Submissions in fiction and CNF close on April 30. Submit here.
Hey, thanks for submitting to Variant Lit! We’re excited to read your work. For an idea of what we publish, read the journal or check out the editor interview on Duotrope.
Authors should limit submissions to no more than 15 double-spaced pages in total. Shorter pieces are encouraged. if you are submitting flash you may send up to 3 pieces in your submission; it is helpful to us if you tag it as such in the title. Please send work in one file.
Please note, we do not publish academic, expository, or persuasive essays.
We do not accept unsolicited e-mail or mailed submissions; all work must be submitted through Submittable.
We aim to respond to your work within two months of submissions closing, usually much sooner.
It is common for us to offer edits beyond proofreading, in communication with writers.
Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please notify us ASAP if your work is accepted elsewhere. Those wishing to remove individual pieces but not entire submissions should let us know through a message on Submittable.
In general, we not accept previously published works, including those published on the Internet. Upon publication, all rights revert to the author or artist.
About the Journal
Variant Literature is a small, nonprofit press and magazine committed to publishing diverse voices at all stages of their careers. We strive to be a press that fully supports our writers in carving paths for their work outside of big publishing. We believe that the small press community is vital in helping writers establish themselves and in fostering accessibility in publishing. We work hard to be an active part of that community, developing ongoing relationships with our contributors and readers.
Our books are routinely listed as bestsellers at SPD and have been longlisted and named runner-up for The Pernnial Press Chapbook Award.
Our magazine nominates for everything we are aware of and as often as possible. Pieces have been included in The Best Small Fiction Anthology and made finalist spots with Best of the Net.
Variant Literature is an institutional member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network.