A couple of things about this list before we get to it.
First we know that many will not agree fully, and some will feel we’ve left
a good or great publication off the list. That’s okay. The best thing to do
is go to our message
boardsand post your opinion under our top 50 boards and make a case for adding it to this list. The factors we used
were date established, number of submissions, number of inclusions in
national anthologies, and circulation.
The best literary magazines, we feel, are
not that difficult to identify. They are the magazines that have been
publishing consistently for many years. EWR remember isn’t just about
reading or rating, it’s about writers. We’ve chosen magazines that are
always gaining attention not just for themselves but for the writers they
publish. After all what good is a list of great magazines if they don’t
continuously find new and great talent as well as publish consistent content
and have those writers works places in national anthologies?
This list also includes BOLD type where literary
magazines take online submissions. We feel this is an important step for a
magazine to take. We feel that by taking submissions online magazines are
opening themselves up to many more voices and have a better opportunity to
find new talent that we want to read. To this end, we have a suggestion. Go
down this list and pick out a literary magazine that takes online
submissions. Go to their site and submit your work. Also while you are there
buy a subscription. Support those that support writers.
Est. 1889, one of the oldest literary magazines
around. It has published many great authors like Raymond Carver, Richard
Ford, Tobias Wolff and many others. A rough circulation is
50,000-80,000.
Est. 1953 and is simply one of the best literary
magazines in the world. They have been publishing great authors for many
years. A rough circulation is 20,000.
Est. 1927 and has consistently published some of
the best writers in the world. They are the presenters of the Faulkner
Award among others. The magazine has won every important national award,
and it is always gaining attention for writers. A rough circulation over
5,000.
Est. 1939 and is one of the best literary
magazines in the country hands down. The magazine helped start the
careers of writers like Flannery O’Conner and Robert Lowell. They
take online submissions. EWR recommends you submit your work AND buy
a subscription.
Est. 1912 and is consistently the best publisher
of poets in the country. They are always at the top of the list. To give
you some idea of this magazines influence, an author from this journal
has had work included in Best American Poetry 72 times in the 19 years
BAP has been in publication. It is second only to The New Yorker (keep
in mind The New Yorker hand picks most of its poems and has no
unsolicited submissions).
Est. 1819 but was later renamed and became The
Yale Review in 1911. The magazine has published unknown authors like
John Cheever. They are always a good read and a great place to publish
work.
Est. 1990 and is a nationally distributed
magazine. They have published some of Americans best literary authors. A
rough circulation is over 15,000. Their authors are often chosen for
inclusion in national anthologies. Takes online submissions.
Est. 1998 is simply a great publication. They
publish the best authors and you always seem to see some big names
gracing the pages. The rough circulation is 10,000-15,000.
Est. 1980 and consistently publishes outstanding
authors. You will always see this publication at the top of the national
anthology awards list for authors. A rough circulation of 10,000.
Est. 1971, this magazine consistently has authors
featured in national anthologies. It is among the best literary
publications in existence. A rough circulation is 4,000-5,000. Takes
online submissions.
Est. 1978, and consistently publishes outstanding
writers. The circulation of this magazine is hard to determine because
of its web presence. It was somewhat of a pioneer when it comes to
literary magazines online, and its efforts in cyberspace greatly
increased its appeal. Online submissions for web edition.
Est. 1978, and publishes great authors and gets
them attention. Online submission for a $3 fee (about the price
of sending by mail and much less headache).
Est. 1971 and is consistently publishing great
authors from the heart of a writers central. Some may not know that the
Iowa Writer’s Workshop is and has been the best writing program in the
country for the last, at least, 40 years.
Est. 1984 and has published as long list of great
authors like Jane Smiley, Peter Ho Davis, and many others. It is a
writer’s and literary reader’s magazines that will take chances.
Est. 1958 and has Rita Dove and Richard Ford as
two of the many outstanding contributing editors. This magazine has been
heralded as one of the best by many.
Est. 1974 and is a great literary publication. It
has published many outstanding authors many works from this publication
have appeared in national anthologies.
Est. 1983 as a print publication and the only
fully online journal on or top 50. The publication was founded and is
edited by Andrei Codrescu. Will begin taking submissions again online
(?) in May of 2007.
Est. 1987 and has been included in both Best
American Short Stories and Best American Poetry. The magazine seems
every gaining in its attention for writers.
Est. 1996 and one of the newest magazines on the
list, but it is always gaining attention for its writers. It has been
honored many times and included in Best American Short Stories as well
as Best American Poetry.
Est. 1985 and has made a very good name for
itself. The magazine publishes great authors and has influence in the
literary community. Has contest for new writers.
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Literary
Magazines site here. The most recent updates are listed below. We are
working to replace our big list and give you more useful information on each
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