Submissions are currently CLOSED

Queerlings is now open annually from January 1st until March 31st. We will then close for a reading period and aim to respond to all submissions by the end of April. We respond to everyone but we kindly ask for your patience during our reading period as we receive hundreds of submissions each year. Our next issue will be published in June 2025. Please carefully read our general guidelines below before submitting. Any submissions received outside of our submission window above will not be considered. 

General Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to all submissions. 

• Queerlings is a dedicated platform for LGBTQIA2S+ identifying writers. We’re looking for 'own voices' work, across genres of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, that explores varying interpretations of queerness. Please have a read of our previous issues for an idea of what we publish.

• We are an entirely volunteer-run magazine with no funding. This means that we have to pay out of pocket for our general running costs and are sadly unable to pay contributors at this time. 

• The title and author's name should be clearly visible at the start of the document. Please save your work under your name and the category it applies to [i.e author name POETRY]

• Please submit to only one category per submission window.

• All work should be the author's own, original, and previously unpublished.

• Past contributors are welcome to submit new work to us but we ask that you allow an Issue release between publications before submitting again. For example, if you were published in Issue 7 you would wait for the open call for Issue 9. Please be aware that past publication with us does not guarantee future publication. 

• Please attach your work in .doc(x) format. If you have concerns regarding the formatting of your work please submit it in both .doc(x) and PDF. For flash fiction and poetry, your work should be contained in a single document. Please do not submit poems as individual files or within the body of an email as this will lead to an automatic rejection. 

• Please format your work in 12pt Times New Roman font. For fiction and non-fiction please double-space your work. Please refer to the Shunn style for further help www.shunn.net/format/story/

• With all submissions please include a short third-person bio (100 words max) which includes your preferred pronouns and socials in the body of your email. Please see past issues for examples if you are unsure how to write your author bio. Don't worry if you don't use social media but please note that we will use Instagram to promote the magazine and your work.

• Sadly we don't accept artwork submissions as we produce all visual work in-house. 

• If you have any accessibility issues with this process please drop us an email and we will make alternative arrangements.

• We welcome simultaneous submissions but please let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Please note that Queerlings supports LGBTQIA+ writers from all backgrounds and therefore we will reject any work which promotes racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, or any other form of prejudice. Whilst work can involve sexual elements we also don’t publish erotica or gratuitous violence.

Please see below for specific word and line limits. We can not consider submissions that do not adhere to our guidelines so please read the following carefully before submitting. If you have any specific access requirements please get in touch. Thank you.

Word Limits

• Short Stories in any genre of up to 2000 words and only one piece per submission. 

• Flash Fiction/Hybrid Work: Up to 2 pieces per submission with a 500-word limit per piece.

• Poetry:  Up to 3 poems per submission with 20 lines maximum per poem. 

• We are unable to accept translations of poetry unless the work is your own, original and previously unpublished. Please include the poem in both their original language and English. 

• Creative Non-Fiction (i.e. essays, personal essays, memoirs etc.) up to 2000 words (not including footnotes or references). Where relevant please use, as far as is reasonably possible, the Chicago style for your references. Please follow the link below for guidance: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html 

As our editors work on Queerlings in their own time, we kindly ask for your patience as they read through submissions. You will receive an auto-reply acknowledging receipt of your submission and we aim to respond to all submissions within two months of submissions closing. Please note that due to the sheer volume of submissions, we receive this can sometimes take longer. Please follow us on Instagram for regular updates regarding the submission process and upcoming issues.

All submissions and queries should be addressed to the editors and sent to: queerlingsmagazine@gmail.com

Thank you for your interest in Queerlings Magazine.