and collaborative poems. They accept submissions of book reviews, interviews, and essays on poetics, as well, and are open year-round. Details here .

Bending Genres This magazine publishes flash fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and they like work in all categories that blends genres. Send up to 1,000 words for fiction, up to 1,500 words for nonfiction, up to 3 poems. Details here .

The Offing The Offing publishes cross-genre work, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translations, and art. One of the departments is Enumerate – “Enumerate is our department of cataloging, of naming, of listing. It features work that is hybrid — cross-genre, and work in all genres (fiction, CNF, flash, poetry) — as long as it uses the form of a list (which you may interpret widely). Any length, any subject, any medium (i.e. text, video, photo, music, etc.). The lists should add up to some kind of literary foray, exploration, meditation, commentary, collage.” Not all sections are open for submissions, but many are. The magazine pays $25-100. Details here .

Heavy Feather Review They have a print issue, open periodically, and submissions for the online magazine are open year-round. They publish poems, short stories, flash fictions, nonfictions, hybrid works, visual art, etc. Also, “For us, “online feature” is a loose term/form, and the topics and form are open to interpretation. The final product can be a traditional essay, poem, short story, list, definition, collage, or whatever you can think up”. They have various sections, too – some of these are: “The Future – “ Posing utopic, apocalyptic, dystopic, or superhero solutions to “The Future.” Writers depict futuristic alternative worlds in politics, environment, gender, religion, sexuality, or ethnography’; Haunted Passages – An ominous wind circles you in the middle of an isolated woods. Your friends wander into an empty factory, under the cover of dusk, never to be seen again. These are “Haunted Passages,” new features of unearthly delights; #NoMorePresidents – … HFR  has reaffirmed its mission to elevate … marginalized groups by initiating a new blog feature, #NoMorePresidents, an online space for these communities to publish new writing.” Details here and here.

Scrawl Place This is a journal of place and they publish CNF, fiction, poetry, and hybrids. This is “part visitor’s guide, part literary journal. The audience for this online publication is the guest, the visitor, the traveler, the day-tripper, the out-of-towner, and the in-towners eager to wander. I’m looking for submissions about “places in the places” where you live or where you’ve visited. My only fixed criteria is that your submission be about or connected to or associated with a specific, physical place that someone could visit. The more specific the place, the better. How that manifests in terms of content, style and form is up to you.” They pay $35, and also accept reprints. Details here .

Foglifter This is a journal for LGBTQ+ contributors. They want fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid works; for hybrid submissions, send work up to 20 pages. They are especially interested in cross-genre, intersectional, marginal, and transgressive work. They also have a Writers In Need fund to support sliding scale payments for their contributors who opt into the fund. Details here .

The Gravity of the Thing They publish prose – fiction (including micros) and creative nonfiction, including genre-bending works, poetry, including prose poems and multimedia works, and work for Baring the Device column (about defamiliarized writing). Their reading periods are March, June, September, and December. Details here .

The Spectacle This magazine, published by Washington University in St. Louis, is open for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. According to their Twitter bio, they are “looking for writing that crosses genre, discipline, and sensibility.” Pay is $50 and the deadline is 1 October 2022. Details here .

Border Crossing They want micro and flash fiction, and poetry. “We’re especially interested in writing that crosses boundaries in genre or geography, and voices that aren’t often heard in mainstream publications.” Their next submissions period is 15 October 2022 till 1 January 2023. The magazine is associated with Lake Superior State University. Details here .

No Niin No Niin publishes writing (various genres, including manifestos, letters, reviews, interviews, and hybrids), video, photography, podcasts, comics, and memes. They pay €50–300. Details here .

Half Mystic Journal: Presto Half Mystic a publishing project dedicated to the celebration of music in all its forms, and you can read about that here . The journal publishes poetry, prose, creative nonfiction, translations, and experimental work. They want work on the presto theme for their next issue. “We’re looking for vanishing points, beat drops, bar hops, glow stick raves, impulsive haircuts, disco ball suncatchers, man-made magick, glitter in the shadows, blurred vision, sleight of hand, immaterialism, songs half-lucid and bewitched by the myth of movement. Presto is a musical direction indicating that an artist play a piece at a rapid tempo, and also an English adverb meaning “suddenly, as if by magic.” … We ask that each piece pertains in some way to music and the presto theme.” Apart from the journal, they also have other opportunities listed. Details here .

