Short Fiction Markets

[Updated December 2025]

This is my personal list of Canadian lit-mags that publish the kind of short fiction I read and write, and for which I’m eligible to submit.

These are not ALL the literary magazines out there in our northern land. (You won’t find Ricepaper here because I’m not Asian Canadian, and you won’t find Arc because I don’t write poetry.) To discover more Can-lit markets, check out the National Magazine Awards guide to Canadian literary journals.

But if you write short stories and need a handy list with word counts and payment details, my list is perfect.

Agnes and True (Digital publication, since 2015)

The Ampersand Review (Print magazine from Sheridan College, since 2020)

  • Accepts: Poetry, reviews, fiction and non-fiction to 3000 words
  • Submission period: July-Aug and Dec-Jan; check The Ampersand Review guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • Payment: $100
  • Select pieces from each issue free to read online

Archetype (Print and digital magazine from Toronto, since 2022)

  • Accepts: reviews, interviews, poetry, art, fiction and essays to 5000 words
  • Submission period: November-December and June-July; check the Archetype guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • Pays one print copy
  • Free to read online
  • They might be on hiatus; no posts in 2025

Augur Magazine (Digital publication)

  • Literary/speculative fiction to 5000 words, plus poetry, nonfiction, comics
  • Also publishes Tales and Feathers, fantasy stories under 2500 words
  • Submission period: Year-round, often with themes or special calls; check the Augur guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • Payment: $0.11 cents per word
  • Select pieces from each issue free to read online

Blank Spaces (Print and digital publication, since 2016)

  • Accepts: Fiction to 3000 words, nonfiction, art, photo essays
  • Submission period: Year round; some months have a submission fee; Check the Blank Spaces Guidelines; simultaneous submissions okay
  • Payment: 1 year digital subscription

Canthius (Print and digital magazine from Ontario, since 2015)

  • Prose (CNF, essays, fiction) to 2,500 words, and poetry
  • Publishes authors of marginalized genders
  • Monthly submission caps; check the Canthius guidelines. Simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays $50-$150
  • Select pieces from each issue free to read online
  • They are on hiatus but plan to return.
capilano review cover

The Capilano Review (Print and digital, from Vancouver, since 1972)

  • Fiction to 2,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, reviews, and visual arts
  • Publishes experimental work
  • Check the Capilano guidelines for openings; Simultaneous okay
  • Pays $50/page

Carte Blanche (Digital publication from Quebec, since 2004)

  • Fiction to 3,500 words, plus poetry, CNF, comics visual and audio arts
  • Check the Carte Blanche guidelines for submission periods and themes; Simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays a small honorarium
  • Free to read online

chouette (Digital magazine from Montreal, since 2024)

dalhousie

The Dalhousie Review (Print magazine, since 1921, from Nova Scotia)

  • Fiction to 8,000 words, plus articles, essays, creative non-fiction, poetry, and reviews
  • Submissions year-round, by email. Check the Dalhousie Review guidelines. Simultaneous submissions strongly discouraged
  • Pays a small honorarium and two copies
  • Past issues available for free download

DarkWinter Literary Magazine (Online magazine from Ontario since 2022)

Dreamers Magazine (Print and digital publication since 2017)

  • Publishes poems, essays, excerpts and stories to 2500 words
  • Adheres to a “wellness” theme; has a detailed rights contract
  • Submissions year-round; check the Dreamers guidelines for themes and openings;
  • Pays $20-$60 for pieces chosen for the print editions
  • Available to read free online

Event (Print and digital magazine, from BC, since 1971)

  • Fiction up to 5,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and reviews
  • Open submission periods Dec-Jan and Aug-Sept — Check the Event guidelines. Simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays $40/page
  • Free sample issue available with newsletter subscription

Exile Quarterly (Print magazine since 1972; associated publishing house includes anthologies)

  • Literary and speculative fiction to 3500 words, plus CNF and poetry
  • Submissions year-round; check the Exile guidelines for calls and themes; submit by Submittable or snail mail; exclusive submissions only; submission fee
  • Pays $0.10/word

Existere (Annual magazine from York University, since 1978)

  • Innovative fiction to 3500 words, plus poetry, non-ficiton, and art
  • Submissions year-round, check the Existere guidelines for submission template
  • Submit by email; simultaneous submissions okay (NB: They only respond if they want to publish)
  • Pays $100

The Feathertale Revew (Digital magazine and print Review, since 2008)

  • Humourous fiction to 2,500 words, plus poetry and cartoons
  • Submissions year-round; check the Feathertale guidelines for openings
  • Pays for work featured in the print Review
  • Free to read online
  • They have been closed to submissions since 2024

The Fiddlehead (Print journal from New Brunswick, since 1945)

  • Fiction to 6,000 words, plus poetry, CNF, reviews, and art
  • Submissions Jan-March and Sept-November; Check the Fiddlehead guidelines; simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays $65/page
fillingstation

filling Station (Print magazine from Alberta, since 1993)

