38 Paying Lit Mags Open for Submissions in August 2026

The August guide to paying markets, submission dates, and publishing opportunities.

August brings lots of new opportunities for writers looking to share their creative work with the world. Today’s roundup is full literary magazines that want to pay you for your fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and more.

This roundup highlights literary magazines actively seeking submissions throughout August, complete with details on genres accepted, submission guidelines, and deadlines.

And here’s the best bit: every single one of these literary magazines is paying writers for accepted submissions.

Remember to review each magazine’s submission guidelines carefully before submitting. Take time to read recent issues to ensure your writing aligns with their aesthetic and mission.

With thoughtful submissions and a bit of persistence, August could be the month your work finds its next (or first) literary home!

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Paying Literary Magazines: August 2026 Deadlines

The First Line – Fall 2026 issue
A themed journal built on a single constraint: every piece must begin with the editors’ supplied opening line (”The line of people stretched all the way around the block.”). Accepts fiction (300–5,000 words, any genre), critical essays (500–800 words) about a favourite literary first line, and poetry (rarely used). Email submissions as a Word attachment. No fee.
Payment: $25–$50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $10 for poetry.
Deadline: August 1, 2026.

SUSPECT / Singapore Unbound – themed portfolio “Crip Time”
Themed portfolio on disability/crip time, open to writers who identify as Asian. Short fiction (1,500–6,500 words or a flash suite), essays (same range), and poetry (3–5 poems, max 10 pages). Simultaneous submissions accepted; email only. No fee.
Payment: $100 USD per accepted work or suite.
Deadline: August 1, 2026.

IHRAM Press – “Stories of Women of Colour, Culture & Becoming”
The International Human Rights Art Movement’s themed quarterly call amplifying women of colour and diasporic voices. Accepts up to 5 poems, prose (fiction/essay) up to 2,500 words, plus visual art. Requires a bio and foreword; email submission. No fee.
Payment: $50 per accepted written piece.
Deadline: August 1, 2026.

Queer Little Daydreams (Arsenal Pulp Press anthology)
A new anthology of queer speculative, strange, and surreal writing, edited by Adèle Barclay and David Ly. Seeks poetry (up to 3 poems/pages), short fiction, and nonfiction from LGBTQIA2S+ contributors.
Payment: Honorarium plus a copy of the book.
Deadline: August 1, 2026.

Image – “Trash, Broadly Considered”
Quarterly art-and-faith journal seeking poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (up to 6,000 words) engaging trash, waste, class and pop culture, alongside religious/spiritual themes; translations and pitches welcome. No fee.
Payment: $25 per published page of prose, or $3 per line of poetry (minimum $100, maximum $400), plus four copies.
Deadline: August 1, 2026.