Air/Light Magazine This literary magazine wants “new and innovative works of literary arts”. They publish cross-genre work (original work that blurs the lines of genre and form, whether text only or incorporating images and other multimedia elements), fiction, nonfiction (including collaborative essays), poetry, visual art, music, video, as well as digital, multimedia, and interactive works. Length guidelines are up to 4,000 words for prose, and up to 10 pages for poetry. Pay is $50 for poetry, $100 for responses and department pieces, $200 for fiction, essays/nonfiction, visual art, music, and multimedia. They are scheduled to reopen for submissions on 15 November 2022. Details here .

Deep Overstock: Hacking They’re reading submissions on the ‘Hacking’ theme. The magazine publishes “fiction, poetry, comics, art, images, medical reports, plays, essays, philosophies, sculptures, sounds, mushroom dataset analyses, magic spells, fairy tales, folklore, riddles, jokes, horoscopes, death-predictions, and more. Surprise us!” They have a strong commitment and focus on those in the book industry, but they do accept work from writers and artists who work in any field; you can read about that here . They’re reading on the current theme until 30 November 2022. They read throughout the year, with cut-off dates for issues. Details here .

ctrl + v This is an online journal that explores the intersection of poetry and collage. Send “all forms of collage—digital, scissor-and-glue, mixed media, fabric, sound”. Submissions are open year-round. Details here .

Ghost Proposal They publish poetry, essays, images, multimedia, hybrid, cross-, multi-, and post-genre work. “We are interested in work that does not sit comfortably inside genre labels—–work that bends or pushes against traditional limitations; that mixes, blends, and steps outside of the normal bounds.” Watch for their next reading period. Details here and here .

EastOver Press: Cutleaf Cutleaf is currently open for nonfiction submissions, both in standard and hybrid forms. “Cutleaf is interested in essays of many forms but we prefer a narrative and literary approach to the essay. We do not limit our point of view to the merely factual, but welcome new approaches such as speculative nonfiction, essays based in metaphor, essays in verse, and other re-imaginings of the format. We welcome work about literature, travel, music, food, visual art, and film. We welcome humor. We invite collaborative work. We are not interested in polemics, position statements, or editorials.” They generally publish work from 1,500 to 6,000 words, and pay $100-400. The deadline is 30 November 2022. Fiction and poetry were closed at the time of writing. Details here and here .

Bio:  S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached  here .

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Digital Escapes for Readers & Writers: 20 Must-Read Online Literary Journals

Lyndsie Manusos

Lyndsie Manusos’s fiction has appeared in PANK, SmokeLong Quarterly, and other publications. She holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has worked in web production and content management. When she’s not nesting among her books and rough drafts, she’s chasing the baby while the dog watches in confused amusement. She lives with her family in a suburb of Indianapolis.

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We are in a renaissance for online literary journals. Especially in regards to the pandemic, reading online is the easiest and fastest way to digest the most current literature. It’s also becoming easier for writers and readers to find their niche journals, from dark literary fiction to genre fiction, varying in length from novelettes to drabbles (a short work of fiction precisely 100 words in length). If you have a domain, you can start a journal. If you have access to the internet, you can read it. And in a world of isolation and burnout, the online literary journal, especially for me, has been an essential source of community among editors, writers, and readers.

List Criteria

In compiling a list of online literary journals, I leaned heavily on those that are only online. Some may do a print anthology over a volume of issues. Yet for the most part, these journals publish exclusively via their website or through digital issues (PDFs, ebook, etc.).

I also wanted to showcase an array of genres and lengths, from flash fiction publications to those specializing in science fiction and fantasy. Some literary journals below feature multiple mediums, including art and photography. I was tempted to split the list into categories (speculative, flash, etc.) but so many online journals belong in more than category; they are chameleons of literature, pushing against restrictions and labels.

Finally, I wanted to highlight some online journals that debuted within the past year or two. These new online literary journals are making great impacts on the literary scene, featuring voices from the around the world, sometimes in more than one language, and giving voice to marginalized communities. Especially having debuted during a pandemic and featuring such astounding work, these particular journals deserve much gratitude and celebration.

Online Literary Journals Are For Both Readers and Writers

The below roundup is by no means an exhaustive list of what’s all out there. If you’re a reader looking for new outlets to discover the latest in fiction, this will act as a jumping-off point. The same goes for writers. As you dive into creating worlds and characters, perhaps you’ll find a journal seeking precisely the work you write.

So, without further ado, I give present the below list in alphabetical order by name.

20 Must-Read Online Literary Journals

Apparition Literary Magazine

Apparition Literary Magazine is an online speculative journal that publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction essays. Each issue is compiled around a theme, from Transfiguration, Contamination, Chance, to its latest issue: Wonder. Recently, Apparition has brought on talented guest editors, such as Premee Mohamed, Aigner Loren Wilson, and Maria Dong.

