We publish poetry, essays (nonfiction), short fiction (inc. excerpts from longer works), hybrid work, & art.
Seasonal themes vary, but are always broad and open to interpretation; they exists to serve an overall cohesion for a better reading experience, but not meant to be restrictive. To read more on the current themes and gain insight into our style visit our website or Substack. We love promoting writing that engages with philosophical, metaphysical, ethical, & existential themes.
Please read the submission guidelines carefully before sending your work. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@phillitjournal.com.
During every quarterly reading period, we accept:
- 1 work of prose: FICTION OR NF/ESSAY (up to 2000 words & please LABEL NF or F)
- 1-3 poems (no more than 6 pgs total)
- 1-3 works of art (must include artist statement (method & materials)
- 1-2 hybrid pieces (no more than 2 pgs total)
GUIDELINES
- Writers may submit ONCE per quarterly reading periods; however, you may submit in all three major genres (poetry, prose, hybrid/art).
- If you plan to submit PROSE please label FICTION or NONFICTION in your submission.
- Content Warnings: Please refrain from submitting work that includes erotica, excessive gore, hate speech, or animal abuse outside the frame of activism. Such submissions will be immediately rejected.
- Submissions must be in English, OR accompanied by an English translation.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please withdraw/notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- We do not accept AI-generated writing. (yes we can tell!)
- We do not accept work that has been previously published.
- You do not need prior publication experience to submit—new and emerging writers are encouraged.
- We aim for a 2 month turn around, but please allow up to 4 months for a response.
- There is no general submission fee. Only our contests have fees.
FORMATING:
- Submit all poems as a single file.
- Each submission should be titled w/genre, with each piece starting a new page.
- PROSE should be double-spaced, in Times or Time New Roman, 12pt font
- If submitting to a contest, then no identifying information should be IN the file.
Payment: At this time, PHIL LIT JOURNAL is a volunteer-run publication. We do not currently offer payment outside of our Winter & Summer contests. However, if published in our online issue, contributors will also be acknowledged on our substack, supporter spaces, & potentially featured in our annual poetry anthology, via Readers Choice Awards or editorial selection. As we grow, it is our goal to compensate our writers monetarily.
Rights: Author grants PHIL LIT Journal First Serial Rights with a 90-day exclusivity from first publication. After publication & exclusivity, all rights revert to the Author; However, PHIL LIT retains a non-exclusive, perpetual license to archive and promote the work in various media outlets. During the 90-day exclusivity, THE FULL TEXT may not appear elsewhere. However, excerpts are allowed anywhere, upon publication, as long as they are less than 10% of the work, and paired with a credit and a link to the journal.
> SUBSCRIBE to PHIL LIT JOURNAL
Patron Members (or Paid Subscribers): will receive feedback on unselected submissions, when REQUESTED on the submission form; and are listed as supporters in every issue under whatever name they choose, (I.e personal, memorial, business, alias, etc.) Patron Members also receive a copy of the PHIL LIT PARAGON, Annual Poetry Anthology, included with their membership*.
*must be active at publication.
PHIL LIT is accepting featured artist submissions for 2026-2028 issues (12). We select one artist per season for an Artist Highlight Feature: a two-four page interview and promotional spread inside the issue & corresponding cover art.
We welcome all forms of art, including but not limited to:
• Photography • Painting • Illustration • Sculpture • Textile art & needlework • Mixed media • Printmaking • Collage • Ceramics • Experimental work, etc As long as your work aligns with PHIL LIT’s ethos—fearless, human-first—we want to see it.
What to Submit: Please include: Your name, Portfolio link or website, 3–5 sample images, and a short note on how your work aligns with PHIL LIT.
What Selected Artists Receive: A contributor copy, cover placement, a two-four page Artist Highlight Segment inside the issue, an interview or short statement published with your work, social media features & newsletter promotion, full credit and links to your portfolio/shop.
No fee to submit. All backgrounds and experience levels welcome.
STATUS UPDATE: (SUBMISSION >> INTERVIEW >> CONFIRMED)
2026
#3 SPRING Mar 15th - Congrats Reiner Heidorn!
#4 SUMMER June 15th - Congrats Jack Bordnick!
#5 FALL Sept 15th - Congrats Belinda Zhang!
#6 WINTER Dec 15th- Congrats Jacob Cherry!
2027
#7 SPRING - Congrats Bird Delaney!
#8 SUMMER - INTERVIEW STAGE
#9 FALL - INTERVIEW STAGE
#10 WINTER - ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
2028
#11 SPRING - ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
#12 SUMMER - ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
#13 - ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
#14 WINTER - ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
2029 - Will Open for Submissions Jan 1st 2027
Summer 2026 General Submissions (PROSE)
THEME: THE WHOLE & THE FRACTURE Integration, the collective, and the myth of the individual.
We Accept The Following in a Single Document Per Submission:
- Prose - FICTION (up to 2000 words, including excerpts from longer works.)
- NF/ESSAY (up to 2000 words)
- Hybrid / Experimental: up to 2 pieces (1-2 pgs total) per submission
Guidelines:
- Submissions must be in English OR accompanied by an English translation.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please withdraw immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- We do not accept AI-generated writing.
- We do not accept work that has been previously published.
- New and emerging writers are encouraged to submit.
- Please refrain from submitting work that includes erotica, excessive gore, animal abuse, or hate speech. Such submissions will be immediately rejected.
- Please only submit ONCE per general submissions reading period. But multiple submissions for contests is okay!
Send us your best poem. (Please submit only one poem per entry)
One winner will receive a $300 cash prize, publication in the annual PHIL LIT PARAGON: Annual Poetry Anthology, a contributor copy, and promoted in our supported media outlets. 3 finalists will also be published in the anthology and paid a $25 honorarium. Shortlisted Poems will be considered for publication in the anthology (or in the Journal).
Eligibility:
- Open to all writers over 18yo.
- Simultaneous submissions are okay.
- Multiple submissions are accepted, but each submission must be a new entry.
- Please only submit one poem per submission.
Guidelines
- Submissions must be in English OR accompanied by a translation.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please WITHDRAW immediately if it is accepted elsewhere.
- We do not accept AI-generated writing.
- We do not accept work that has been previously published.
- New and emerging writers are encouraged to submit.
- Please refrain from submitting work that includes erotica, excessive gore, animal abuse, or hate speech. Such submissions will be immediately rejected.
Summer 2026 General Submissions (POETRY)
THEME: THE WHOLE & THE FRACTURE Integration, and the myth of the individual.
We Accept The Following in a Single Document Per Submission:
- Poetry - 3 Poems (6 pages max)
- Hybrid / Experimental: up to 2 pieces (2 pages max)
Guidelines:
- Submissions must be in English OR accompanied by an English translation.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please withdraw immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- We do not accept AI-generated writing.
- We do not accept work that has been previously published.
- New and emerging writers are encouraged to submit.
- Please refrain from submitting work that includes erotica, excessive gore, animal abuse, or hate speech. Such submissions will be immediately rejected.
- Please only submit ONCE per general submissions reading period. Multiple submissions for contests is okay!