Please read the submission guidance carefully before sending your work. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@phillitjournal.com

We accept poetry, short fiction (including excerpts from longer works), philosophical or personal essays, hybrid work, and art that resonates with the given themes which can be found on our website or on Substack.

GUIDELINES

Each writer may submit ONCE per each GENERAL SUBMISSIONS reading period. However, each writer/artist may submit in every permitted genre (poetry, prose, art), but please compile all submissions onto a single file if you plan to submit in multiple genres. 

SPRING/SUMMER/FALL/WINTER

Theme varies, but is always broad and open to interpretation; it is there for an overall cohesion/reading experience for the journal and not meant to be restrictive.

General submission periods accept the following, as one submission, within one document:

  • 1 work of prose: FICTION OR NONFICTION/ESSAY (up to 2500 words)
  • 1-3 poems (no more than 5-6 pages)
  • 1-3 works of art + artist statement
  • 1-2 hybrid pieces

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  • Submissions must be in English, or accompanied by an English translation.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • We do not accept AI-generated writing.
  • We do not accept work that has been previously published; however, we will accept pieces previously shared personal blogs, or personal social media until 2026.  Substack is considered a personal blog.
  • You do not need prior publication experience to submit—new and emerging writers are encouraged.
  • Please refrain from submitting work that includes erotica, excessive gore, animal abuse, or hate speech. Such submissions will be immediately rejected. 
  • Please allow up to 4 months for a response. There is no general submission fee. 

        Formatting:
       – Submit all writing, all genres, as a single file.

        – Each submission should be titled w/genre, and start on a new page.

        – Prose should be double-spaced, in Times or Time New Roman, 12pt font

        – If submitting to a contests then no identifying information should be in the file.


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 print edition, via readers choice awards or editorial selection. As we grow, it is our goal to compensate our writers monetarily. 

PHIL LIT JOURNAL requests first serial rights. Upon publication, all rights revert to the author. We also ask for the right to archive your work permanently on our site and include it in our annual print edition, if selected.

Paid Substack Subscribers to PHIL LIT, will receive feedback on unselected submissions, IF REQUESTED, IN THE COVER LETTER.

SUBSTACK

Ends on This opportunity will close after 100 submissions have been received.
Submit to PL General Submissions // WINTER 25/26'

WINTER 25/26' General Submissions 

THEME: The Refusal; to resist, retract, or revise. 


For WINTER General Submissions We Accept

  • Poetry: 1 -3 poems (5-6 pgs total) per submission.
  • Prose - FICTION OR NONFICTION / ESSAY ONLY: up to 2500 words per submission.  
  • Hybrid / Experimental: up to 2 pieces (2 pages total) per submission
  • Visual Art: up to 3 pieces per submission ( must include brief artist statement + process and media/medium).

Guidelines:

  • Submissions must be in English OR accompanied by an English translation.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • We do not accept AI-generated writing.
  • We do not accept work that has been previously published; however, for our first year of operation we will accept pieces previously shared personal blogs, or personal social media until Spring 2026. Substack is included under “personal”.
  • 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!


 To Enter our Winter Poetry Contest click here

Ends on $8.00
$8.00
Submit to PHIL LIT WINTER POETRY CONTEST 25

Send us your single most stirring and surprising poem. (Please submit only one poem per entry)

One winner will receive a $250 honorarium, publication in our inaugural print anthology, and promoted in our supported media outlets. All finalists will also be published in our print anthology and paid a $25 honorarium. Short and Longlisted Poems will be considered for publication in our online journal and/or annual anthology.

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 an English translation.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please notify us 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.