I had the honor of having a short story published in the Transfiguration issue in 2020. There is so much amazing work coming out of this magazine, with a staff that deeply cares for its writers and growing readership. I highly recommend Zebib K.A.’s story “ Commodities ” in the Justice issue, published in January 2021.

Baffling Magazine

Let’s start off strong and bow down to that cover art. Baffling Magazine is a project of Neon Hemlock Press. It publishes quarterly, and features speculative flash work with a queer bent. Its first issue published in October 2020 featuring work by renown writers of speculative fiction, such as Nino Cipri and Izzy Wasserstein. Its first year of issues is forthcoming as a print volume with Neon Hemlock Press.

There are SO many brilliant stories just in the first four issues. I especially fell in love with Hailey Piper’s robot western “ The Heart is a Spare Part ” from Issue 4 and M.L. Krishnan’s “ A Lamentation, While Full ” from Issue 3.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Those in an escapist mood with a taste for secondary world fantasy, BCS is the online journal for you. Even more specific, BCS is a nonprofit, SFWA pro-qualifying online literary journal that publishes “literary adventure fantasy: fantasy set in secondary-world or historical paranormal settings, written with a literary focus on the characters.”

For writers who enjoyed Alix E. Harrow’s brilliant novels The Once and Future Witches and The Ten Thousand Doors of January , she also published a brilliant story in BCS titled, “ Do Not Look Back, My Lion .”

Catapult is an independent online literary journal publishing essays, fiction, poetry, and art. In 2020 it won the National Magazine Award for columns and commentary.

Since its inception, Catapult as grown and now publishes books and offers online classes. I can personally attest to how awesome the Catapult classes are, having taken a flash fiction online workshop with Lindsay Hunter.

Clarkesworld Magazine

Clarkesworld magazine first published in 2006 and has been presenting monthly online issues ever since. In almost 15 years of publishing, Clarkesworld has accumulated many awards, including nominations and/or winning the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, BSFA, Sturgeon, Locus, Shirley Jackson, Ditmar, Aurora, Aurealis, WSFA Small Press and Stoker Awards.

It is a solid magazine for dipping into the very latest science fiction and fantasy, and it’s a pro-paying publication for writers looking to break into SFWA-qualifying markets.

The Deadlands

For those of the gothic heart, I give you The Deadlands , a new online literary magazine publishing speculative fiction, non-fiction, and poetry surrounding the subject of death.

Issue 4 published in August , and I had the honor of having one of my own short stories included (a Bluebeard retelling where his ghost brides get revenge!). From ghostly stories, to stories of the afterlife, to an essay on being a mortician, The Deadlands will provide all the spooky, ethereal, haunting vibes readers crave.

Electric Literature

Electric Literature is a well-known headquarters for those seeking quality online literature. It offers two online journals under its umbrella, from Recommended Reading , which publishes short fiction and novel excerpts with personal recommendations, to The Commuter , which caters to flash fiction, poetry, and graphic narratives.

Electric Lit began as a quarterly in 2009 and then became a nonprofit in 2014. All of Electric Lit’s content is free, and it has received numerous accolades, including selection in the Best American Short Stories, Essays, Poetry, and Comics, the Pushcart Prize, Best Canadian Short Stories, and The Best of the Small Presses.

Flash Fiction Online

When one thinks flash fiction online literary magazine, FFO is often a favorite. First published in 2006, FFO publishes fiction from 500 to 1,000 words in length in just about every literary and speculative genre. In 2020, FFO had three stories listed in Best Small Fictions, and much of its work is widely shared on social media.

My most recent favorite flash story is a heart-wrenching piece by Aimee Ogden titled “ The Songs Her Mother Used to Sing .”

khōréō

khōréō is a quarterly magazine of speculative fiction and migration and seeks to feature voices of immigrant and diaspora authors. its focus is on stories, essays, and art as long as there is a speculative element.

The first issue published in February 2021 with much acclaim. From its most recent issue, I recommend the brilliant (and awesomely-titled) story, “ Evelina, My Tentacles! ” by Nelly Geraldine García-Rosas.

khōréō recently closed submissions for its next themed issue but will open again in October.

Troy Onyango started the online literary journal Lolwe in 2020, with the mission to publish more Black writers, poets, and photographers in Africa and around the world.

In a profile in The New York Times , he explained that the name Lolwe comes from “Luo name for Lake Victoria, whose waters hug this city in western Kenya, and means ‘endless lake or water body’.” Lolwe recently opened for submissions for the month of August for its fourth issue, which will be guest-edited by Nsah Mala, Harriet Anena and Loic Ekinga.

