Canadian Literary Short Fiction Markets (A-E)

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Catherine Austen

I wrote short stories in my youth and published a dozen in Canadian literary journals–long defunct ones like Writ and Quarry, and still-going-strong ones like The Windsor Review and The New Quarterly (it really was a new quarterly back then). Though I’ve kept up with reading lit mags all my life, I only recently resumed writing short fiction for adults–which requires viewing lit mags as markets.

While some of today’s great Canadian lit mags still have the same submission guidelines they had 20 years ago (snail mail, SASEs and all), I’ve had to make a few updates on my “Lit Mag Submission Guidelines” file (the main change being that the file was on a 3 1/2″ floppy disk so I had to retype the whole thing).

The best resource for Canadian lit mag info is “A Writer’s Guide to Canadian Literary Magazines & Journals” on the Magazine Awards Blog. I’ve cribbed from that guide to make my own list of short story markets, which omits all the poetry bits but adds essential info like word limits, submission methods, and payments. If you’re a short story writer, feel free to crib from my list.

I’m offering the list in 4 parts of 10-12 magazines each because (a) I’m not finished typing the full list yet; and (b) you need time to buy/borrow and read the magazines before you submit to them. Because it would be crazy to try to publish your work in a magazine you’ve never read and might not even like. Right?

Canadian Literary Magazines–Short Fiction Markets A-E

The Antigonish Review (Antigonish, Nova Scotia).

Publishes established and emerging writers from the Maritimes and across Canada. 4 issues/year (print). Since 1970.
Considers fiction up to 3,000 words, plus poetry, essays, articles, book reviews, and translations.
Open submission period. Submit by snail mail. Exclusive submissions only. Response in 4-8 months.
Pays $50 + 2 copies.
Submissions Guidelines

Canthius Journal (Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario)

Publishes emerging and established female-identifying writers. 2 issues/year (print). Since 2015.
Considers prose (mostly essays but also some fiction) up to 3,500 words, and poetry.
Submissions are open for the summer issue until April 1^st, 2017. Submit through Submittable. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 3-4 months.
Pays $5/page + 1 copy.
Submission Guidelines

The Capilano Review (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Publishes experimental writing by emerging and established Canadian and international writers. 3 issues/year (print and pdf). Since 1972.
Considers fiction up to 5,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, reviews, and visual arts.
Open and themed issues with specific submission periods, e.g., Deadline April 1, 2017 for themed issue on “Food.” Submit through Submittable. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 4 months.
Pays $50-$150.
Submission Guidelines

Carousel (Guelph, Ontario)

Publishes new and established Canadian and international artists. 2 issues/year (print). Since 1983.
Considers fiction up to 3,000 words, plus poetry, comics and visual arts.
Submissions are closed from January 10-June 30. (So submit after July 1^st,, 2017.) Submit by snail mail or through Submittable. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 4-6 months.
Pays $55-$100 + a subscription.
Submission Guidelines

Carte Blanche (Montreal, Quebec)

Publishes emerging and established writers and artists from Quebec, Canada, and the world. 3 issues/year (online only). Since 2004.
Considers fiction up to 3,500 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, translations, comics, photography, and audio arts.
Submission periods: March 16^th-May 1^st and October 1^st-December 31^st. Submit online. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 4-6 months.
Pays “a small honorarium.”
Submission Guidelines

Cosmonauts Avenue (Montreal, Quebec)

Publishes literary work from writers around the world. 11 issues/year (online only). Since 2014.
Considers fiction up to 8,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, translations, interviews, essays, reviews, and novel excerpts.
Open submission period. Submit through Submittable. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 10 weeks.
No payment.
Submission Guidelines

The Dalhousie Review (Dalhousie, Nova Scotia)

Publishes new and established writers of academic and literary works from the Maritimes and across Canada. 3 issues/year (print and digital). Since 1921.
Considers fiction up to 5,000 words, plus articles, essays, creative non-fiction, poetry, and reviews.
Open submission period. Submit by snail mail. Exclusive submissions preferred. Responds in 3-9 months.
Pays 2 copies + offprints.
Submission Guidelines

Eighteen Bridges (Edmonton, Alberta)

An arts and culture magazine that publishes mostly commissioned work from established Canadian writers. 4 issues/year (print). Since 2011.
Considers fiction (no word limit), plus poetry and proposals for articles.
Open submission period. Submit by snail mail or online. Response time varies.
Payment varies.
Submission Guidelines

Event (New Westminster, British Columbia)

Publishes contemporary poetry and prose from emerging and established Canadian and international writers. 3 issues/year (print and digital). Since 1971.
Considers fiction up to 5,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and reviews.
Open submission period. Submit through Submittable. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 6 months.
Pays $25/page.
Submission Guidelines

Existere (Toronto, Ontario)

Publishes emerging and established writers from York University and around the world. 2 issues/year (print). Since 1978.
Considers fiction up to 3,500 words, plus poetry, essays, novel excerpts, reviews, creative non-fiction, photography and visual arts.
Open submission period. Submit by email. (There is a precise submission format – see guidelines.) Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 3 months.
Pays a small honorarium + 1 copy.
Submission Guidelines

Exile, the Literary Quarterly (Toronto, Ontario)

Publishes new and established writers and artists from Ontario and Canada. 4 issues/year (print). Since 1972.
Considers fiction (no word limit) and poetry.
Open submission period. (Exile also publishes themed anthologies which have specific deadlines. Nothing open at the moment). Submit by snail mail. Exclusive submissions only. Responds in 4-6 months.
Payment not specified. (Exile anthologies pay approximately 5 cents/word.)
Submission Guidelines

That’s the top of the alphabet to start with. Happy reading and submitting. More to come Friday.

Have a great week.