  • Experimental fiction to 10 pages, plus poetry, CNF, novel excerpts, and visual arts
  • Submissions year-round; check the filling Station guidelines for themes and openings; simultaneous okay
  • Payment unspecified

Freefall (Print and digital magazine from Alberta, since 1990)

  • Fiction to 4,000 words, plus poetry and visual arts
  • Submissions open June-September; simultaneous submissions okay; Check the Freefall guidelines
  • Pays $10/page

Funicular Magazine (Print magazine from Alberta, since 2019)

  • Accepts: Fiction to 3000 words, plus poetry
  • Submissions year-round; check the Funicular guidelines for openings; simultaneous okay
  • Payment: $10/page
  • Select pieces from each issue free to read online

Fusion Fragment (Digital and print magazine, since 2020)

  • Speculative, Slipstream and Science Fiction to 15,000 words
  • Submissions year-round; check the Fusion Fragment guidelines; simultaneous submissions okay; submit via online portal
  • Pays $0.04/word
  • There’s a pay-what-you-can digital option to read a copy
geist

Geist (Print publication from Vancouver, since 1990)

  • Fiction to 5000 words, plus poetry, CNF, essays, comics and art
  • Submissions year-round; check the Geist guidelines for openings; simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays $100-1000
  • Select pieces free to read online

Grain (Print publication from Saskatchewan, since 1973)

  • Fiction up to 3,500 words, plus poetry, CNF, and hybrids
  • Submissions open September-June with a max of two subs; simultaneous okay; Check the Grain guidelines
  • Pays $50/page

Heartlines Spec (Print and digital magazine, since 2023)

  • Speculative fiction to 3,500 words, plus poetry; all submissions must feature longterm relationships (amorous, familial, platonic)
  • Submissions accepted three times/year — January, May, and September — plus early openings for equity-deserving groups; simultaneous submissions okay; check out the Heartlines Spec guidelines
  • Pays $0.08/word or $60/poem

Hexagon (Online magazine since 2020)

  • Closed “indefinitely” after five years, but available to read free online

The Humber Literary Review (Print and digital magazine from Toronto, since 2014)

  • Fiction to 5,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, essays, and visual arts
  • Submission periods are posted in January and August; check the Humber guidelines for calls and themes; simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays $100
  • The latest issue is available to read free online
  • They are pausing submissions to evaluate their future.

long con magazine (Dazzling digital magazine that publishes art about art, based in Halifax, since 2019)

  • Fiction to 15 pages, plus poetry and visual arts
  • All submissions should respond to a particular artwork
  • Submissions year-round; check the long con guidelines for openings; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $50
  • Available to read free online
malahat

The Malahat Review (Print and Digital magazine from Victoria, since 1967)

  • Fiction to 8,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and translations
  • Submissions year-round, simultaneous okay. See the Malahat submission guidelines
  • Pays $70/page

Maple Tree Literary Supplement (Digital magazine, since 2008)

  • Publishes essays, poetry, reviews, images, CNF and fiction (no word limit)
  • Submissions year-round; check the Maple Tree guidelines; exclusivity not mentioned but suggested by legal authorization to publish
  • Pays $30
  • Available to read free online
  • No posts in 2025; may be defunct
tnq

The New Quarterly (Print and digital magazine from Waterloo, since 1981)

  • Fiction to 6,000 words, plus poetry, CNF, reviews, and interviews; also accepts work for its website
  • Check for open submission periods — their caps fill incredibly quickly. See TNQ guidelines for formatting; simultaneous okay but submit only once per calendar year
  • Pays $275
  • Back issues available to read free with subscription

NōD Magazine (Annual publication from the University of Calgary since 2014 or earlier)

  • I can’t find any issues on the NōD blog or the U-Calgary site but I’m guessing this is a print magazine that you can buy in Calgary, and based on the masthead bios I’m guessing it’s funny and well written. But I have no idea how to access it. I must be overlooking a button.
  • Publishes prose to 8 pages, plus arts and poetry; simultaneous submissions okay; submit via online form; see the NōD guidelines
  • No mention of pay
  • Please let me know if you get your hands on a copy — I’d love to read it

NUNUM (Digital magazine from New Brunswick, since 2018)

  • Publishes flash fiction to 500 words and imagery; special calls for longer flashes for anthologies
  • Submissions year-round; check the NUNUM guidelines. Submit up to 3 pieces at a time; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $20
  • Available to read free online

On Spec (Speculative fiction magazine from Edmonton since 1989)

  • So sad to say that On Spec is shutting down permanently as of the next issue.