Mermaids Monthly

Do you like mermaids? Do you like anything and everything related to mermaids? Look no further, because you can find your mermaid lore fix with the recently-established Mermaids Monthly . Its tagline is “a magazine about mermaids. that’s it. that’s the shell.”

It recently published Issue 7 in July 2021, which revolves around the ever-popular selkie, with beautiful fiction, art, and poetry. Jennifer Mace’s brief but gorgeous poem “ Seal Bride ” is fantastic.

Milk Candy Review

Milk Candy Review is a lovely online literary journal run by the talented flash writer Cathy Ulrich. MCR publishes fiction under 750 words and caters to “beautifully weird flash fiction.” I had the pleasure of having my own weird flash published here, though my favorite story in MCR is by another fellow Book Riot writer, Annika Barranti Klein titled, “ Anaphora (Ten Ways to Greet a Time Traveler) .”

I highly recommend Milk Candy Review , both as an outlet for readers seeking to dive into flash fiction and for writers seeking a place to send work that may not quire fit at other venues.

The Offing is an online literary magazine that publishes a wide spectrum of literature and art, from micro fiction (“10 to 560-character works — or one to five tweets — in any genre”) to poetry, fiction, and essays/memoir. It actively seeks to feature underrepresented voices as well as challenge writers to use their fiction to experiment and provoke.

The recently-published micro “ I feel like an adult when I worry about money ,” by Raina Greifer is particularly stunning.

SmokeLong Quarterly

Created in 2003, SmokeLong is one of the longest-running online literary journals, and recently published Issue 72. According to its website “The term “smoke-long” comes anecdotally from the Chinese, who noted that reading a piece of flash takes about the same length of time as smoking a cigarette.”

SmokeLong recently established two competitions in the past year, one for comedic flash fiction and one for micro fiction. They also publish global flash fiction, as well as flash in Spanish. One of my all-time favorite flash stories, which still resonates today, is the 2019 flash by Amber Sparks titled “ Everything is Terrible but You Should Read This Story .”

Strange Horizons

Strange Horizons is an online literary journal publishing weekly issues of and about speculative fiction. Founded in September 2000, Strange Horizons has since published critically-acclaimed speculative fiction, having been nominated or won Hugo, Nebula, Rhysling, Theodore Sturgeon, James Tiptree Jr., and World Fantasy Awards.

In addition to fiction, they also publish poetry, art, interviews, and reviews. In the August 23, 2021 issue, for the Writing While Disabled column, Kristy Ann Cox interviewed the great Nisi Shawl on upcoming projects, how disability informs and impacts her work, and how women and nonbinary folk often come to milestones one expects of a writer later in life because of all the marginalization. A necessary, important read.

Sukoon: Arab-Themed Art & Literature

Sukoon ‘s last-known issue was in Winter 2020 , but it’s an important literary journal to feature nonetheless. It is an independent, online literary journal publishing Arab-themed art and literature in English, with an aim to show the diversity of Arab identity.

It was founded by the poet and writer Rewa Zeinati. According to its website, the name Sukoon is an Arabic word meaning stillness. “What we mean by Sukoon is the stillness found within as the artist follows his/her inner calling to express and create; a calling that compels the artist to continue on his/her creative path for the sole reason that he/she doesn’t know how not to.”

Uncanny Magazine

One can’t do a list of online literary journals without mentioning Uncanny . A staple in the science fiction and fantasy community, Uncanny has racked up the nominations and awards year-to-year , publishing the most established and up-and-coming names in SFF.

One of my favorite stories in Uncanny (and it’s hard to choose because there are so many excellent stories) is the award-nominated “ My Country is a Ghost ” by Eugenia Triantafyllou from Issue 32.

Uncharted launched in August 2021and has already published a collection of talented writers and stories, including “ Evolution ” by Paul Crenshaw. Additionally, its first judge for the inaugural Science Fiction & Fantasy contest is the award-winning author Ken Liu.

Uncharted is under the same umbrella company as other well-known online literary magazines, such as The Masters Review , Craft , and Fractured Lit . They, too, are all excellent online literary journals, but I wanted to highlight Uncharted for debuting this year. Uncharted publishes science fiction, fantasy, horror, crime, and thriller fiction.

Words Without Border : The Online Magazine for International Literature

WWB was founded in 2003 and has published more than 2,700 writers from 140 countries, translated from 126 languages. It has a monthly online magazine showcasing contemporary fiction, with the aim to introduce writers from around the world to the general public. Some major writers it’s published include Elena Ferrante, Mariana Enríquez, Svetlana Alexievich, and more.

