Submissions!
Submission Guidelines
***Submissions for Issue #5 are currently CLOSED!!!***
***Submissions for Issue 6’s theme “Ghosts” are currently OPEN until November 30, 2025 @ 11:59 PM CST***
We are looking for original, unpublished work; however, we are also all about reprinting strong pieces that aren't done making their “rounds” (just let us know where reprints they were originally published and acknowledge you currently retain the rights to them). Please do let us know if your submission (or part of your submission) has been accepted elsewhere ASAP by leaving us a “Note” via our Submittable page so we can omit said portion from consideration and give you a heartfelt “Congratulations!”
The Argyle accepts general submissions for poetry, short fiction, essays, interviews, reviews, and more.
Short fiction, CNF, & Essays – up to 3 pieces (approximately 3,000 words each). We can be a little flexible for longer pieces).
Poetry – up to 6 poems (no limitations, but rhyme at your own risk).
Interviews & Reviews – query us to pitch your ideas.
Articles - between 750 and 2500 words is the "sweet spot" (and pay careful attention to overuse of passive voice). The Argyle is open to articles about writing, art, and especially the intersections between writing, literature, the visual arts, and culture. Query us to pitch your ideas.
Digital Art - up to 5 submissions. Color and black & white accepted. Work that is strongly poetic and/or narrative works nicely. This includes multi-modal prose/verse submissions.
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Theme 05: “Ghosts”
***Submissions for Theme 05: “Ghosts” OPEN September 1st***
Our X followers have spoken, so the theme for Issue #6’s theme-page will be “Ghosts.”
This may seem like a strange theme for a December edition of a lit mag, but (if you think about it) Issue #6 will come fresh off the heels of Halloween, Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, and more interpretations of A Christmas Carol than you can shake a Yule log at.
Submissions for Theme 05: “Ghosts” open September 1st, 2025, for your poetry, fiction, CNF, and digital art that centers around our otherworldly counterparts….but there is a catch.
All submissions MUST incorporate one of the holidays listed above (or other culturally appropriate holiday/celebrations of the dead/ancestors) as part of the submission AND a literal ghost (or ghosts) must be a character (or characters). This means no sparkly vampires, werewolves with amazing pecs, or teenage witches who all of a sudden wake up one day having come into their power.
You can give us scary, funny, sad, or cerebral. We love it all, BUT we really would like to see ghostly characters that are complex and have layers, not just scary props. EIC David Estringel will be fielding the CNF submissions and is DYING (pardon the pun) to read your real-life ghost stories. He has a few of his own.
Deadline for Theme 05: “Ghosts” submissions will be November 30, 2025 @ 11:59 PM CST.
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***No submissions created with AI (either partially or totally) may be submitted for consideration!***
Simultaneous and Previously Published Work
We encourage simultaneous submissions of your work. We do ask that if your submission (or part of your submission) is accepted elsewhere, you contact us ASAP via our submissions manager Submittable via “Messages” and let us know so we can remove said work from consideration.
We also accepted previously published work for general (and some “themed”) submissions. Submitters must possess the right to reprint their work and attest to that fact in their submission emails, also providing the name of the original publisher, so we can give the proper credit.
Submission Fees and Payment
General, Theme, and (Micro)Chap submissions to The Argyle are always free. Currently, we are not able to pay our contributors in anything but undying gratitude and virtual hugs; HOWEVER, we will gladly promote your work (submitted or otherwise) on social media. Just shoot us an email at contact@theargylelitmag.com with an update so we can spread the news.
Rights
The Argyle Literary Magazine asks for First Electronic Rights and Non-Exclusive Archival Rights. All other rights remain with the artist. Agreeing to have your work published in The Argyle also means you agree to have your work (or parts of your work) printed in digital/paper issues of the magazine (if produced) and future anthologies, as well as mentioned and/or discussed in any of The Argyle’s podcasts, social media postings, interviews, shindigs, and/or other happenings. Of course, we do ask if you reprint your work elsewhere that you credit The Argyle as the original publisher.
Again, we are all about reprinting strong work, so those submitting pieces for reprint must possess the rights to do so and attest to that fact in their submission emails. The Argyle Literary Magazine assumes no liability for unlawfully submitted material.
