LitMag: Annual Writing Contests for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry
- Dec 17, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 15
LitMag is devoted to publishing writing that stirs the intellect and the soul—work that moves, challenges, and ultimately lingers. Their editorial team seeks writers who pair emotional resonance with sharp craft and ideas that are both expansive and intimately felt. They gravitate toward work that fuses artistic risk with insight, and they remain committed to championing original voices through their print journal, online features, and annual literary awards.
Each year, LitMag presents three distinguished awards across the genres of short fiction, flash fiction, and poetry, named in honor of literary greats whose work redefined the limits of language and form.
Annual Literary Awards
Each year, LitMag celebrates exceptional work across genres through three distinguished literary awards. Named for iconic figures whose legacies continue to shape the literary world, these prizes are designed to recognize craft, originality, and emotional depth. All three awards offer writers the opportunity to gain recognition and publication in LitMag, alongside a monetary prize.
Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction
This award honors outstanding short fiction with a word count between 3,000 and 8,000 words. The editorial team seeks stories that explore the psychological and the poetic, with careful attention to language, character, and structure—work that would honor Woolf’s legacy of innovation and depth.
Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction
Designed for fiction under 1,500 words, the Chekhov Award highlights short forms that carry emotional weight in tight spaces. Pieces must be between 500 and 1,500 words, and should reveal tension, complexity, and truth with precision.
Emily Dickinson Award for Poetry
Poets may submit up to three poems per entry. LitMag welcomes all styles, forms, and voices—from formal structure to lyrical free verse—especially work that captures the compressed power and emotional reach for which Dickinson herself is known.
These annual awards reflect LitMag’s commitment to literary excellence and its belief in the transformative power of excellent writing. Winners receive publication in LitMag and join a community of authors whose work pushes boundaries and deepens the art of the written word.
General Submission Guidelines
Writers may submit one story or essay per category during each open submission period, or up to three poems per submission. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but LitMag requests immediate notification if a piece is accepted elsewhere. Please refrain from submitting more than once per genre per reading window, and wait for a response before sending new work in that category.
All submissions must be previously unpublished, including content shared on personal blogs, newsletters, or social media. However, LitMag will consider reprints in rare cases if the work originally appeared in a literary journal that has since ceased publication and is no longer publicly accessible. Writers must disclose the complete publication history in such instances, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
For general submissions, LitMag accepts fiction up to 15,000 words for their print edition, and up to 4,000 words for online publication. Creative nonfiction, personal essays, and literary criticism should follow the same length guidelines. Response times are typically within four months; however, periods of high volume may occasionally cause delays.
What LitMag Publishes
LitMag is devoted to publishing literature that resonates beyond the page—work that is daring in form, grounded in truth, and unafraid to challenge convention. While their scope is broad, a common thread runs through them: a commitment to originality, depth, and emotional clarity. They seek writing that expands our understanding of the human experience, whether through intimate personal narratives, bold poetic experimentation, or richly imagined fiction.
Fiction
LitMag publishes short stories and novellas that are structurally inventive, emotionally layered, and linguistically rich. They are drawn to narratives that explore character with nuance, build tension with care, and subvert expectations in service of more profound insight. Whether rooted in realism or more speculative terrain, fiction that lingers through voice, theme, or sheer imaginative force is central to their vision.
Nonfiction
Their nonfiction selections include personal essays, memoirs, literary criticism, biography, and cultural commentary. Essays may be introspective or outward-facing, grounded in personal experience or rooted in the analysis of art, literature, music, or society. LitMag particularly values nonfiction that explores the intersection of the individual and the political, the intellectual and the intimate, crafted with precision, vulnerability, and a strong point of view.
Poetry
LitMag welcomes poetry in all forms and traditions, from formal verse to experimental language work, and everything in between. There are no restrictions on style, length, or subject matter. What matters most is emotional resonance, originality, and a command of craft. The editorial team looks for poems that surprise, reveal, and resonate—work that distills the inexpressible into precise and memorable language.
Across genres, LitMag champions writing that is both urgent and enduring—work that leaves a mark. They are especially drawn to voices that take risks, explore underrepresented perspectives, and offer fresh perspectives on the world. Whether in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, each published piece contributes to LitMag’s broader mission: to honor craft, amplify diverse voices, and shape the literary landscape with intention and heart.
Payment and Rights
LitMag compensates writers based on word count and format. Payment details are as follows:
LitMag Print
$300 for fiction or nonfiction of 5,000 words or more
$150 for fiction or nonfiction between 2,500–4,999 words
$100 for short fiction, flash fiction, or a poem/group of poems
LitMag Online
$125 for accepted work, regardless of genre or length
Upon acceptance, LitMag acquires First English-language print and electronic rights, but copyright reverts to the author upon publication.
Submission Periods
LitMag operates on two annual submission windows for both print and online editions:
October 1 – December 15
February 1 – May 31
Writers can submit to both LitMag and LitMag Online during these periods, but should adhere to the one-submission-per-category rule per cycle.
Affiliated Publisher: Bard Books
In addition to its acclaimed literary journal, LitMag maintains a close affiliation with Bard Books, an independent publisher committed to amplifying bold, original voices across genres. While LitMag focuses on shorter works for print and online publication, Bard Books provides a platform for longer-form literary projects, including novels, short story collections, essay collections, hybrid works, and poetry manuscripts.
Bard Books shares LitMag’s editorial values—prioritizing craft, emotional resonance, and artistic ambition—and offers an extended avenue for writers seeking to publish full-length works. Writers who align with LitMag's aesthetic may find Bard Books a natural next step for book-length publication.
Submission Windows
Bard Books accepts manuscript submissions during two reading periods each year:
February 1 – May 31
September 1 – December 31
Submissions are reviewed carefully by the editorial team, and selected works receive developmental support, design services, and wide distribution through Bard Books' publishing channels.
Writers interested in submitting should review Bard Books’ specific submission guidelines and publishing philosophy at www.bardbooks.com.
Whether you're looking to debut a first collection or share a long-gestating manuscript with a passionate, literary-minded publisher, Bard Books offers a dedicated space for daring and original work to take root.
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