In the latest monthly issue for July/August 2021, WWB featured Afro-Italian Women Writers .

Wrongdoing Magazine

Last but certainly not least is the achingly beautiful Wrongdoing Magazine . Another debut on the list, Wrongdoing published its first issue in Spring 2021 and makes the offer to writers that if they’ve ever written work “so blatantly  wrong  for most markets, then pretty please, do try us out.”

As an examples, Lindz McLeod’s fiction story “Heavenly Bodies” is about a woman who keeps the sun in a spare room. A haunting and sensual story.

Other Resources

If you’re looking to find more online literary magazines, or really any literary magazine, here are a couple resources to utilize:

The Submission Grinder

The Submission Grinder is run by Diabolical Plots (another fantastic online literary journal of speculative fiction) for writers to search for markets and track their submissions. It is completely free to use, and has a database of more than 11,000 markets.

Duotrope is another resource for searching and tracking submissions for writers, though it does require a monthly or yearly subscription. It lists more than 7,000 active markets (including literary agents, for those querying their longer projects) and features a new market every day for writers to discover.

Lit Mag News Roundup

Becky Tuck started The Review Review in 2008, providing information on literary magazines, interviews with editors, and calls for submissions. In 2019, she sold the site to Gonzaga University, which still continues its mission. Becky continues her good work and now offers a bi-weekly newsletter via Substack with news on all things literary magazine. You can read free content or sign up for a subscription to pay for premium content.

Finally, Book Riot continues to provide great content about varying genres, structures, and forms. You can read a couple of my own articles, such as a small roundup of flash fiction journals , definitions of speculative fiction and slipstream , and a roundup of 2021 speculative short story collections .

Support Your Favorite Online Literary Journals

One of the best ways to support online literary magazines — in addition to subscribing and donating — is sharing the work of their writers. Tweet, post, TikTok, etc. As I mentioned; this list is by no means exhaustive. If your favorite online literary journal was not listed, highlight that journal on social media. Share your favorite stories, essays, poetry, and art. Celebrate and applaud the work of these brilliant journals and give thanks to their hard-working staff.

Many literary journals are discovering and publishing the next great writers. By reading these, you may just discover the future of the literature.

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MFA In Creative Writing Hosting Free Online Events

Dominican University of California’s low residency MFA in Creative Writing program invites the public to attend its spring 2022 series of virtual retreats and workshops that will highlight the program’s supportive, creative environment across the genres of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and narrative medicine. The first one in a series of seven free events is February 2, featuring an online creative writing workshop entitled “On Future Worlds” with educator/writer/coach Raina León, professor of English Education at St. Mary’s College. Starting in January 2022, Raina will be a writing mentor in the MFA program and will join the adjunct faculty at Dominican. The MFA is designed to support poets and writers who wish to complete and publish a book manuscript. The focus is on honing students’ writing skills while they learn about the publishing industry. However, since the MFA is recognized as a terminal degree in academe, graduates are eligible to apply for college-level teaching positions. Graduates also are prepared for jobs that require strong writing skills, such as publishing, editing, marketing, public relations, social media and web content strategy. The MFA starts with a residency and runs for two years, for a total of five residencies and four mentorship semesters. All MFA students attend the winter (January) and summer (June) residencies together. During the Fall and Spring mentorship semesters, students are broken out into smaller groups of three to five students per mentor, in accordance with the AWP guidelines and best teaching practices. Here are the free spring 2022 events: February 2 , 6-8 p.m. PST. On Future Worlds . This free workshop presented by Raina León, professor of English Education at St. Mary’s College, has a new date and will include reading news articles that explore potential crises and imagine what inner and outer worlds might emerge, ones that are about flourishing and collective organizing and possibility. The workshop, originally scheduled on January 25, will study science fiction (in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual arts) alongside the news to inspire generative writing from a place of artivism for preservation and action. January 26 , 6-7 p.m. PST. MFA in Creative Writing Program Overview . Led by Dominican MFA Director Judy Halebsky, whether one is a poet looking to hone his/her craft, an aspiring novelist who wants to get that book written, or a memoirist with an urgent story to tell, Dominican’s MFA program will help one achieve his or her writing goals.  An admissions counselor will also be available to answer application questions. February 12 , 10-11 a.m. PST. The Nuts and Bolts of Applying to the MFA in Creative Writing Program . A hands-on workshop about putting together an MFA application with guidance and writing prompts to help participants craft their Letter of Intent or Artist Statement. This info session is led by MFA Director Judy Halebsky.  An admissions counselor will also be available to answer questions about the program and the application process. February 26 , 10 a.m. to noon PST. Writing To Restore The Self . This free workshop, presented by psychotherapist, teacher, and poet Eliot Schain, will feature writing and discussion about imagery that can help process both positive and negative experience and unite disparate parts of the self. March 12 , 10 a.m. to noon PST. Do the Math: How to Keep Pressing Forward When We Feel Stuck . Join author Kim Culbertson in a free workshop using five specific craft exercises. The workshop will focus on character, POV, conflict, and setting tricks to help when one feels stuck on his/her manuscript. Kim calls it “doing the math” because sometimes one just has to add, subtract, multiply, or divide to get to the root of that writer's block.  March 14 , 6-7 p.m. PDT. Putting together a Writing Sample for Applying to MFAs, Grants, and Fellowships.  The writing sample is often the most important part of an application to MFA programs, grants or fellowships. This session shares insights into how selection committees read the writing submitted and offers strategies on how to show your best work. Led by MFA Director Judy Halebsky. An admissions counselor will also be available to answer application questions.  April 13 , 6-7 p.m. PDT Writing an Artist Statement / Letter of Intent for Applying to MFAs, Grants, and Fellowships. Programs, as well as artist residencies and grants, ask applicants to submit a Letter of Introduction or an Artist Statement. This session will provide approaches to writing this letter and will include writing prompts to help one make a letter that shines. Led by MFA Director Judy Halebsky. An admissions counselor will also be available to answer application questions.  For more information about these free events, or to learn more about the MFA in Creative Writing program, please contact Natalie Babler, Administrative Manager in the School of Liberal Arts and Education , at [email protected] .

