MAYDAY

Original, engaging literary short fiction, including innovative work in any genre. Submit one full-length prose piece or up to three flash-fiction pieces under 1,000 words each; prose should be 300–3,000 words. Fiction reopens September 1, 2026.

Essays in many modes, especially hybrid, braided, experimental, transgressive, personal, and critical forms. Submissions should preferably not exceed 5,000 words. Nonfiction reopened October 1, 2026.

Open to: Black writers

MAYDAY:Black seeks nonfiction opinions, analyses, and personal, braided, or reported essays addressing Black life, history, representation, race, racism, civil rights, and related subjects. Submit 800–3,000 words via Submittable for free.

Cultural criticism, reviews, essays, and interviews about literature, cinema, television, music, video games, fashion, theater, photography, art, and architecture. Length is around 600–6,000 words; pitches by email are welcome.

Translations of poetry and prose from any language into English are considered. Translators must have secured rights or the work must be in the public domain; submit both original and translated texts.

Book reviews of forthcoming books or books published within the last six months, preferably from small presses, and interviews with contemporary artists, writers, critics, and other notable cultural figures. Reviews are typically 1,000–1,500 words.

Subversive, fresh, expressive poetry, including received, projective, concrete, visual, erasure, and documentary forms. Submit 1–3 poems totaling no more than 10 pages.