Are you a writer looking to have your work published in a magazine? We've compiled some Alberta literary magazines from our collection along with information for writers looking to submit their work for publication.
If you’re interested in getting your stories, poetry or articles into print, the first step is to get to know the magazine you're submitting to by looking at past issues to get a sense of their interests and overall tone. Feel free to check out our digital magazine collection and access current and past issues of the following nine magazines through Cantook Libraries or OverDrive.
Tagline: Canada's Experimental Literary Mag
Who they are: A literary magazine that seeks to provide an alternative to more traditional literary magazines and focus on publishing Canadian literature. They host literary events in addition to producing their magazine.
What they’re looking for: Previously unpublished poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, literary journalism and visual art. Note their General Guidelines page where they describe their core requirements.
How to submit your work: Browse Submittable for more specific submission guidelines for different categories. Fiction submissions are currently closed. Submissions are open for other categories such as poetry and non-fiction.
Tagline: Canada’s Magazine of Exquisite Writing
Who they are: A literary magazine that exists to encourage the voices of new, emerging and established Canadian writers. They publish twice a year, with one of their issues focused on their Annual Prose and Poetry Contest.
What they’re looking for: Previously unpublished poetry, fiction, non-fiction, literary reviews, author interviews and visual arts. They look for Canadian content in their general submissions and accept worldwide submissions for the Annual Prose and Poetry Contest.
How to submit your work: Submittable contains specific payment and submission information. They are currently taking submissions for book reviews only. Note that they also have a contest for prose and poetry that is open until April 30, 2023.
Tagline: Prose and Poetry That Wins By Knockout
Who they are: A literary magazine founded in Edmonton several years ago. Their explanation of the magazine’s tagline gives a sense of their interests: “Julio Cortázar said ‘the novel wins by points, the short story by knockout.’ Our goal is to find fiction and poetry that lives up to this. If you don’t feel like you just had your bell rung after a short story or got punched in the gut after a poem, what’s the point?"
What they’re looking for: Previously unpublished literary short fiction, flash fiction and poetry. They want to support Canadian writers but are open to international submissions. Please note they are not open to genre fiction.
How to submit your work: Browse Submittable for more specific payment and submission information. However, they are currently closed to submissions.
Tagline: A Journal of Ideas
Who they are: A magazine that seeks to provide a space for the country’s best and emerging writers to reflect deeply on politics, philosophy, science, history, culture and literature
What they’re looking for: Previously unpublished reviews, essays, art and poetry. They do not accept simultaneous submissions.
How to submit your work: Via two email addresses noted on their Submissions page, with one email address for general submissions (reviews, essays and art) and another for poetry. They are open to general submissions on a rolling basis but have reading periods for poetry (currently open from November 1, 2022, to March 1, 2023). Read their Submissions Guidelines carefully to see their requirements for poetry submissions.
Tagline: The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic
Who they are: A quarterly journal that is the longest-running English-language speculative fiction magazine in Canada. It was founded in 1989 to support Canadian writers by creating a paying market for speculative short fiction, and works with a special mandate to foster the development of emerging writers in this field.
What they’re looking for: Previously unpublished short stories (6,000 words or less), poetry and art. The magazine states: “We discover and showcase quality works by predominantly Canadian writers and artists, in the genre we call ‘Fantastic’ literature.” Note that they are open to international submissions as well. They seek emotionally engaging and character-driven stories that have a speculative component (fantasy, science fiction or horror).
How to submit your work: Through a submissions form on their website. Note, they are currently closed to submissions and will typically have one window for submissions per year. The submissions page contains a helpful overview of what they are and aren’t looking for, followed by payment rates.
Who they are: An online magazine founded in 2016 and published twice a year that publishes multilingual art and poetry, specifically Indigenous and Heritage languages. Named Alberta’s Best New Magazine in 2021. They aim to create a space where the borders of art and language can be redrawn, where identities can be reinvented and where poets and artists feel free to question and constantly experiment. They also provide classes and a monthly drop-in Multilingual Art Lab for writers, artists and translators to share their work.
What they’re looking for: Artwork, poetry written in multiple languages.
How to submit your work: Through their website. They are currently closed to submissions but indicate there will be a call posted for their next issue.
Tagline: A Magazine of Canadian Literature
Who they are: A literary journal that was founded in 1983 that seeks to support Canadian writers and publishes twice a year.
What they’re looking for: Previously unpublished poetry, short fiction, drama, literary criticism, reviews, bibliography, interviews, profiles and artwork. Note that they do not accept simultaneous submissions.
How to submit your work: By mail to:
28 Crowfoot Terrace NW
PO Box 68073
Calgary, AB Canada
T3G 3N8
Specifications for formatting and payment information are noted on their Submissions Guidelines page.
Who they are: A quarterly magazine published by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.
What they’re looking for: Articles covering the writing life and business, profiles of Alberta writers, listings of markets and contests, member news, upcoming events and more.
How to submit your work: Via email to the address provided on their website. Read their guidelines carefully to see their formatting requirements. For unsolicited article submissions, they require a proposal letter laying out the article’s essential elements, how you intend to approach the article, the section of the magazine best suited to the idea and a summary of your credentials. They also accept proposals for artwork and photographs that relate to writing and the writer’s life.
Tagline: Advice and inspiration for today's writer
Who they are: A monthly magazine that presents writing advice, industry information and coverage of practical topics to support emerging and professional writers. Published in the United States and operating since 1887.
What they’re looking for: “In the pages of our magazine, writers share experiences, expertise, struggles, advice, successes, and suggestions”. The Submission Guidelines page provides detailed and useful information about types of articles the magazine runs, such as Writing Essentials: Articles that focus on the basics of the craft of writing and Off the Cuff: Personal essays on a particular aspect of writing or the writing life. Overall, the editors state that they are looking for articles on concrete topics that will provide clear value to readers in their writing journey.
How to submit your work: Submissions must be sent in the form of a query letter to the email provided on their Submission Guidelines page. The author’s name and biography must be included. Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Note that they do not accept previously published work.
Apart from local literary magazines, EPL offers a wide variety of online magazines from around the world. Browse our online magazine collection in databases like Flipster, opens a new window, OverDrive, opens a new window, PressReader, opens a new window and Chinese Magazines through Dragonsource, opens a new window, and don’t forget to check out National Geographic, opens a new window and the Maclean’s Magazine Archive, opens a new window. If your interests range from news to knitwear and everything in between, we have an online magazine for you! Use your FREE library card to access thousands of magazine titles in over 60 languages at your fingertips.
If you’re looking for further support as a writer, check out the services provided by the Capital City Press! Get started by learning about our current Featured Writer, attending an upcoming workshop such as the Preparing Submissions for Literary Magazines class on March 15, our Literary Events calendar and more. We also offer Capital City Press Anthology, a yearly digital publication that offers a platform to showcase stories, poetry and non-fiction from local authors including a handy Resources for Writers, opens a new window page that connects you with different options. If you’re looking for support and a writing community, consider joining the Writers Guild of Alberta and attend one of their events. Make sure to reach out to our Writer-in-Residence to receive more details about how they can provide input and advice about your efforts.
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