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Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism

Transfer credits, next start date, expand your reporting and writing skills with an online journalism degree from liberty university.

Have you ever wanted to write for a magazine, news journal, or website? If so, then this program might be for you! At Liberty, you can learn how to compose original text with your own creative flair. Our journalism degree can help you gain the research and writing skills needed to craft compelling pieces that captivate your reader and move them emotionally.

Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Creative Writing – Journalism is an exciting and dynamic degree program that can help prepare you for a career in the media industry. With a focus on writing for social media, news and print, and multimedia storytelling, this journalism major can help equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to excel in a variety of fields.

Why Choose Liberty’s BS in Creative Writing – Journalism Degree?

There are many reasons why you might choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism. One of the main benefits of this degree is that it is 100% online, making it convenient and accessible for students with busy schedules. Additionally, this program is designed to be completed in just 3.5 years, allowing you to earn your degree quickly and start your career sooner.

Furthermore, the Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism program is unique in its focus on both creative writing and journalism. This means you’ll gain a well-rounded education that can provide a great foundation to begin a career in news media and content writing. Whether you want to be a journalist or branch out into other areas of writing, this degree can provide a pathway to accomplishing your goals.

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In the Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism program, you can learn competencies that are essential for success in a variety of journalism and creative writing industries. From writing novellas to writing for theater and film, you have the opportunity to develop many abilities that can help boost your marketability. Some of the skills you can develop include:

• Writing and Storytelling : You can learn how to craft compelling stories that engage and inform your audience, whether writing news articles, feature stories, or multimedia content.
• Journalism Fundamentals : You will explore the basics of journalism, including how to conduct interviews, fact-check information, and write in a style that is appropriate for different types of media.
• Print and Digital Publishing : In today’s media landscape, digital skills are essential. You can learn how to use a variety of digital tools and build platforms that focus on maturing your writing skill and brand.
• Professional Skills : In addition to creative and technical skills, you can also develop the professional skills you need to succeed in the workplace – including teamwork, communication, and project management.

Additionally, you can learn how to write for cultural engagement and convey nuanced meaning in your work. Your studies will culminate in a senior capstone that will synthesize the knowledge and training you have gained over the course of this journalism degree.

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50 Inspiring Journal Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

Cavan Images / Getty Images

Benefits of Using Journal Prompts

How to use journal prompts, journal prompts you can try, how do you come up with a journal prompt.

A journal can be a trusted companion that helps you reflect on your thoughts, feelings, actions, decisions, and relationships. Research shows that journaling is linked to better planning, lower stress, and better physical and mental health.

Whether you write in your journal regularly or you’re just getting started, you might sometimes find yourself staring at a blank page and wondering what to write. If you’re at a loss for words, a journal prompt can come to the rescue.

Journal prompts are suggestions, ideas, or questions that can help guide and inspire your journal entries, says Sabrina Romanoff , PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University.

“Prompts are typically themes to reflect on or questions that are meant to motivate you to think deeper about something,” Dr. Romanoff adds.

In this article, we suggest some journal prompts that can spark your creativity . We also ask the expert for some strategies that can help you create your own journal prompts.

