We would love to provide a home for your speculative writing.
We are currently accepting fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and artwork submissions for the second volume of The Kismet Magazine (forthcoming spring 2025).
Who are we looking for?
The Kismet Magazine is for those of us who must build the worlds in which we thrive and for those of us who want to help. We are looking for writers, poets, and artists who want to help that community of world builders with us. We are looking for speculative fiction and poetry—broadly, but not limited to: sci-fi, fantasy, horror, magical realism—as well as non-fiction work examining these types of media and concepts (e.g., book reviews and essays). We work to prioritize voices and ideas that have been actively excluded, more specifically: women, BIPOC, queer, disabled, non-English writers, and other marginalized individuals. Our goal is to introduce readers to new ideas and perspectives even if those worlds are difficult or taboo.
What are we looking for?
FICTION
Our magazine aims to publish speculative short stories in the realm of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, absurdism, etc. Short stories should be anywhere from 750 to 10,000 words.
POETRY
Our magazine aims to publish poetry that is speculative in nature and incorporates typical themes of fiction genres such as horror, sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, absurdism, etc. We have no length or structure requirements for poetry.
NONFICTION
Our magazine aims to publish nonfiction that critically and creatively examines the speculative genre. These pieces can be essays, reviews, critiques, or thought pieces centered on media in the genres of the speculative, these being horror, sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, absurdism, etc. Nonfiction pieces should be 5,000 words or fewer.
Note: We are always eagerly seeking reviews for both print and online-exclusive publication.
ARTWORK
With both issues we publish each year we aim to highlight a unique and compelling visual artist on the cover. We take inspiration from a myriad of sources for the visual aesthetics of the magazine and have compiled a pinterest board to help others get an idea of what we may be looking for.
How to submit?
To submit, use the linked form. Our team of editors conducts a multi-stage reading process and will contact you with a decision on the piece. Please include name and contact information in the digital file. PDFs or .doc files are preferred for formatting.
Do we compensate writers?
As we are a not-for-profit publication run by volunteers, at this time we are not able to compensate for pieces. Published authors will receive complimentary first-run copies of the issue in which they are published. We are working to build a sustainable, community-oriented publishing model through Patreon, Ko-Fi, and similar platforms with the goal of paying writers in the near future.
Do we accept non-English submissions?
Although The Kismet Magazine is primarily an English-language publication, we love to receive submissions in other languages, provided we have the necessary staffing capacity. We are currently able to review submissions in these languages: English and Spanish.
(Interested in joining staff as a non-English language editor? Let us know!)
The Kismet Magazine 