Open fiction calls that charge no submission fee, checked against each publisher’s official guidelines.
13 publications open now · Browse the full directory
Fiction
Nenta Literary Journal publishes work exclusively from Ghanaian writers and accepts fiction submissions of fewer than 5,000 words, with submissions open from 1 February to 15 November. It charges no submission fee and pays writers a token of Gh¢150 for curated works.
Fiction
Tension Literary publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, writing with an edge. Submissions for Issue VI: Winter Blues are open from October 15 to November 15, 2026, by email; fiction must be no longer than 6,000 words, submissions are free with an optional $5 donation, simultaneous submissions are accepted, only previously unpublished work is considered, and the journal does not currently pay writers.
Fiction
Variant Literature is reading for its Winter 2027 issue from October 10 to November 20, 2026. Its fiction call takes one literary fiction or speculative fiction piece of 1,200 to 5,500 words, and a separate flash prose category takes one piece of 750 to 1,200 words; it pays $25 per accepted longform story and $15 per flash piece, through Submittable.
Prose
Radon Journal publishes short fiction and poetry with elements of science fiction, anarchism, transhumanism, or dystopia and leftist social commentary; it does not publish fantasy. This prose call accepts flash fiction and short stories up to 5,000 words year-round through its no-fee Submittable page.
Fiction
Alchemical is a literary journal of the speculative, publishing literary fiction delivered through science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Its short fiction call takes one piece of 1,000 to 5,000 words by email, year-round, with no submission fees and no payment to contributors; it aims to respond within 45 days.
Fiction
Moonday Mag is a Los Angeles-based quarterly speculative literary magazine for work that is fantastic and fantastically strange. Its fiction call takes one piece under 4,000 words, is open year-round through Subfolio subject to a monthly cap, charges no fee and pays no compensation, and accepts reprints at least a year after original publication.
Fiction
The Dark is a monthly online magazine of horror and dark fantasy that avoids graphic, violent horror; it reads fiction of 2,000 to 6,000 words by email on an ongoing basis and charges no entry fee.
Fiction and Nonfiction
The Forge Literary Magazine publishes short literary prose chosen by rotating editors who read submissions anonymously, with literary excellence as its only criterion. This call prefers stories under 3,000 words and considers exceptional work up to 3,500 words, opens 200 free submissions on the 1st of each month January through November, and pays $100 per piece.
Flash Fiction
CRAFT explores the art of prose and how elements of craft make a story shine, publishing fiction and creative nonfiction from emerging and established writers. Its flash fiction category takes work up to 1,000 words, is free and open year-round, and pays $100 for original flash.
Flash Fiction
Fractured Lit publishes flash fiction with emotional resonance and characters who come to life through their actions. Its flash category covers 401 to 1,000 words, is free and open year-round, allows simultaneous submissions and reprints (unpaid), and pays $75 for original flash fiction.
Flash Fiction
Okay Donkey is a literary magazine for odd, off-kilter, funny and sad work, favoring the experimental, surreal, magical realist and genre-bending. This call takes one flash fiction piece or a batch of micros totaling up to 1,200 words, opens free on the 1st of each month except December until its cap is hit, and pays a $25 honorarium.
Science Fiction/Fantasy Short Story
Uncharted Magazine publishes short fiction offering escape, new worlds and speculative exploration. This science fiction/fantasy call wants stories of 1,000 to 5,000 words that imagine the future of technology and science or explore the world through a speculative lens, open year round with no fee.
Short Fiction
Trampset is a literary journal seeking short fiction, flash fiction and excerpts from longer works, open to all styles though shorter pieces tend to get more love. Prose is capped at 3,000 words with up to three flash or micro pieces per document, a permanent free category is available, and it pays $30 per accepted piece.
Summaries come from each publication’s official guidelines. Read the guidelines before you submit. Please don’t copy the directory in bulk.