Prompted journaling, also known as guided journaling, offers several benefits:

• Starting point: If you’ve never tried journaling before or if you’re experiencing writer’s block, journal prompts can help you get started.
• Direction: Prompts can provide direction to your writing, says Dr. Romanoff. By focusing on a specific topic or question, you can explore your thoughts and feelings around it. 
• Structure: Sometimes, you might prefer to write down your thoughts freely as they occur. However, there may be times when you want to organize your thoughts more coherently. Journal prompts can provide the structure you need to organize your thoughts.
• Creativity: Using different journal prompts can introduce variety to your journaling experience. It can encourage you to think more creatively and approach things from different angles.
• Insight: Journal prompts can provide topics or themes that help you explore fresh perspectives and new dimensions of yourself, says Dr. Romanoff. This process can help you discover personal insights and promote greater self-awareness .
• Consistency: Having a prompt to guide each journaling session can encourage you to maintain a regular journaling practice. The prompts can make journaling feel like a purposeful and engaging activity, which may help you be more consistent with it.

These are some strategies that can help you use journal prompts:

• Find prompts that inspire you: Dr. Romanoff suggests making a list of prompts that you find inspiring or motivating—you can come up with your own, buy a journal with prompts, or look online for examples.
• Decide your frequency: It can be helpful to set a frequency for journaling, such as daily, weekly, monthly or at any other interval that works for you. You can use prompts every time you journal or just when you’re feeling stagnant and craving inspiration or motivation for your journaling session, says Dr. Romanoff.
• Keep an open mind: Approach prompted journaling with an open mind . Reflect on the prompt and explore where it takes you. You can write as much or as little as you like. 
• Get creative: Don’t be afraid to get creative with your responses or limit yourself only to words. You can even pen down your thoughts and feelings in the form of drawings or poetry, if you prefer.
• Be honest and authentic: Honesty is key to getting the most out of journaling. Write from the heart and don't be afraid to express your true feelings, even if they are complex or challenging.
• Reflect on your responses: After you've written your responses, take a moment to reflect on what you've written. Consider how your thoughts and emotions have evolved over the course of writing them down.

These are some journal prompts that can help you get started.

Self-Discovery Prompts

Self-discovery prompts can help you self-reflect and get to know yourself better. Greater self-awareness is linked to improved emotional intelligence.

These are some journal prompts that can enable self-discovery:

• First, list five words that best describe you. Then, think about which five words you would like to describe yourself.
• Complete this sentence: “My life would be incomplete without….”
• Reflect on a phrase, quote, or mantra that resonates with you. Explain why it’s significant to you.
• Make a list of the things in your life that you’re most grateful for.
• Explain what you do best.
• Reflect on the qualities that you value most in others.
• Share three things that made you smile today.
• List your best and worst habits.
• Write down three life lessons you’ve learned.
• Explain what love means to you.
• Describe the values that are most important to you and consider whether your actions align with them.
• Think about what you would do with your life if you had unlimited resources and explain why.
• Describe what is stressing you out and how you’re coping with it.
• Write about your biggest regret and what you would do differently in hindsight.
• Identify and label the fears and insecurities that are holding you back right now.

Personal Growth Prompts

These are some journal prompts that can encourage personal growth:

• What are three short-term goals you would like to achieve within the next three months?
• What are three long-term goals you would like to achieve within the next five years?
• Which skill would you like to cultivate in yourself?
• Which qualities do you admire most in others that you would like to develop in yourself?
• Which areas of your life would benefit from more self-discipline ?
• What is your worst habit and how would you change it?
• What’s something new you would like to try?
• What habit do you want to add to your daily routine?
• What would you like to contribute to your community?
• What is the biggest challenge you’re dealing with right now?
• What is the biggest failure you’ve ever faced and what have you learned from it?
• How would you like to be remembered by others?
• How can you better support your loved ones?
• What boundaries would you like to set in your relationships to protect yourself?

Mindfulness Prompts

Mindfulness prompts can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, senses, and surroundings. Being more mindful can help you be more intentional and purposeful in the way you live your life.

