Canadian Literary Short Fiction Markets (R-Z)

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Catherine Austen

Here is the last instalment of my favourite Can-lit journals aka short story markets.

NB: These are not ALL the magazines out there in our northern land. This is my personal list of lit-mags that publish the kind of short fiction I read and write, and for which I’m eligible to submit. (So you won’t find Ricepaper here because I’m not Asian Canadian, and you won’t find Arc because I don’t write poetry.) For a more complete list, see the Writer’s Guide to Canadian Literary Magazines & Journals on the Magazine Awards blog. (I’ve cribbed from their list and added the information I want at a glance: word counts, submission policies, and payments. Feel free to crib from my list.)

Riddle Fence (St. John’s, Newfoundland)

Publishes contemporary literature and artwork from Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and around the world. 3 issues/year (print). Since 2007.
Considers fiction up to 3,000 words, plus poetry, “fakelore,” creative non-fiction, and visual arts.
Open submission period. Submit by email. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 6 months.
Payment unspecified. Submission Guidelines

Room (Vancouver, British Columbia)

A feminist literary magazine that publishes emerging and established Canadian writers who identify as female. 4 issues/year (print). Since 1975.
Considers fiction up to 3,500 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual arts.
Open submission period for un-themed issues; specific deadlines for themed issues (e.g., deadline January 31st, 2017, for an upcoming issue on “migration”). Submit via Submittable. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 3-6 months.
Pays $50-$120. Submission Guidelines

The Rusty Toque (editors across Canada)

Publishes innovative arts and literature by new and established Canadian and international writers. 1 issue/year (online). Since 2011.
Considers fiction up to 4,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, reviews, comics, and graphic narratives.
Open submission period. Submit up to two stories/year. Submit online. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Responds in 3 months.
Pays $50. Submission Guidelines

sub-Terrain (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Publishes provocative work from “uprising” Canadian and international artists and writers. 3 issues/year (print). Since 1992.
Considers fiction up to 3,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, commentary, photography and illustration.
Submission periods correspond to upcoming open and themed issues (e.g., deadline Septebmer 1st, 2017 for the next un-themed issue). Submit via Submittable. No mention of exclusivity.
Pays $50. Submission Guidelines

Taddle Creek (Toronto, Ontario)

A general interest literary magazine that publishes entertaining works from new and established Canadian writers. 2 issues/year (print and digital). Since 1997.
Considers fiction (no word limit), plus poetry and visual art.
Submissions are currently closed (two themed issues planned for 2017 are closed to submissions). Check the website for further notice. (Check it just to read the amusing submission guidelines.) When they re-open, submit by email. Exclusive submissions only. Responds in 2-6 months.
Payment unspecified. Submission Guidelines

THIS Magazine (Toronto, Ontario)

An alternative magazine of contemporary journalism, arts and culture that publishes sharp, stylish work from new and established Canadian writers. 6 issues/year (print). Since 1966.
Publishes mostly articles and essays, but also considers fiction up to 2,500 words and poetry.
Query for articles; pitch or submit stories at any time. Pitch/submit by email. Responds in 3 months.
Payment varies. Submission Guidelines

Understory Magazine (Halifax and Lunenberg, Nova Scotia)

Publishes vital writing and visual art by and about Canadian women. 3-4 issues/year (online only). Since 2013.
Considers fiction up to 1,500 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, essays, spoken word, and blog posts.
Submission periods vary with upcoming themed issues (e.g., deadline March 31st, 2017, for “Youth on Power” issue; deadline June 15th, 2017, for “Service” issue). Submit by email or snail mail. Simultaneous submissions accepted.
Pays $30-50. Submission Guidelines

untethered (Toronto, Ontario)

Publishes “alternative views for” emerging and established writers and artists from Toronto, Canada, and the world. 2 issues/year (print). Since 2014.
Considers fiction up to 5,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual arts.
Submission periods announced for upcoming issues (e.g., deadline for the next issue was December 2016) — check the website for next open period. Submit by email. Simultaneous submissions accepted.
Payment unspecified. Submissions Guidelines

The Windsor Review (Windsor, Ontario)

Publishes arts and literature by new and established Canadian and international writers. 2 issues/year (print). Since 1965.
Considers fiction up to 5,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual arts.
Submissions open from September-April. Calls for submission to themed issues are posted on the website. Submit only 1 story/year with a submission cover page (see guidelines). Submit by email or snail mail. No specified policy on exclusivity (there’s a box to check on the submission form if the work is submitted elsewhere). Responds in 6 months.
Payment unspecified. Submission Guidelines

That’s it! I’ll post the entire A-Z on my “Markets” page.

Remember to check out the magazines before you submit to them. Buy, borrow, subscribe. Find out which ones publish writing that’s to your taste and whose pages you’d be proud to see your work in. (I have a story upcoming in The Fiddlehead — now, that’s one I’m proud to be published in.)

Good luck. Have a great week.

Category: monday markets, short stories, writers' markets, writingTags: canadian literary journal, canadian literary magazines, canadian writers' markets, canlit, literary journal, literary magazine, literary short fiction, litmag, publishing, short stories, short story markets, submission guidelines, writing

4 Comments on “Canadian Literary Short Fiction Markets (R-Z)”

julie
February 6, 2017

Perfect! Thanks Catherine! 🙂

Reply
stella murovic
September 30, 2019

Thank you – do you know where I can find a listing of Canadian Flash story web sites? (from 100 to 1000 words max)

Reply
- Catherine Austen
  September 30, 2019
  
  Most litmags that take fiction also take flash fiction, but you’d have to check the guidelines.
  There is an international list of specifically flash fiction markets here: https://internationalwriterscollective.com/great-places-to-submit-flash-fiction/
  And this small Canadian litmag list from 2018 does specify “flash” from longer fiction: https://thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto/10-canadian-literary-magazines-you-can-submit-to-asap/
  Good luck, and thanks for stopping by.
  
  Reply
  - stella murovic
    October 1, 2019
    
    Thank you so much Catherine for your quick and efficient response.
    all the best – stella