Parentheses (Digital and print journal from Ontario, since 2017)

  • Fiction to 2000 words, plus poetry and visual arts, especially from marginalized writers
  • Blind submissions Nov-March and May-Sept; check the Parentheses guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • No pay but the glory
  • Available to read free online
  • No new issues since 2023; looks like it’s defunct

Prairie Fire (Print magazine from Winnipeg, since 1978)

  • Fiction to 10,000 words, plus poetry and CNF
  • Submit once/year (now on Submittable) plus special themed calls; see the Prairie Fire guidelines. Simultaneous submissions okay
  • Pays 10 cents/word
  • Brief excerpts from the current issues are available to read free online

Prairie Journal (Print and online magazine from Alberta, since 1983)

  • Accepts fiction (no word limit), poetry, drama, literary criticism, reviews, and artwork
  • Submit by snail mail; see the Prairie Journal guidelines; exclusive submissions only
  • Pays a small honorarium 
  • Many pieces available to read free online
prism

PRISM International (Print magazine and website, from Vancouver, since 1959)

  • Fiction to 6000 words (preferably <4K), plus poetry, translations, reviews and imagery
  • Submissions year-round; check the PRISM guidelines for themes and openings; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $40/page
  • Some pieces available to read free online

Pulp Literature (Print magazine since 2014, with podcast on website)

  • All genres of fiction to 20,000 words (prefers <5000), plus poetry, graphic narratives, and excerpts
  • Submissions year-round; check the Pulp guideines for openings; simultaneous okay
  • Pays 2-8 cents/word 
  • Excerpts of pieces available to read free online

The Ex-Puritan (Online magazine from Toronto, since 2007)

  • Fiction to 10,000 words, plus poetry, essays, interviews, and hybrids
  • Submissions year-round; See the Ex-Puritan guidelines; simultaneous submissions okay
  • Encourages marginalized writers and writing styles
  • Pays $150
  • Many pieces available to read free online

Queen’s Quarterly (Print magazine from Ontario, since 1893)

  • Fiction to 3,000 words, plus poetry, essays, articles, and reviews
  • Open submission period; see the QQ guidelines; simultaneous submissions okay
  • Payment TBD on acceptance
  • Brief excerpts available to read free online
qwerty

Qwerty (Print magazine from UNB, since 1996)

  • Fiction to 5,000 words, plus poetry, reviews, CNF, and visual arts
  • Submit September-April; see the Qwerty guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • Pays a small honorarium

Riddle Fence (Print magazine from Newfoundland, since 2007)

  • Fiction to 3,000 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual arts
  • Submissions Sept-March; check the Riddle Fence guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $50/page
  • Select pieces available to read free online

Room (Print magazine and website from BC, since 1975)

  • Feminist fiction to 3,500 words, plus poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual arts
  • Publishes writers of marginalized genders
  • Submissions year-round; See the Room guidelines for themes and openings; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $50-$200
  • Select pieces available to read free online

Scrivener Creative Review (Montreal-based journal, since 1980)

  • Fiction to 3000 words, plus art, poetry, CNF
  • The Scrivener Guideline page will only work if submissions are open
  • Exclusive submissions preferred; no pay but the glory
  • The most recent issue (or excepts from) is free to read online

Spadina Literary Review (Online magazine based in Toronto, since 2011)

  • Fiction to 2,000 words, plus poetry, essays, memoir, and art
  • Submissions year-round on a rolling basis; check out the SLR guidelines
  • Simultaneous submissions okay if stated
  • No pay but the glory

sub-Terrain (Vancouver-based magazine in its hundredth issue)

  • Fiction to 3,000 words, plus creative non-fiction and visual arts
  • Submissions year-round; check the SubTerrain guidelines for themes and open periods; no mention of exclusivity
  • Pays 10 cents/word
  • Many pieces available to read free online

The /tƐmz/ Review (Online magazine from Ontario, since 2017)

  • Fiction to 10,000 words (prefers shorter and experimental), plus poetry, CNF, and reviews; also publishes chapbooks
  • Submissions year-round; check the /tƐmz/ guidelines for openings; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $20; pays $200 for its literary contest winners
  • Available to read free online

untethered (Print magazine from Toronto, since 2014)

  • Fiction to 3,000 words, plus poetry, CNF, visual arts, and hybrids
  • Submissions year-round; See the untethered submissions guidelines; simultaneous okay
  • Pays $20
  • Available to read free online
  • Appears defunct; no 2024-25 issues

The Walrus (News and entertainment print and digital magazine from Toronto, since 2003)

  • Articles, essays, imagery, poetry, and literary fiction to 5000 words
  • Fiction submissions Jan-Feb and June-July; submit by email; check the Walrus guidelines; exclusive submissions only
  • Payment not specified
  • Samples available to read free online

White Wall Review (Digital magazine from Toronto, since 1976)

  • Publishes book reviews, poetry, non-fiction and fiction to 6000 words
  • Submissions year-round; check the WWR guidelines for openings; no mention of exclusivity but it appears to be preferred
  • No payment but the glory
  • Available to read free online
windsor-review

The Windsor Review (Digital magazine from Ontario, since 1965, formerly print)

  • On hiatus since 2023 but old issues are available to read free online.

Yolk (Print and digital journal from Montreal, since 2020)

  • Publishes poetry and prose to 4000 words
  • Blind submissions year-round with special openings for print-only calls; check the Yolk guidelines
  • Pays $100-$200
  • Many pieces available to read free online

That’s my list. If you run out of places to try, you can always look south: check out the Poets & Writers guide to US litmags — it’ll take a while to get through but there are many you’re eligible to submit to.

Good luck!