These are some journal prompts that can support greater mindfulness:

• Describe a meal you ate today. What colors, textures, tastes, and feelings did you experience?
• Pick an everyday object from your surroundings, like a plant or a pencil. Write a detailed description of it as if you've never seen it before.
• Focus on a sound in the background, such as the ticking of a clock or the rustling of the breeze. Describe the sound and its impact on you.
• Close your eyes for a minute and pay attention to your breath. When you open your eyes, write down what it felt like.
• Describe your ideal day from morning to night. What activities, people, and experiences would be part of it?
• Reflect on your thoughts without judgment . Identify and describe any feelings you're experiencing in the present moment.
• Write about a recent interaction with someone. What were their words, expressions, and gestures? How did you feel during the interaction?
• Think back to a moment of happiness you experienced recently. Relive the sensations, thoughts, and emotions associated with it.
• Think about the place where you feel most at peace. What makes it special to you?
• Recall a time when you were worrying about something in the future. How did it affect your present moment and what would you have done differently?

Creativity Prompts

These are some journal prompts that can spark creativity :

• Write a letter to your favorite fictional character, describing your life to them.
• Make a list of questions you would like to ask a future version of yourself.
• Think about your favorite word or phrase. Explain why you love it.
• Choose a random object from your surroundings. What qualities do you have in common with it?
• Make a list of ten unusual ways to use a common household item. Get creative and think outside the box.
• Write a conversation between two inanimate objects, giving them personalities and voices.
• Invent a gadget that would make your life more efficient or interesting.
• Choose a word from a foreign language that doesn't have a direct English translation. Describe the last time you encountered or experienced it.
• Imagine you get the chance to be any animal for a day. Which animal would you pick and what would you do?
• Invent a new holiday and outline the traditions, celebrations, and rituals associated with it, based on your values.
• If you have a time machine and you can go anywhere in the past or future, where would you go and what would you do there?

These are some strategies that can help you come up with your own journal prompts:

• Decide your goals: First, consider what your goal of journaling is and then work backwards to find ways to achieve that goal, says Dr. Romanoff. For instance, she says gratitude , relationships, learning, self-growth, or creativity are goals that you might want to pursue.
• Find prompts that align with your goals: Write down a few prompts that resonate with you and align with your current goals, interests, or areas of focus. You can add more or tweak them as you go along.
• Mix and match different prompts: Feel free to mix and match prompts from different sources or create your own variations. Experiment with different types of prompts to keep your journaling practice engaging and varied.
• Build on existing prompts: If a prompt leads you to new insights or questions, consider exploring those ideas in subsequent journal entries. You can use your initial response as a springboard for deeper exploration.

Journaling can be a form of self-care , a way to connect with yourself, or a creative exercise. 

If you enjoy journaling, having prompts can help guide your thoughts and focus your attention in a specific direction. Having a new journal prompt to work on every time you’re in the mood to journal can be exciting, comforting, and even a little scary. Just think of each prompt as an opportunity to learn something new about yourself.

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Crego A, Yela JR, Gómez-Martínez MÁ, Riesco-Matías P, Petisco-Rodríguez C. Relationships between mindfulness, purpose in life, happiness, anxiety, and depression: testing a mediation model in a sample of women . Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2021;18(3):925. doi:10.3390/ijerph18030925

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

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Stories of Hope: 4th-grade class president dreams of being an artist or veterinarian

My name is Roycee and I am 10 years old. I am in the fourth grade at Turie T. Small Elementary and I was just elected as the fourth-grade class president.

I love to learn and attend the Lemerand Center of Excellence after school because I get to learn even more. We have nice tutors and I get to make friends with students from Palm Terrace Elementary.

I am really good at math, reading and writing, but my favorite thing to do is to draw. I love all of the colors in the rainbow.

When I am not at school, I like to watch my favorite movie, "Matilda," or play soccer. I also like fashion and wearing dresses to school. When I grow up, I want to be a veterinarian or an artist.

My family loves to celebrate Christmas no matter what, even when we are broke! We always have a Christmas tree. What I really would like for Christmas is a phone. I also would like art supplies or a gift card to Hobby Lobby.

About this series: FBH Community’s mission is to foster community organizations that proactively work to eradicate the causes of generational poverty. FBH Community hosts programs such as Food Brings Hope’s KidsZone, TeenZone, FBHonors, Change the Code and Lemerand Center of Excellence at Daytona State College. Another FBHC program is VCan with the mission of eradicating hunger and homelessness among children and youth in Volusia County. FBHC Homes Bring Hope’s mission is to lead the facilitation of homeownership opportunities for hard-working families. And, FBHC Prosperity Initiative assists hard-working families in overcoming barriers to achieve food and housing stability, as well as educational and career advancement. FBH Community’s overhead is fully funded by the Hosseini Family Foundation, allowing 100% of donations to directly benefit the programs and families. Throughout the holidays, The News-Journal is highlighting the organization by publishing the stories of some of its young participants and families. To donate to the organization, or to brighten the holidays by donating a gift to a child, visit  FBHCommunity.org , email  [email protected]  or call 386-317-5767.